Email this page  Print this page  del.icio.us  digg

Lighting the fire

Pearce's caustic comments unite Latinos, while Mormon leaders remain silent

What does it take to shame middle-class Latinos to action?

A middle-class White guy.

That's what happened at the Arizona Latino Research Enterprise Town Hall Sept. 30. The result was the first organized Latino reaction to state Legislator Russell Pearce's caustic comments about reinstating Operation Wetback, a mass deportation program instigated under the Eisenhower administration.

Max Fose, a panelist invited to speak on how to reach voters using Web sites, changed his planned presentation to an impromptu challenge.

"I was going to talk about Web site tactics, but I'm really bothered by those comments from the legislator from the East Valley."

Then he asked why ALRE Latino attendees weren't angry enough to do something about Pearce's anti-immigrant rhetoric. Within the hour, the ALRE board huddled and announced a Monday press conference to denounce Pearce.

The broad base of speakers at the ALRE press event at the Capitol included both political parties, Black and Japanese community leaders, and an assortment of faith organizations. The ALRE conference initiated a groundswell of criticism by Latinos against Pearce. The protests intensified after he subsequently sent out an e-mail to supporters using a story linked to a White Supremacist Web site. He later lamely apologized for the e-mail.

Facing tough election battles, state Republican officials gave up trying to defend Pearce. Even staunch anti-illegal immigration hawk Congressman J.D. Hayworth condemned Pearce.

Perhaps the most strategic move by Latinos against Pearce happened in Mesa, his hometown and voter base. Members of the Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens held a news conference against Pearce with the Mesa Arizona (Mormon) Temple as a backdrop. Pearce is a member of the church.

Religious leaders from across the East Valley united with Hispanic community groups to denounce Pearce's racially charged statements. However, officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were noticeably absent from the event. Pat Esparza, MAHC executive director, says the LDS officials were invited, but declined, claiming the protest was "too political."

Mesa City Councilman Kyle Jones, whose district's voters are mostly Hispanic, defended the church, but not Pearce. "Russell is not a spokesman and does not represent mainstream church members." he told the East Valley Tribune. "Many, many of us are disappointed at what he has done and it gives us a black eye."