Editor’s note: This story was sent to our sister publication, Tribunodelpueblo.org, by a reader and was originally published here.
TUCSON, AZ— Living in a predominantly Hispanic community, one lulls themselves into a false sense of security, thinking that what we see on the news, happens in other communities, and could not happen here.
Yet on December 5, here in Tucson, Arizona, I.C.E. raided two Taco Giro restaurants which escalated into federal agents firing pepper spray into a crowd of bystanders, including Congressmember Adelita Grijalva. Forty six people were detained in the raid.
To say that we live in unprecedented times is an understatement. But unfortunately it is said so much now that it has almost lost all meaning. Every day on the news there is a new shocking report that has no precedent.
We live under the administration of a convicted felon, where Trump and his cohorts are systematically tearing down pillars of health, education, diplomacy, infrastructure, tradition, among others. They are committing crimes of varying types and degrees out in the open. Those injured by their actions are the most in need. While there are people that still refute the events unfolding and defend this administration, there’s a growing number of people who are seeing through Trump’s lies.
The I.C.E. raids on December 5th have shaken that false sense of security here in Arizona. The images and the events of that day confirmed that this can happen anywhere, to anyone, and that at the same time, there can still be a great deal of apathy and denial.
The attack on Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva is refuted by I.C.E. despite clear video evidence. There are still people that acquiesce to the gaslighting narrative and will forget about this event after the next new shocking thing. Also, the fact that it can happen to a Congresswoman, has created another shock, where we used to believe that elected officials were held with certain special privileges, but if that can happen to her, then what will happen to the rest of us?
Congresswoman Adelita is no stranger to abuse. In a different unprecedented incident, her congressional victory was not ratified and her swearing in was delayed for completely false and arbitrary reasons.
I am thankful that we have a Congresswoman like Adelita representing us, who stands up for what’s right, shoulder to shoulder with those affected, especially in this day and age where we are all saturated with shock after shock on a daily basis.
It can seem almost hopeless, and easier to give in to the falsified/official narrative, but having someone like her lead the charge will hopefully inspire others to take more interest in their communities and the events happening around them.
