WESLACO, TX — On May 7, the Texas legislature and Governor Greg Abbott signed into law SB-4 which criminalizes law enforcement who do not comply with requests to hold detained immigrants for federal pick-up. It bans so-called sanctuary cities (that aim to protect immigrants) and empowers individual officers to ask about the immigration status of people they detain. SB-4 is called the “Show Me Your Papers” law.
Thousands have come out and protested this anti-immigrant law. In Austin, city council members were arrested and jailed. On May 1, state representative Victoria Neave went on a one-day hunger strike. Texas cities and towns are filing lawsuits against SB-4 based on the fact that it’s unconstitutional.
On May 29, more than 1,000 anti-SB-4 protesters filled the gallery at the end of the legislative session shouting, chanting and waving signs. They wanted to let lawmakers know what the community thinks about the bill. Some signs read, “I am illegal, an immigrant, and I am here to stay.”
State Representative Matt Rinaldi from Irving, TX, told lawmakers that he called ICE on the protesters. Some Democratic lawmakers were offended and called Rinaldi on the floor and made counter-threats. Rinaldi threatened to shoot one of the Democrats.
This tension in the legislative session is about who will control state politics. The Republicans have been in control since 1994 and have isolated the Democrats. With today’s price of oil at $45 a barrel, production has been shut down and the revenue from oil companies to the state is less than five years ago. There are also fewer jobs and repressive laws like SB-4 are the way to control the people of Texas. When people start questioning the legislature’s inability to provide jobs and basic needs, a repressive state government is necessary.
SB-4 specifically attacks the undocumented among us and aims to isolate and pit one section of society against the other. The most vulnerable are first, but their attack will then extend to all workers. This is not the 1950s or 1960s. It is not a color question as in a previous period when we could fight individually. Today it is a struggle between a ruling class and a working class. We all need jobs, healthcare and education today.
This small group of right-wingers wants to continue the old ways of “Black,” “White” and “Brown.” They can make their attempts to divide us, but because of automation in the workplaces, we are noticing that the capitalists will get rid of workers regardless of their skin color, religion or sexual preference. The displacement of our jobs sets the basis for real unity among workers. We must strive for that unity and stand up together. An attack on one is an attack on all.
