Immigrants riot after vigilante shootings in Italy

A friend sent me a link to this story with "Italia Libre" as the subject line.

ROSARNO, Italy, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Clashes between immigrants and locals in a southern Italian town entered a second day on Friday, with the government rushing extra police to try to stem one of the worst episodes of racial unrest in years.

The violence inflamed a long-running political debate on immigration, with the interior minister saying years of excessive "tolerance" were behind the violence, and the opposition accusing the government of fuelling xenophobia.

President Giorgio Napolitano called for an immediate end to the unrest, during which at least 37 people, including 18 policemen, have been injured.

Some 8,000 illegal immigrants work in the southern Calabria region where the clashes have erupted, most as day labourers picking fruit and vegetables. Many live in abandoned factories with no running water or electricity and human rights groups say they are exploited by organised crime.

The clashes started on Thursday, when a gang of white youths in a car fired air rifles at a group of African immigrants returning from work on farms, injuring two of them.

The attack set off a night of rioting by dozens of Africans, who smashed car windows with steel bars and stones and set cars and rubbish bins on fire.

"Those guys were firing at us as if it were a fair ground, they were laughing. I was screaming and there were other cars passing by but nobody stopped, nobody called the police," Kamal, a Moroccan, told La Repubblica newspaper.

Read the full article.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

Interview with writer Mark Parker

“It’s a sad fact that the U.S. public pays little attention to an issue until there is blood on the streets. With this novel, I put blood on the street in fictional form with the hope of preventing a similar fate in real life. My fondest wish would be for the novel not to be a prophecy.”

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

This is an excerpt from an interview with writer and eclectic thinker Mark Parker who raised some intriguing questions about AMERICA LIBRE. Mark's interview probed the political, cultural and racial issues raised by the novel. I hope you find it interesting.

Read the full interview.

Holiday eCard from Raul Ramos y Sanchez

Hope you enjoy this 20-second moment of cheer.

...and please remember books make great gifts!

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

The Real Face of Racism

For several years now, many in the far right have taken a fancy to branding any advocates for minority causes as racists. The logic of their accusations boils down to this: Prejudice against minorities no longer exists. If you say prejudice exist and want to do something about it, you are a racist.

Of course, this attitude requires us to forget completely that until a few decades ago White Anglo-Saxon Protestant males were the exclusive stewards of power in the United States. That, they assure us, is in the past. Today, the U.S. is a colorblind society.

So it seemed logical for people with this attitude to say Judge Sonia Sotomayor and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates are racists. After all, they had the nerve to say that this was not a colorblind society and prejudice still prevailed in many corners of it.

The absurdity of these smears of Sotomayor and Bates make sense only to people blinded by fear. Ironically, the real face of racism and prejudice in the U.S. is alive and sadly all-too-well.

According to the FBI's 2007 HCSA report:

· Approximately 51 percent of the reported hate crimes were race-based, with 18.4 percent on the basis of religion, 16.6 percent on the basis of sexual orientation, and 13.2 percent on the basis of ethnicity.

· Approximately 69 percent of the reported race-based crimes were directed against blacks, 19 percent of the crimes were directed against whites, and 4.9 percent of the crimes were directed against Asians or Pacific Islanders. The number of hate crimes directed against individuals on the basis of their national origin/ethnicity increased to 1,007 in 2007 from 984 in 2006.

· For the fourth year in a row, the number of reported crimes directed against Hispanics increased — from 576 in 2006 to 595 in 2007.

· Though the overall number of hate crimes decreased slightly, the number of hate crimes directed at gay men and lesbians increased almost six percent — from 1,195 in 2006 to 1,265 in 2007.

· Religion-based crimes decreased, from 1,462 in 2006 to 1,400 in 2007, but the number of reported anti-Jewish crimes increased slightly, from 967 in 2006 to 969 in 2007 — 12.7 percent of all hate crimes reported in 2007 — and 69 percent of the reported hate crimes based on religion.

· Reported crimes against Muslims decreased from 156 to 115, 8.2 percent of the religion-based crimes. This is still more than four times the number of hate crimes reported against Muslims in 2000.²

Fox News, that bastion of liberal bias, recently reported: “The Department of Homeland Security is warning law enforcement agencies that recent news is helping ‘right-wing extremist groups’ recruit new members and could lead to violence.”

In truth, this right wing fascination with hurling accusations of racism against minorities is dangerously disingenuous and turns a blind eye to the dangers posed by the real face of racism and hate.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

Is CNN’s Lou Dobbs playing with fire?

I’m sure Lou Dobbs imagines himself a patriot. He seems compelled to defend the U.S. from “illegal” immigrants, an enemy that threatens his vision of America. Yet Dobbs’ near-daily harangues against Hispanic immigrants are stoking a smoldering fire that may one day consume the nation in a very real conflict.

