The Shock Doctrine Comes to San Diego

[babylonsister]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/28014

The Shock Doctrine Comes to San Diego
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-10-25 23:56. Media

By José I. Fusté, Ethnic Studies Ph.D. Student, University of California, San Diego

I am writing as a concerned San Diego resident. I would like to report that there are many alarming and unjust things happening in the midst of this firestorm that are not being reported in the mainstream media.

First, there are several indications that the Border Patrol is using this crisis as an opportunity to crack down on undocumented immigrants. According to the San Diego Union Tribune "fire blog," today, six illegal immigrants were stealing relief supplies from Qualcomm Stadium. Witnesses claim they were stealing supplies from the site. The blog then states "Because some members of the group spoke Spanish, officers called Border Patrol gents at the stadium for relief efforts, who then determined the thieves were in the country illegally and arrested them."

What is troubling about this is that the article does not qualify why these people were suspected of 'stealing' supplies. If they had been white, English speaking Americans, would they have been seen as suspicious and reported to the authorities? Also, how is somebody guilty of 'stealing' supplies that are basically dropped off by donors in the Qualcomm parking lot? Yesterday I took donations at Qualcomm and gave them to some unidentified civilians who were loading them unto a pick-up truck. There was no government presence or guidelines as to how the donation process was supposed to take place. This is a bit reminiscent of Katrina and how white residents of new Orleans were represented in the media as scavengers while black residents were demonized as 'looters.'

San Francisco Indymedia is reporting that ICE has set up checkpoints at Imperial Avenue in the south of San Diego and in San Marcos in the north.

The Union Tribine's fire blog is reporting that Border Patrol agents are assisting with efforts to control the fires. Border Patrol agents are also "assisting local law enforcement officials with evacuations, traffic control, and perimeter control".

Border Angels founder and immigration activist Enrique Morones who is heading the effort to help undocumented evacuees reports that some undocumented immigrants were told to work despite mandatory evacuation orders (good person to interview- tel. [phone], email:
[email protected]). This was confirmed in an ABC news story on this titled "Dangerous Dilemma for Illegal Immigrants Seeking Safety From Wildfires, Some Undocumented Workers Find Border Patrol Instead"

The other troubling thing happening in the midsts of this situation is that residents of the Rincon Indian Reservation are reporting that they got no help at all while 65 of their residences and buildings burnt down. According to the SD Union Tribune Fire Blog: tribal councilwoman Stephanie Spencer said "We were left behind, nobody here to help…we are doing everything we can with our casino and all our resources here, but they don't last forever" )

more...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/28014

[Auggie]

1. I knew it! I'm expecting BushCo

to find a way to privatize some of these disaster services too.

[babylonsister]

3. Oh, me, too. nt

[RufusTFirefly]

2. No way!!! Not Ahnuld!!!

He would never be involved in something as nefarious as that!!

(Just keep repeating to yourself, "He's married to a Kennedy. He's married to a Kennedy." and you'll either feel better or hyperventilate. Or both.)

:sarcasm: