Rhode Island store owner proofs Hispanic American customers: Asks to see Social Security card and threatens to call ICE
By John Amato Thursday Mar 13, 2008 11:01am
The Malkin effect on full display in Rhode Island. It's not enough to hate illegal immigrants anymore--you must despise anyone who dares speak Spanish in public too. A Ross Perot loving---anti-Hispanic bigot got grumpy because two Latino customers didn't know exactly what equipment they wanted---thought it was a hassle to help them---heard them speak Spanish---then demanded proof of citizenship for one of them before he would sell the items. He even threatened to call ICE and arrest them himself. And both people are US citizens. Of course there is outrage in the community.
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Richardson:....Neil, I've been very interested in illegal immigration for three years. Back in 1992 I came off my couch, Ross Perot brought me off my couch and I've been active in the reform party--- Terry's organization "Rhode Islanders for illegal enforcement," and the enforcement being the important part. So when I see a customer quite often comes into my store, sometimes they don't speak good English, ahhh---in this case we'll go to the facts. That one spoke English and one did not speak English. I got their parts, it was quite a job getting their parts because they weren't sure what they wanted. I guess it was the fellow that didn't speak English, seemed to be the mechanic part of it and the other fellow must have been the homeowner, I don't know what he was...
Cavuto: At what point did you just say I want to see your Social Security card?
Richardson: OK, so we finished the situation, I was writing it up and I casually said, "I'd like to see this gentleman's Social Security card. And that got the English speaking person all up tight and the other fellow...
How dare they speak Spanish in his store and how dare they get "up tight" because of a little racism. "I don't know what he was." Maybe he was a human being?
All José Genao planned to do at the heating equipment supply store was buy a spare part for his boiler. While the owner began searching for the part, Genao and his friend began speaking to each other in Spanish. As owner David C. Richardson was ringing up Genao’s $18 purchase, he demanded to see their Social Security cards.
What followed was a telling encounter underscoring the tensions in this country over immigration and ethnicity. When Genao told Richardson “he did not have the right to ask all those questions,” Richardson pulled out a membership card for Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement, a group that seeks curbs on illegal immigration.
Then, he lifted the phone receiver and threatened to call immigration authorities, Genao said. “He [Richardson] grabbed the phone and said, ‘I can call ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] anytime I see an illegal immigrant,’ ” said Genao. “He also said, ‘I can make a citizen’s arrest.’ Genao, a Rhode Island state employee, is a native of the Dominican Republic and a U.S. citizen. He speaks fluent English. He said his friend — who declined comment — is also a Dominican native and U.S. citizen. “There is no problem with his status,” said Genao. “He is legal.” State records list both as registered voters...read on
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Frist!
I'll show you mine if you show me yours.
Amazing, but not astonishing. Who carries their Social Security card with them? I don't.
And as I recall, anyone who asks you for your Social Security number needs to provide documentation that they are legally entitled to do so.
This simpering fool is granting himself a shitload of authority. I'm surprised one of his customers hasn't produced a gun as proof of their citizenship.
man, the 'frist' thing is p l a y e d....
cc @ 4:
This is the part where I wish for mod points.
All it guarantees is irritation with the poster, and that I don't read their post. I NEVER read the first post.
"Papers please" = The American Gestapo at work.
They should charge the shop owner for violating their Freedom of Speech rights, as well as impersonating and officer/legal official AND for discrimination.
these are typical clinton supporters?
no surprise obama had a hard time up there
;-)
The dude thinks 51% of the population of RI is illegal? I wouldn't be tootin' the racist horn so loudly with odds like that. Like Anton Sigur said: call it, friendo.
[Deleted. C'mon doc. You've been posting here long enough to know better. That kind of sentiment is not tolerated here-Sitemonitor]
Just imagine of the two were from Vermont and started speaking French. The redneck probably would have shot them.
Ich muß sehen, daß Ihre Papiere gefallen.
