Latinos React to Gonzales Resignation
ListenAlmost half of Southern California's population is Hispanic, yet most Latinos in random interviews today didn't know who U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is -- or that he'd resigned. KPCC's Patricia Nazario has more on reactions to the departure of the country's highest-ranking Latino official.
Alex Wong/Getty ImagesU.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announces his resignation August 27, 2007 at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. Gonzales resigned under growing criticism of his handling on the firing of U.S. attorneys.
Patricia Nazario: In the San Fernando Valley, the House of Brews is a popular hang out for young Hispanic intellectuals and artists. Over a cup of joe, freelance photographer Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez talks to a couple of friends about his recent three-week trip to the Mexican border. He worked with a film crew on a documentary about illegal border crossings.
Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez: People would cross to go work to the United States then cross back to Mexico at night to go live with their families.
Nazario: The 21-year-old Mexican-American didn't grow up that way. He was born in this country, although he says his parents came over illegally in the 1970s. At first, he says, that shared history helped him feel a special connection with U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Then, last March, he attended a news conference at which the nation's top prosecutor spoke at the East L.A. gang prevention facility, Homeboy Industries.
Sanchez-Gonzalez: Every time Spanish TV or Spanish reporters would ask him a question in Spanish, he would say 'ask the question in English. I can't understand Spanish.'
Nazario: As a fellow Mexicano, how did it make you feel?
Sanchez-Gonzalez: As a fellow Mexicano, it made me feel like... ashamed... I guess it's just the Mexican pride that we all have.
Nazario: The Republican National Hispanic Assembly's California chairman Jim Lopez says he still feels that pride.
Jim Lopez: I was in the White House with Alberto Gonzales a couple of months ago and I told him then, 'don't give up the ship.'
Nazario: Lopez says Gonzales' resignation motivates him to recruit more young Hispanics into the GOP.
Lopez: Who has really given the Hispanics more empowerment, more recognition, more dignity in this country than the Republican Party?
Dolly Szymanski: It's one of those things where you're proud. It's like a fellow Latino finally moving ahead.
Nazario: Dolly Szymanski's father is Mexican. The 46-year-old says she was at the gym when she heard Gonzales announce his resignation. His statement that his 'worst days' as attorney general were 'better than my father's best days' as a migrant worker in Texas, struck a resonant chord with her.
Szymanski: But when you're in politics, it's really a fine line that you're walking... kinda like you become one of them as opposed to being one of us.
Nazario: Enike Tourse with the L.A.-based Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights leveled a similar criticism. She says Gonzales, the first Latino attorney general, missed a rare opportunity.
Enike Tourse: In spite of the fact that both of his parents were migrant workers... there really was no justice done on behalf or for immigrants during his time there.
Nazario: That time, the focus of intense criticism from many Democrats and some Republicans, will come to a close September 17, the day Gonzales says he'll leave the public sphere.
Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez: People would cross to go work to the United States then cross back to Mexico at night to go live with their families.
Nazario: The 21-year-old Mexican-American didn't grow up that way. He was born in this country, although he says his parents came over illegally in the 1970s. At first, he says, that shared history helped him feel a special connection with U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Then, last March, he attended a news conference at which the nation's top prosecutor spoke at the East L.A. gang prevention facility, Homeboy Industries.
Sanchez-Gonzalez: Every time Spanish TV or Spanish reporters would ask him a question in Spanish, he would say 'ask the question in English. I can't understand Spanish.'
Nazario: As a fellow Mexicano, how did it make you feel?
Sanchez-Gonzalez: As a fellow Mexicano, it made me feel like... ashamed... I guess it's just the Mexican pride that we all have.
Nazario: The Republican National Hispanic Assembly's California chairman Jim Lopez says he still feels that pride.
Jim Lopez: I was in the White House with Alberto Gonzales a couple of months ago and I told him then, 'don't give up the ship.'
Nazario: Lopez says Gonzales' resignation motivates him to recruit more young Hispanics into the GOP.
Lopez: Who has really given the Hispanics more empowerment, more recognition, more dignity in this country than the Republican Party?
Dolly Szymanski: It's one of those things where you're proud. It's like a fellow Latino finally moving ahead.
Nazario: Dolly Szymanski's father is Mexican. The 46-year-old says she was at the gym when she heard Gonzales announce his resignation. His statement that his 'worst days' as attorney general were 'better than my father's best days' as a migrant worker in Texas, struck a resonant chord with her.
Szymanski: But when you're in politics, it's really a fine line that you're walking... kinda like you become one of them as opposed to being one of us.
Nazario: Enike Tourse with the L.A.-based Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights leveled a similar criticism. She says Gonzales, the first Latino attorney general, missed a rare opportunity.
Enike Tourse: In spite of the fact that both of his parents were migrant workers... there really was no justice done on behalf or for immigrants during his time there.
Nazario: That time, the focus of intense criticism from many Democrats and some Republicans, will come to a close September 17, the day Gonzales says he'll leave the public sphere.
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Comment: At first, I liked the idea of the U.S. Attorney General having a Spanish surname, though I knew he would be pro-Bush right-wing Republican. As head AG, Gonzales was a fanatical flunkey for Amerikan fascism and I am sure he will do what damage he can elsewhere. He was so shameless when he was being asked questions by Congress then repeatedly stated, "I do not know..." or words with the same effect. That reminded so many people of Nixon and is "I do not recall" answers.
Gonzales reminds me of an ol' 60's Chicano Movement term ~ Tio-Taco ~ and he remains a traitor to his nationality, his species and any true sense of justice inside the United States! ~Peta-de-Aztlan
NLLSA · National Latina/o Law Students Assoc.
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Come Together and Create!
Peter S. Lopez ~aka:Peta
Sacramento, California, Aztlan
Email: sacranative@yahoo.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Humane-Rights-Agenda/
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