# immigrationreform #handsupdon'tshoot: 2014

#IMMIGRATIONREFORM
In examining an issue that affects those who identify as apart of the Latino Diaspora, I choose no further then the issue that affects us right at home #immigration reform. Immigration reform is a controversial and widely discursive topic in our academic and political institutions currently. There is much pressure, probably more than ever before in U.S. history, for the President and Congress to pass an immigration reform policy that will affect millions of immigrants, first generation Latinos and their families. Social media has played a huge activist role in immigration issues and raising awareness. SNS sites like Twitter, highlight the important political role social media can play in raising support sand consciousness for comprehensive immigrant reform policy. Some of the things I've noticed on twitter about immigration issues is the sort of political community this issue forms on the site. Almost all tweets I have viewed within the last couple of days #immigrationreform tweets that provide twitter followers information on how to join the movement and track the political argument and decisions (or lack there of) on part of the federal government. Folks have been tweeting and retweeting images of the faces of undocumented immigrants and children, rallies happening throughout the country and what President Obama and other federal electeds are doing (or not doing) and saying (or not saying) about immigration policy and the horror of deportation during this administration.
President @BarackObama, Stop Deporting People who Could be Included in #ImmigrationReform http://t.co/tRhcMWQShp pic.twitter.com/oicfxCtwN4
— Dana Fairbanks, M.D. (@dcfairbank) October 1, 2014 ">

Latin@s dont let them disrespect u! Vote out politicians opposing #ImmigrationReform Go:http://t.co/oTUpHN6cOX -#TNTweeters #NorthDakota
— ItsShoBoy (@ItsShoBoy) October 3, 2014 ">
The political community #immigrationreform has formed on Twitter which in mainstream media and policy is particularly seen as affecting folks within the Latin Diaspora has seen multi-ethnic participation in online activist pursuits. This intersectionality between race, gender and politics that is evident on social media in the case of immigration issues and policy is also evident in regards to the issue of police militarization and brutality of black bodies, which is also a hot issue on social media.

#HANDSUPDON'TSHOOT
Like #immigrationreform, the inhumanity of police militarization in Ferguson and throughout the country has sparked the forming of a political community amongst Twitter users and the online activist and awareness the hashtag comes with. Twitter users have been tweeting and retweeting photos and videos from protest occurring in Ferguson and other parts of the country and tweeting about the political movement forming in Ferguson and viral in regards to interfacing with our police and political institutions.
@anthonyshahid #ferguson:UN leaders ask @BarackObama about US human rights!

#handsupdontshoot US needs rights lessons pic.twitter.com/mGiJar26O3
— Richard Muhammad (@RMFinalCall) September 24, 2014 ">

But I think there are two main distinctions between the movements and online activism in regards to these two issues. The first being the inclusionary element that black politics has and continues to spark and the difference in mass media coverage of the issue that social media users often express. #Handsupdontshoot has sparked an international collectively around human rights and bodies that began in a small town in Missouri. Folks in Hong Kong, China have taken to the streets to protest about human rights and the police brutality of black and brown bodies in the US, and Palestinian protestors have also been documented on social media as standing in solidarity with Ferguson and the African Diaspora on the issue of displacement of black bodies. I think this inclusion that is more evident in this issue and lesser in #immigration reform, stems from the historical nature of black politics and the more concrete understanding of the historical inhumanity against people of African descent.

HK students displaying #HandsUpDontShoot during protest/ will help raise their profile to US audiences #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/85rM5qIhHU
—
Walter Quintanilla (@wsquint) September 29, 2014 ">
Secondly, #immigration reform is a much more covered issue on national mass media platforms as opposed to #handsupdontshoot or #OccupyFerguson. NBC and CNN programs feature regular debates with immigration reform and deportation advocates, whereas I find issues that deal with black bodies and police militarization to be largely fazing out of mass media platforms. Social media users have documented this too. Folks share photos and tweets about updated information in regards to Ferguson and upcoming community or viral forums to discuss this issue, while pointing out that the issue will continue to grow larger in support and awareness whether corporate media platforms will continue to put out heartfelt, TRUTHFULLY critically assessed opinions or not.

# immigrationreform #handsupdon'tshoot

Friday, October 3, 2014

Home of the Brave, Land of the Free (yeah right!)