One of Dobbs’ recurring themes is the so-called “reconquista.” According to this conspiracy theory which brands all Hispanics as a threat, the Mexican government has been plotting for decades to take back the U.S. Southwest through a massive wave of migration. How Mexico, accused by Dobbs of being “a failed state,” can sustain this generations-long strategy through a succession of one-term presidents is never quite explained. Still, these irrational accusations create fear of Hispanics among uninformed mainstream Americans – and stir resentment among most Latinos.

Thanks to demagogues like Dobbs, for many in the U.S. today “Hispanic” and “immigrant” have become interchangeable terms. The extent of this fallacy was made clear when several media sources identified Judge Sonia Sotomayor as a “Hispanic immigrant” when first nominated as a Supreme Court Justice. For the record, Sotomayor was born in the Bronx of Puerto Rican parents. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens — not immigrants.

This intertwining of “Hispanic” with “immigrant” combined with the assumption that most Hispanic immigrants are also “illegal” has already led to bloodshed. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports Latinos have become the number one victims of hate crimes. Young men presumed to be Hispanic have been brutally attacked by strangers in Texas, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. How much the hate-mongering by Dobbs has motivated these attacks is anyone’s guess. It’s hard to imagine his hate speech had no effect.

Were random attacks the only consequence of the venom spewed by Dobbs, the nation would not be at risk. After all, bigotry towards newly-arrived immigrants is an unfortunate U.S. tradition. In 1751 Benjamin Franklin railed against a group of newcomers who refused to learn English, shunned local customs and bred faster than the natives: the newly-arrived German settlers of Pennsylvania. During the 1800s, the Know-Nothings vehemently resisted immigration with punitive legislation – and outright violence on many occasions. Italians, Irish, Jews and Eastern Europeans were all victims of their wrath.

Although more sophisticated and media savvy than their predecessors, today’s immigrant bashing groups like FAIR, ALIPAC and Numbers USA are echoes of the Know-Nothings. But these “legitimate” groups provide the kindling for those truly eager to start a national conflagration. The KKK, Aryan Nations and other extremist groups make no secret of their willingness for an ethnic conflict. In the words of one right-wing activist I personally interviewed: “There WILL be civil war in this country and THEN all will finally discover what true patriotic Americans are REALLY like.”

At the same time, Hispanic immigration does indeed pose some unique challenges. As Dobbs acknowledges, no other immigrant group in the nation’s history could ever lay ancestral claim to U.S. soil. What’s more, separatist factions exist within some Latino communities and academic circles, although they are a scant minority (about the same percentage as the KKK represents among mainstream Americans). Could the influence of these extremists grow? Each hate crime against a Latino increases the odds.

There is another volatile element in this explosive mix: demographics. Even if U.S. borders were sealed tomorrow and not a single undocumented immigrant entered the nation, nearly one in five people in the U.S. will still be classified as Hispanic by 2025. In less than a generation, we can expect a “bebé boom” of young Latinos entering the job market. Will our economy find work for them? Or will we have an unstable mass of restless, idle, and alienated youth?

In the eyes of the extremists, the battle lines are already drawn. The manifesto of La Voz de Aztlan says: “We do not recognize capricious frontiers on the bronze continent.” The KKK boasts of an increase in membership thanks to illegal immigration. Armed vigilantes already patrol our borders. How long before our war of words drives a fringe group into open conflict? The example of the Oklahoma City bombing is a chilling reminder. And if the unthinkable happens, will Latinos respond in kind? Ironically, Lou Dobbs' “reconquista” diatribe could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Dobbs’ has a right to be heard—even though it approaches yelling “fire” in a crowded theatre. However, people of conscience must speak out against his bigoted calumnies. We cannot allow this nation to be divided by the hate and fear being pimped for ratings by Lou Dobbs and other “journalists” of his kind. The stakes are simply too high.

Wal-Mart & Amazon price war reaches AMERICA LIBRE

The battle between Wal-Mart and Amazon has escalated to more than just "marquee" authors. An hour ago, I learned Walmart has undercut the listed price of my novel AMERICA LIBRE by 19 cents, making Wal-Mart's the lowest price for my novel on the web.

Although this is a boon for readers, they should also know that if this price war keeps up, many independent bookstores may be driven out of business -- and the brick and mortar chains may not be far behind. Also, the chances for a new author to get published in this kind of environment become infinitely more staggering than they already are.

While I welcome anything that makes books more accessible for readers, I think this may prove to be a short-sighted approach that ultimately hurts everyone. There truly is no such thing as a free lunch.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

White House pressures employers to fire the undocumented

The Obama administration is again walking a centrist path, this time with the enforcement of immigration laws.