OKay Fuckwit - where is it required that you carry your SS at all times (especially when it may get stolen and your ID then stolen with it)
and what about ALL THE Puerto Ricans we have living here in Mass and RI? Have news for you fuckwit .. they are AMERICANS and the mostly speak SPANISH!.
assholeness
So tell me you going to require to see a SS card when teh Portuguese come to your store ... many people confuse Portuguese with Spanish and we have a lot of Portuguese immigrants here .. or how about Russians? My dentist is Russian you going to ask to see his SS card .. hell he speaks Russian all the time ....
Morons on parade... On Faux News channel no less.
That's a good way for a storeowner to run himself right out of business. What a dick.
This man is one moron, among many. Sir, as you clearly don't know or don't care enough to know, there are many other nationalities represented when it comes to illegal immigrants, those who are Spanish-speaking just happen to be the most
reported on. And amazing that a customer didn't know what they wanted immediately, and that's something to make you suspicious?!?! You are a bigot and should have your store boycotted. I wouldn't shop there at all.
The more I hear from people like that store owner about how the "illegal" Hispanics are ruining our economy, taking our jobs and the like the more I recall that Germany used to do the same thing against the Jews in the lead up to World War II. Much of the blame for Germany's economic problems and failed economic policies during that time where placed on the Jews as well as foreigners.
ohio progressive @ 7:
Huh?
Blatant, unapologetic RACISM . . . it makes me sick!
Hey David Richardson!! How’s business?? Bwahahahahahaha.
ohio progressive @ 7:
double huh?
I wonder if the guy had the regular "right to refuse service" sign up in his store. Do people have a right to refuse service for reasons they think are justified?
Morning, Afternoon and Evening in America.
George Bush's America, anyway. He made it fashionable to be bigoted.
yellow dog @ 20:
Triple huh?
and I'm an Obama supporter
Hopefully his business will go belly up as his only customers will be those idiots who share his paranoiac prejudges.
"they don’t speak good English"
I think he meant, "they don’t speak English well."
those store patrons should have responded by asking grampa numbnuts for HIS social security card.
gahd, ignorant nativists do rile me so
Wow, rednecks migrated North? Maybe we should build a fence.
yellow dog @ 20:
Thiss guy is really stupid. If they are an immigrant and don't speak good english, most repugnants would charge them more.
shantiquax @ 8:
I think he means he thinks that 51% of RI's hispanic population is illegal.
I hope they throw the book at this guy. If we don't make an example of this now, as another poster said, "papers please" will be a reality.
This is amazing! Not only is it Unamerican, it's outrageous! How did these people become so empowered by their bigotry! I live in a multicutural area. This Bullshit would never fly! These people should be ashamed, but they won't. They surround themselves with the American flag, and call themselves patriots.
Mark N. @ 21:
Generally speaking yes, but racial discrimination in public accommodations (like stores and restaurants) is prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The storeowner would argue that he's not discriminating based on immigration status, not race, but I suspect it would be hard for him to show that such discrimination - at least the way he's doing it - doesn't disproportionately impact Hispanics.
"is discriminating on immigration status"
Dis ooner should follow da laws. But me?
Laws? I don't need no stinkin' laws!
"David C. Richardson - Prick"
His store should be picketed.
And it is probably not legal for him to demand to see an SS card for a simple cash transaction (even a check). I do not reveal my SS# unless the inquiry is totally legitimate (getting a bank account, being hired for a job and filling out tax witholding forms, etc.)
I hope these amigos left and took their business elsewhere.
They should start a picket line outside the place as well.
Heh. He CAN'T demand to see ANYONE'S SSN card. That bastard needs a big, fat boycott of his racist store so he can be bankrupted and run out of business (hopefully, a HISPANIC American could buy the store!).
"These people should be ashamed, but they won’t. They surround themselves with the American flag, and call themselves patriots."
