Today, the last day of the 102nd session of Nebraska's Unicameral will present decisions highlighting the presence and stature of the State's Latino, Mexican American presence.
To be sure, a major victory has already been had with the suppression of an Arizona-style illegal immigration bill (LB48) that would have required law enforcement to check the immigration status of a person lawfully stopped, detained or arrested when it was reasonable to suspect he or she was in the country illegally.
We are now all waiting with bated breath for the other shoe to drop regarding LB 599. Last week's activity emanating from the debate which asked for personal accountability, Lazaro Spindola stepped forward to lay out the enormous efforts that he and his staff put forth to win Nebraska law-makers support not only for LB 599, but to also share in the responsibility of keeping people like Jensen and Kobach at arms length on issues affecting Raza in Nebraska.
Reflecting on last week I revisited an album produced several years ago, showing the same people that have continued the battle against those in the State that find themselves at wits end with the unprecedented presence of Raza among and within all parts of the State of Nebraska. I find in this album, Nuestra Raza, "La Gente", who became personally accountable, traveling to Lincoln when the call came for support.
In the face of a political vacuum caused by Raza not having elected representatives in political jurisdictions controlled by City, State, County and Federal jurisdictions, with the exception of Rebecca Valdez with the State Board and the presence of Chief State Federal Marshal Mark Martinez, Gente, those that know the problems, the hopes and pains de "La Comunidad", because it is they that pursue their daily bread, their advocacy, their commitment to the common good, by working "La Frontera", being in the front lines in the war against poverty, injustice, unequal housing, discrimination. It is these people, the Brodsky's, Sosa's, the Mora's, Franco's, Spindola's and Garcia's and Gonzales's. It is these people that grab the reins of responsibility and ride into the fray, against unbelievable odds, and WIN.
It is now time for the next stage of activism to propel the goal of equal and fair representation of Raza and that is to find a way of channeling this personal commitment in a manner resulting in political representation, increasing Latino, Mexican American voter registrations, and creating a legitimate manner of communicating in a State wide perspective, the activities representing the lifestyle, cultural and family traditions and American Patriotism de Nuestra Raza.
In closing, despite what one may think of my relationship and respect for the Nebraska Latino American Commission, I will let the record show that since 1976, I have and remain a firm supporter of this Institution. My respect and admiration for Lazaro Cardenas and his staff, especially Dora, remain invincible and stalwart. As long as NLAC continues a legacy established by Rev. Navarro, Don Jose Ramirez, El Senor Don Gregorio Aguilera, los Carillos and Juarez's, the Palma's, Barrientos and Espejo's, Cecilia Huerta, to maintain an open line of communication with law-makers for the purpose of understanding the challenges brought to our State by the burgeoning presence of Raza,
Jose Chato Garcia
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