From Dreams to Nightmares

Op-Ed: From Dreams to Nightmares

This opinion piece was written by Dr. Juan M. Benitez, PhD, a parent, community member, Long Beach Unified School District Board Member, and Cal State Long Beach Executive Director of the Center for Community Engagement.

Dr. Juan Benitez speaks during the Safe Passage Kick-Off event on May 7, 2024. (Patrick Strattner)

I’m Latino, I speak Spanish and I look like tens of millions of low-wage workers in our country.  I also shop, work and live with people that look just like me. On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that our government could continue to terrorize me and my community — made up of tens of millions of proud and contributing members of our country and society.

In one, 6-3 decision, the highest court in our country, the very court that was established to uphold our rights against terror, tyranny, lawlessness, discrimination, marginalization, oppression, harassment and violence just ruled that our government could terrorize me simply by the way I look, the language I speak and where I am located. That’s right, the Supreme Court ruled that, without having committed any crime or wrongdoing … without “reasonable suspicion” based on anything else other than being, acting, and looking Latino, I could be detained.  

This doesn’t only sow terror in our communities, it dismantles the very foundation of our so-called free society.

To be very clear … this is not my opinion or interpretation or representation; Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote an opinion explaining his reasoning in lifting restrictions on Los Angeles immigration sweeps: “Here, those circumstances include: that there is an extremely high number and percentage of illegal immigrants in the Los Angeles area; that those individuals tend to gather in certain locations to seek daily work; that those individuals often work in certain kinds of jobs, such as day labor, landscaping, agriculture, and construction, that do not require paperwork and are therefore especially attractive to illegal immigrants; and that many of those illegally in the Los Angeles area come from Mexico or Central America and do not speak much English.” 

We now live in a country where the government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish or has an accent, looks like they have a low wage job, and/or happens to be in a place where low wage workers are.  In our city — that’s half of the city, half of our school district, and half of our college students. 

The elusive American dream that has never been a realization for so many, has finally been confirmed as a nightmare. And what about the children? How are the children, Dr. Baker (Superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), the 5th largest school district in our state)? How can we commit to providing safe, inclusive spaces for every child? How can we even attempt to remove barriers based on their family’s circumstances? How do we ensure that we provide classrooms where students feel welcomed and where every child’s right to learn is protected? How do we provide any kind of environment conducive to learning in the midst of fear, worry and trauma while parents, caregivers and families are taken away and ripped apart? How can our schools ever truly be safe and inclusive in this environment?

Is this the country we want?

Absolutely not! Now’s the time for ALL of us, EVERYONE of us to come together.

I call on all our community members, grassroots leaders and business owners to join in protecting students’ right to safety, well-being and a free and public high quality, inclusive education.

We need you to come out… now; to be around our schools and neighborhoods. A new school year has just started. Tell our families and children and students that you are an ally, that you are there to help, support and protect them; to ensure their safety and well-being. Say “hello” to them, be an extra set of eyes, ears, caring hearts for them; publicly and visibly.

Come to a school board meeting and/or city council meeting. Be there, in solidarity, in support of our students, our schools, our district, and our communities. You may not have ever gone to a city council meeting or a school board meeting; now is your chance. Now is the time; not just at a school board or city council meeting.

We have 60,000+ students in LBUSD … you may not agree with everything LBUSD does or how it’s being done but this isn’t about that. This isn’t about praising LBUSD either: I don’t even know anyone in our district who thinks we’ve got it all figured out or that we’re doing everything right. There’s a lot that we’re doing and a lot more that we need to do and need to do better, particularly for our most underserved families and students — those under attack. 

I’m not asking you to come out solely for LBUSD or one group of students or even one segment of our community. Be present and public so that our communities, our most vulnerable students, families and neighbors see and hear you and know they are not alone.  

Come speak during the public comment portion of our meetings and tell our students and community you are here for them and stand with them. Let them see you and hear you publicly, in the face of the attacks and hostility our communities and children are facing.

Nothing should ever undermine or prevent a child’s right to well-being, safety and an education … nothing.