The Bush team's approach was to stage workplace raids, rounding up undocumented workers by the bus load. Because working without a visa is a civil violation akin to simple speeding, Bush officials often charged detained workers with identity theft, a real crime that includes a prison sentence. The Bush people used the identity theft charges to plea bargain the arrested workers into accepting deportation. (It's worthwhile to note the Supreme Court unanimously threw out this misuse of identity theft charges if a worker uses fake ID to obtain an honest job rather than defraud.)

Rather than round up undocumented workers en mass, which leaves children suddenly without parents and divides families, the Obama administration is electing to pressure employers to dismiss undocumented workers. The Obama team is doing this by threatening companies with stiff fines if they are caught employing those without legal status to work.

Some supporters of immigration reform are critical of the White House, feeling any enforcement of these laws is inhumane. Meanwhile, many on the right feel the Obama strategy is a half measure which places the burden of law enforcement on employers. This is the irony of the centrist approach which drives most of Obama's decisions. It draws ire from both extremes.

Will the U.S. public agree with the president? You can be sure both sides will mount a spin offensive to prevent a shift toward the center.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

AMERICA LIBRE Panel Discussion at Libreria Martinez

On Wednesday September 23rd at 7:30pm the iconic Libreria Martinez and Art Gallery will host a panel discussion on the issues raised by AMERICA LIBRE. A book signing will follow the discussion.

The expert panel will include Abel Salas, publisher/editor in chief of Brooklyn and Boyle; Juan Manuel Casas, author of Federico Villalba’s Texas among others. Live music plus a wine and cheese reception will accompany the book signing.

Owned by MacArthur “genius grant” recipient Rueben Martinez, Libreria Martinez is located at:

1200 N. Main St.

Suite 100-D

Santa Ana, CA 92701

Phone: 714-973-7900

I hope you can join us.

Vroman's Event for AMERICA LIBRE tonight

Live in the Los Angeles area or traveling through? I hope you'll stop in for a reading, Q&A and book signing for AMERICA LIBRE at Vroman's Books, the oldest and largest independent bookseller in the L.A. area. If you have friends nearby, I'll hope you'll spread the word. (But please don't tell the Governator. He thinks Latinos are hot-blooded enough as it is.)

Award-winning composer/performer Max Vasquez will be on hand for an acoustic set and will also premiere his composition "America Libre" inspired by the novel.

Date:	Monday, September 21, 2009
Time:	7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location:	Vroman's Books
Street:	695 E. Colorado Blvd.
City/Town:	Pasadena, CA

Hope you can join us!

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

About AMERICA LIBRE...

AMERICA LIBRE is a gripping fictional account of U.S. immigration issues in the near-future where Latino-rights groups riot against the violence of border patrols and vigilante justice reigns in the American Southwest. Against this tumultuous backdrop, Afghan vet Manolo Suarez finds himself romantically drawn to a Latina radical activist, threatening his marriage, his family, and everything he believes about patriotism. Originally self-published, AMERICA LIBRE went on to win a 2008 International Latino Book Award and was published the following year by Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books).

Reader question about AMERICA LIBRE

One of the great things about being a writer in today's web connected world is the ability to engage in meaningful discussions with readers all over the world in near-real time. In fact, reader Bianca Laureano sent me these provocative questions which I hope to answer. Should you have similar questions or thoughts, feel free to get in touch.

Bianca Laureano:

Why was there no talk of Puerto Rico's independence movements? Why do strong women (beyond being mothers, transmitters of culture etc, but strong in less "traditional" senses) have to die in books?

Let me start with your first question, Bianca. Each author brings a personal set of experiences and knowledge to their work. Rarely is the author's background comprehensive enough to match that of all the book's readers. AMERICA LIBRE was grounded on the work of scholars from the U.S., Latin America and Spain. Leaving out references to independence movements in Puerto Rico was probably an oversight shared by me and this distinguished group. At the same time, AMERICA LIBRE is a trilogy and your comment may well spark the inclusion of Puerto Rican independence in one of the subsequent volumes.

Your second question is also thought provoking. I cannot speak to the reason strong, untraditional women often die in other books, but I think your observation has merit. It does indeed appear some type of "punishment" is meted to women in fiction who dare challenge traditional roles. I risk creating a spoiler for readers by getting into too much detail about the particulars of AMERICA LIBRE. However, I will say that like Jose Marti, Patrick Henry, Bodica, Joan of Arc, and Che Guevara, revolutionary leaders often die young--and become mythic heroes. I don't think that's such a bad fate for a fictional character.

Again, thanks for sending me your questions, Bianca. I look forward to answering any follow ups and similar questions and comments from other readers.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez