Gonzales Battle Puts Latino Groups in Hot Spot
As the controversy over Attorney General Alberto Gonzales continues, Latino groups reportedly are torn. Many gladly endorsed the elevation of the son of migrant farmworkers to the nation’s top prosecutorial position. Now that he is on the hot seat, however, over the controversial firing of eight U.S. attorneys – and endorsing prosecutorial policies that many consider harmful to struggling minorities outside the professional elite – it is a different story.
Few are saying much, right now, according to news reports. But that silence is deafening – and should be joined by additional calls for Gonzales to resign, beyond those that have already been made by some Latino newspapers in front-page editorials, argues a New America Media commentary today.
“The silence of Latino civil rights organizations that joined Gonzales in his brightest hour is deafening in this country’s darkest hour. Yet the firing scandal presents an opportunity for new voices to be heard,” writes author Roberto Lovato in a call for greater criticism of the embattled attorney general. “Like it or not, we hold some responsibility for Alberto Gonzales by virtue of our silence.”
For more details, see this earlier article in the Berkeley Daily Planet.
