Milwaukee's Latino Community Keeps Anxious Watch On Ariz. Ariz.'s New Immigration Law Requires Police To Ask People About Immigration Status

ABC NEWS

MILWAUKEE -- Civil rights advocates are vowing to fight a tough new immigration law, which requires police in Arizona to question people about their immigration status.

The governor calls it a safety issue. Critics call it racial profiling.

The fallout is being followed closely in Milwaukee's Latino community.

Jose Lopez started a baking enterprise called Lopez Bakery on Milwaukee's south side through hard work and a dream.

“When I come into this country, I got $20 in my pocket,” said Lopez. “That's all I had.”

Lopez crossed the border in Texas illegally, but has since earned his citizenship, raised his three American children, and used his skills to make a living.

“When United States needed workers, Mexico helped,” said Lopez. “Always.”

He and his son Jorge have been watching Arizona very closely, since the its governor just signed the toughest anti-illegal immigration law in generations into law.

The law is a broad measure that makes not carrying proper documents a crime in Arizona, and allows police to arrest anyone they suspect is in the country illegally.

“It opens up prejudices, it opens up discrimination, it's not a feel-good law,” said Jorge Lopez. “It brings up bad sentiments for everybody.

Jose Lopez added, “It's a violation of human rights,”

Although they're in Milwaukee, the Lopez's know Arizona's move could have national ramifications.

President Barack Obama has condemned the measure, calling it "misguided."

But Arizona's governor signed it, saying she had to act because of rising violence from Mexican drug cartels in her state, and no federal immigration reform policy.

That last point is where Jorge Lopez agrees with Arizona's governor.

He does not want amnesty, but some pathway to citizenship.

“Those that are criminals, throw them back,” said Jorge. “Those that are the hard-working, contributing, members of the society, that's a big tax base for this country.”

Jose Lopez is looking to the president to step in before the law takes effect in Arizona later this summer, comparing him to a leader who led the nation during another tumultuous time of immigration.

“The best the United States has had since like Abraham Lincoln-Obama,” Jose said. “That's my president.”

The divisive issue of immigration is not one many in Washington wanted to touch in this election year. But now that Arizona has, they may have no choice.

Obama is asking the Justice Department to look at Arizona's new law to see if it's legal.

Meanwhile, a local group that supports immigrants’ rights is sponsoring a rally at noon next Saturday, on South Fifth Street.

Milwaukee and its Racial Boundaries

Film 150 media project

View more presentations from Jordan Stewart.

Artist's Statement

Milwaukee is one of the most segregated cities in all of the U.S., yet this astonishing fact is habitually looked over within our very own society. Segregation in a big city such as Milwaukee, can only lead to social inequalities. For anyone who has lived in Milwaukee, they know that they don’t have to go far to see evidence of this destructive circle of social injustice. Education is the foundation for anyone who wishes to alter their socio-economic status. For this reason, the proper teaching of history from a young age is crucial in an individual’s understanding of who he or she is. All too often, the writing of historical documents is left in the hands of the traditional American writers. To be more specific, here in America, the ideals of white Anglo-Saxons tend to overflow and engulf both our public and private school systems. I don’t point this issue out with hopes of denouncing our current approach to the teaching of History, or to deem the works of many historians unsatisfactory. But rather, I point this issue out to bring light to the fact that a great number of students are being stripped of their very own history and or culture. In Milwaukee for example, our community is so racially diverse that there are children from all walks of life. Why is it that a middle school Mexican American student must know all of the U.S. president’s, but can’t learn of Hugo Chavez, Che Guevara and other Hispanic icons? Why is it that an African American student learns that President Lincoln supposedly freed the slaves, but knows nothing of the many historic slave rebellions? One would think that with Milwaukee's rich Socialist and Progressive history, the flood gates of discrimination among race and class would never have come to pass. This traditional approach to teaching students must be broke in order for a greater apprehension of knowledge to be received. However, in order for such a change to occur, the writing of history must be conducted in a multi-cultural fashion. For the many faults Milwaukee holds, organizations such as the boys and girls club are truly an inspiration to the city. This is why I wanted my piece to focus on the good and the bad of Milwaukee. As much as this city can be cast in a bad light, the Vieau School simply exemplifies what it means for a community to come together for the greater good. As previous stated, education is the key to success, and without these schools success becomes a distant dream instead of a reality.