And don't forget appearing on the Faux News
Probably won't let his grandchildren watch 'Dora the Explorer' because she's a wetback.
Rusty Scary Black Church Shackleford @ 31:
I guess it would all come down to how one defines "disproportionately".
Such a shame. That man should be ashamed of himself.
I wonder how much longer it will be until our National ID card is required for purchases. Our lives are being watched and tracked - we'll soon be slaves to our Government overlords.
Stupid Git @ 25:
Ha! I thought the exact thing when I heard him say that. Also, the guy on the right of the video needs to talk to someone about combing that hair.
The guy's are idiots but I'm not sure why they are on National news unless Fox is trying to give lessons in idiocy.
Samson- @ 26:
They should have asked him for his license, his tax returns ( to be sure he's reporting all his cash transactions), his CO and his high school diploma.
Why doesn't he just ask the next black man he sees, "Can I see your freedom papers?" I hate when guys like this feel they can do things like this.
The current Administration and the political climate it has engendered has empowered these knuckle-draggers to act like this. I'm all for free speech, but the rhetoric being spewed out by conservative extremists is promoting bigotry and, in many case, acts of violence. Our society is in a state of free fall right now. We have lost so much ground in the past 8 years.
Yeah, I'm pretty well jaded by the whole thing.
Joe O. @ 16:
Yes. And they annexed two countries for supplies (like Canada and Mexico) and started to wage war on the world.
This is what America is heading towards cause nothing makes money and drivies countries into debt (where the banks have you by the balls) like a World War.
Not to mention that it's entirely possible for a non-citizen to be in the U.S. legally, and not have a SSN or even a Visa. It's called "travelling."
Nobody in Europe ever asked me for my papers!
Is this moron so upset about illegal immigration that he would refuse to do business with a tourist?
I'd like to see how that shop owner would do making his arguement to the Lakota Indians or some other Native American tribe. My guess is they would tell him that he isn't exactly "legal" either (nor am I for that matter) in their eyes.
It's funny how this displaced anger and blame never targets politicians. Point and blame, someone, anyone. Our economy is in the shitter? It's somebody else's fault. World is pissed at us? It's somebody else's fault.
This moron has that much business, that he can decide who he wants for customers? Good luck with that you racist moron.
clytemnestra Hussein Orestia @ 12:
Amen! I'm a former Rhode Islander, and Portuguese in descent. And even though R.I. is a blue state, there's a pretty frightening number of ignorant, conservative blowhards who think Portuguese is the same as Spanish (like they think the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc. are identical...), that all vaguely brown-skinned people are speaking Spanish to spite them, and that they're all illegal aliens waiting to take your job away from you!
And look at him! Wrapped up in the flag of the "United States of America," with a big shit-eating grin on his face, proud as punch of his ignorance and the fact that he got on TV! I'm sorry, I have to go throw up now.
It's very simple: He's a Swamp Yankee. In the South we call them "crackers."
Swamp Yankee (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia):
Swamp Yankee is a colloquialism that has a variety of meanings. Generally, it refers to Yankees or WASPs (northeasterners with colonial ancestry) from rural Rhode Island and nearby eastern Connecticut and southeastern Massachusetts. The term "Yankee" connotes urbane industriousness, while the term "Swamp Yankee" signifies a more countrified, stubborn, independent and less refined subtype.
Ruth Schell's 1963 article, "Swamp Yankee" in American Speech goes into detail about the characteristics and usage associated with the term. She claims that it is used predominantly in Rhode Island, eastern Connecticut and occasionally southeastern Massachusetts, to describe: "a rural dweller--one of stubborn, old-fashioned, frugal, English-speaking Yankee stock, of good standing in the rural community, but usually possessing minimal formal education and little desire to augment it. Swamp Yankees themselves react to the term with slight disapproval or indifference...The term is unfavorably received when used by a city dweller with the intention of ridiculing a country resident; however, when one country resident refers to another as a swamp Yankee, no offense is taken, and it is treated as good-natured jest.".[1]
Schell continues, "[t]he term is most frequently applied to older people and is often preceded by old. Sometimes it is shortened to swampy [or swamper]...[Swamp yankees] were not among the religious and ambitious Pilgrims who had sailed to America on the Mayflower; but rather they were more often among the undesirables who had left England as the result of some form of misconduct and who retreated to the swamps when they arrived here." The typical swamp Yankee can be found in an old, rural general store...where in the evening four or five of the immediate countryside's swamp Yankees gather and tell stories for several hours. Such a gathering has been jocularly described as a "lying contest...The term swamp Yankee is becoming less known and may be unknown in a few generations....Probably the best reason for its disappearance is the vanishing of the swamp Yankee himself as society moves toward urban and suburban life."[2]
At one time Swamp Yankees even had their own variety of isolated country music, according to an article written by Harvard professor, Paul Di Maggio, and Vanderbilt University professor, Richard Peterson.[3]
Today, the term is still used in Rhode Island, eastern Connecticut and southeastern Massachusetts and often connotes the northern equivalent of the southern term redneck. In 1993, the playwright, Arthur Miller used the term in his play, The Last Yankee, to refer to a New England carpenter who was a descendant of one of the Founding Fathers. Rhode Island cartoonist Don Bosquet often parodies the "Swamp Yankee" in his cartoons. In a 2003 article in New England Quarterly about President Calvin Coolidge, Kerry W. Buckley describes Coolidge as a "swamp Yankee," defined as "scion of an old family that was no longer elite or monied."[4]
1. ^ Ruth Schell, "Swamp Yankee," American Speech, 1963, Volume 38, No.2 (The American Dialect Society, Published by Duke University Press ), pg. 121-123. accessed through JSTOR
2. ^ Schell, 121-123
3. ^ Peterson, 499
4. ^ Kerry W. Buckley, "A President for the "Great Silent Majority: Bruce Barton's Construction of Calvin Coolidge," The New England Quarterly > Vol. 76, No. 4 (Dec., 2003), pp. 594
Also see here: http://www.curbstone.org/index.cfm?webpage=80
ugh, I have passed by his store many times . . . maybe when he feels like being such a fiuckwit (and yes I'm very angry) he should just go south on W. River and then a little further south on Corliss to where it meets Charles St. and go shoping at the Amazing.net store there at the corner ...
A far better use of his time and energy
THERE IS NO LAW IN THE UNITED STATES THAT REQUIRES ANYONE TO CARRY ANY KIND OF IDENTIFICATION.
If that clown actually arrested someone (citizen's arrest) he could be sued for false arrest
Rusty Scary Black Church Shackleford @ 31:
I don't think he can claim he is discriminating against 'illegal immigrants' simply because he cannot show that he knew they were illegal immigrants. What can be shown is he is only questioning Hispanics. I hope he is sues civilly and some fat fed charges are brought against this assmunch.
Filthy Harry @ 55:
I would think he's set himself up for some hefty civil suits. What an idiot.
I got a brochure from my California State Assemblyman in the mail just yesterday entitled "Identity Theft...How to protect your privacy". It said this:
SECURE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
Your Social Security number if a thief's prime target. Never carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Release your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary.
So, I think that this store owner, who believes that he has the right to demand a social security card for a cash purchase is blatantly in the wrong.
Joe O. @ 48:
We have Pequot and Abanaki tribes here (and others) maybe they should visit his store.
This is not a Clinton supporter I guarantee. I believe he said he was a Ross Perot supporter. I think he is more likely than not a Lou Dobbs Independent.
Stupid Git @ 25:
Hahaha!
This subject really, really hit home for me. My girlfriend is Latin, and she still speaks Spanish with her family. When we're out together with her family, doing museums or restaurants here in Chi Town, you wouldn't believe the number of people to stare and scowl simply because they dare to speak Spanish in public. People have actually stopped them to ask, "Where are you from?" and they don't ask it in a friendly, neighborly way. Very offensive. If anyone answers these morons in English, then comes stupid comment 2: "Your English is very good. You don't sound Mexican at all." Which is a crazy thing to say because my girl and her family are from South America. These ignorant people think all Spanish-sounding languages are the same and that anyone who speaks Spanish is Mexican. I'd laugh if it wasn't so stupid.
The willful ignorance and jingoistic arrogance in this country makes me crazy, and I was born here! We all would be better off being bilingual, it's a wonderful gift to have. You would never know it if you paid one ounce of attention to a-holes like Richardson.
OT
I am watching the House Debate on FISA, and am amazed at the unmitigated gall of those republicans who stand there and lie and lie and lie.
Have republicans no shame?
ConcernedHusseinCanuck @ 56:
I think I'll sue him for the mental anguish I felt upon hearing his story.
ronhohn @ 61:
No, they left it on the floor of an airport bathroom stall.
Actually, the Social Security Administration says "Be careful with your Social Security card and number. Keep your card and any other document that shows your Social Security number on it in a safe place. DO NOT routinely carry your card or other documents that display your number."
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html
I live 70 miles from Mexico and have most of my life. Its embarrassing to see the racist US policies and laws enforced in an area that is predominately a mexican - not hispanic - mexican culture. At the end of last year, I-10 was a stream of vehicles loaded with household goods fleeing back to Mexico because of new DHS policies regarding enforcement. It was estimated that 3/4 million people were dislocated - families. I made this known to this blog and it was ignored. Only the local news in S. Az seamed to care and then not much.
This is political grandstanding. The largest problem involves the deaths of people crossing - but really this country doesnt care about that, and litter on the property of ranchers. This isnt a problem. Its political pandering to a racist nation. These people are guest workers - except the US really doesnt have a guest worker program. The are not immigrants.
And John, as someone that has lived this since the early 50's get off of - 'and they were citizens'. What are you saying they are if they arent citizens? What does it matter? They are guest workers in a country that has no program for guest workers.
This splits the families of these workers. Last summer a young woman coming into the US to marry her fiance (who was undocumented) died in the desert on the way from the heat. She was to marry him and return. She never got to marry him, although she did return. She wasnt a citizen.
You wont read this, but let me try and help you with this anyway. Here is an example of a guest worker program.
People either risk their lives or pay several thousand dollars to cross into the US. Instead, open store front offices (no custome federal style buildings) manned by hired (and trained etc) mexican citizens IN Mexico. If someone wants to become a guest worker in the US, they would go to one of these offices with proper ID and apply. After a check to insure they are who they say they are and that they arent criminals you sell them a guest worker card for $10 per week or $100 per quarter. With this, they can safely enter the US on a bus (or drive) and work without fear. You could require they let the guest worker program know where they are working under penalty of forfeiture of the guest worker card.
The result would be the deserts would become quiet again and anyone crossing in the desert is probably up to no good. You probably dont know this, but the problem the border patrol faces is numbers. They are very good. People dont really get past them. Reduce the numbers and border patrol will get them all. No fence is needed. I commute several times a week between Tucson and Phoenix and see this every week and have for years.
I have worked with many undocumented workers. Honestly, I would rather work with them than most of the US Citizens I have worked with.
The only issue involving jobs for US citizens here was handled when the US had functional unions. Get the government off the backs of the unions and that problem goes away as well.
Sorry for the rant. But living in an area that was historically mexico and is culturally mexican - this really gets tired.
(unedited)
Mome-rath @ 51:
There was a letter to the editor of our local paper a few months ago from someone who attended a Portuguese Catholic Church auction and the entire auction was held in (gasp) Portuguese! They were agast and demanded that these auctions should be held in English.
If some ignorant stranger demanded to see my social the first thing I'd do is call a cop. "Hello police? There's a guy here stealing identities. Yeah he's a clerk at a store and he says he needs my social in order to sell me a piece of pipe."
While he's dealing with possible criminal trouble I'll be dialing the ACLU and whatever other group I could find and getting a very good, very angry lawyer to help me assuage my personal indignation. A million ought to start making me feel a little better.
If there's one thing I've learned from the scum bag shrub co. criminal enterprise it's that you don't get mad, you get litigious.
Providence RI used to be part of the underground railroad, what happened?
There is absolutely no authority for any private entity to request a social security card, but it is not illegal to ask. It would be illegal for any government agency to accept a thrid-party's SNN from an unauthorized person because of the 1974 Privacy Act:
"Section 7 of the Privacy Act further provides that any agency requesting an individual to disclose his SSN must "inform that individual whether that disclosure is mandatory or voluntary, by what statutory authority such number is solicited, and what uses will be made of it."
There are very few legally sanctioned uses of a SSN, one of which is to track earnings by the IRS.
This guy should also know there is legislation in the works that would require any private business that requests SSN must have a secure method of protecting the information from theft.
Sounds like a candidate for the next episode of "Worst Person in the World".
It's so hard to imagine having so much hate in your heart that you would turn into this sort of person.
Yikes.
ronhohn @ 61:
Of course not.
I dont have a social security card.
anon @ 72:
You won't need it anyway.
I will just nicely tell him "Sir do not bother to pack the goods I'll go get it elsewhere where they appreciate illegal immigrant dollars asshole."
OK, this guy is a bigot and the situation is just outright and insane and insulting... I mean, on what level can we even just assume any given Caucasian is a citizen?
At the same time “I don’t know what he was.” and the human being comment is kind of ridiculous. It's pretty obvious the guy is referring to his status in terms of the job, hence the homeowner and mechanic comments before that.
BREAKING NEWS!!!
Bush sells Hawaii and Rhode Island to Saudi Arabia to pay off national debt.
Many illegals have fake Social Security cards and other types of identification. If you aren't an expert in such matters; you wouldn't know if they were legitimate anyway.
Right on the S.S. card, it says not to carry it around as a form of ID.
Plus, if he doesn't have documentation saying he's legally entitled to view that information, this guy should be getting a visit from the feds instead of getting cozy with Faux News...
Oh wait, who's in control of the Executive (enforcement) branch of the Federal government these days...?
(sigh)
ronhohn @ 54:
True, but in Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada. decided by the Supreme Court stated that states requiring citizens to identify themselves to police during a stop does not violate someone's 4th or 5th amendment rights. So states can legally require you to identify yourself, IN the event you are stopped by police. BUT, this jack-hole store owner isn't a cop, just a bigot with a grudge.
BobD @ 68:
Tucson, through churches, ran (and still runs) an underground railroad for refugees who are officially refused entry by the government from central and south america who are fleeing from the consequences of US foreign policy. It is mentioned in the press on occasion - otherwise I wouldnt know it was there. It is left largely alone by authorities.
What an ASSHOLE! Enough said!
Oh Yah
http://tinyurl.com/36oj9z
This is just another example of how the US
is more and more looking likehas become a totalitarian state reminiscent of East Germany. I am ashamed of it every time I am reminded of the fact that I lived in the US for 15 years.L.A. Confidential @ 71:
Yeah that's kind of a silly question. Unless you've been asleep for 8 years.
BobD @ 68:
The bigots derailed it.
nony @ 74:
He store is close to the exit and on ramps for I-95 ... not more than 20 miles north at the first exit into Mass there is a Home Depot store!
Here comes the National ID idea again. Next will come the chip in your body somewhere.
I'm not sure which surprises more: the level of hatred displayed by these guys or the level of stupidity.
On one hand, you have a guy in his golden years who should be spending what precious time he has left with his grandchildren doing something cons