Multi-Media Project

Images of the South-side and the segreation that accompanies it

Fifty years after the US supreme court passed the landmark decision of Brown v Board of Education, which concluded that the policy of separate schools for white and black children was unequal and unconstitutional, thus outlawing segregation, Milwaukee is the most segregated city for blacks and whites(and Latinos) in the country, according to the US census bureau.

Journal Entry 1

My schedule had been so busy in the last semester of my college career, that simply setting up a meeting with the Boys and Girls school has been a struggle. I recently hurt myself at work, and as a result of that, I had to reschedule a meeting for the following week. As much as this service learning appointment has been a slight hassle for me, I am hoping that it will turn out to be a great experience. I tend to not get along with younger kids, but I think I can have a good impact on some of their lives. I grew up in the Milwaukee area, so my hope is that I can connect with some of these kids in ways that others may not. I truly belive that this experience is something I need in order to reconnect with the community. As much as I oddly enjoy the inner city, it has been awhile since I ventured into that area of town. Maybe in working at the school and interactiing with kids who attend it, I will find that since of comfort amongst the community that I once had but lost touch with over time.

Media Literacy Exercise

Images have a way of addressing issues in a fashion that is inconceivable with mere words. When individuals are confronted with a visual stimulus, rather than a verbal one, it stirs up emotions and ideals that the artist of the portrait was aiming for. In regards to the issues of race, class and identity, visual imagery can become the key that begins to unlock the false ideologies that many people hold in American society today. However, while some photos get right to the point of the message they are trying to send out, other images call for the viewer to unravel the mystery behind the picture. Through the use of color, lighting, costume and performance, images can address the issues of race and identity in a unique way. The two images attached are an example of how issues of race can be addressed in this unique way. The two images attached are an example of how issues of race can be addressed in this unique style.
In image one, which is titles " Four Sacred Colors" the photograph immediately attacks the stereotypical words used to address each race through the use of color. The costume being worn by each person in the photo is the same color American society tends to label each race. Whcih in this case is white wearing white, black wearing black, Asian wearing yellow, and Native American wearing red. The artist of the photo also put the white woman in a wedding gown. There could be several reasons for doing this, but mostly it was done to show some sort of racial hierarchy. Whether it was done to show some sort of higher economic status or simply to make the picture focus around the "white race" the dress nevertheless serves a purpose. Also, it is interesting that the picture from left to right is girl, boy, girl, boy, with the girls holding their hands over their private area. Perhaps the woman's hand placement is an attempt to suggest some sort of purity or innocence amongst the girls. In any case, the picture addresses the issues of race and identity by giving the color of the costumes a racial meaning. But other pictures attack the issues of race in a different way.
Image two, titled "Self-Portrait Exaggerating My Black Features/ Self Portrait Exaggerating My White Features" is an image that calls for the viewer to engage in what he or she believes to be a black or white individual. In this image, the title to the picture lays down the foundation for what the image is trying to portray. One can immediately come to the conclusion that this most likely a bi-racial individual, who is attempting to show that he is half white but looks black. In American society, since the one-drop rule from centuries ago, an individual such as this young man is considered black. Even to this very day, sadly if you look the part, you're labeled as such. By having a picture of himself side by side, the image, along with title come into direct conflict with the myths of race held within society. Since there is no such thing as race, the artist is simply showing that black and white are simply words, not definitive categories of people. The fact that the picture is taken in black and white only aids to the message attempting to be sent out by the artist. Both image one and image two seek to tackle the issues of race but in two distinct styles. One used color as the tool that was needed, while the other hoped for color to be dissolved completely. Both images want the viewer to understand that we don't live in a color-blind society and as a result of this, images and photos can be used to address this seemingly non-existent issue.