This month, from September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor one of the backbones of this nation, the Latine/x community. Hispanic Americans have shaped U.S. culture for centuries. From Spanish support during the Revolutionary War to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), which ended the Mexican-American War and redrew the U.S.–Mexico border, from Puerto Rico to the Southwest, their presence, sacrifices, losses and contributions are embedded in the very foundation of this country.
But for a moment, imagine this: you’re at work, fixing cars outside in the yard you rent. It’s just another day, until ICE agents rush toward you with military-style rifles. In seconds, you’re being arrested. The only questions they ask are: “Are you American?” and “What hospital were you born in?” You answer, “Yes,” and “I don’t know.” That’s it. That’s all it takes for you to be detained. No explanations. No time to show your ID. Just the feeling of being utterly powerless. Jason Brian Gavidia, born and raised in Los Angeles, a U.S. citizen, was wrongfully detained.
On September 8th, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has the authority to sweep through communities, detaining American citizens without cause. Even smashing someone’s car to get to them is considered legitimate under this ruling.
This is not the America most people want to live in. The Great Experiment that the US has been referred to is one that embraces differences, honors different cultures, not only from Europe, but from Africa, Mexico and many other cultures around the globe. If we are to survive as a nation, we must stand against cultural division and racism and learn to embrace one another.
So how do we stand together in a moment like this? By refusing to forget history. What is happening isn’t just bad policy; it’s a dangerous pattern. Democracy can fade slowly, especially with acts like the roundups that are occurring in our communities, until it’s too late and we no longer live in a free and diverse society that is inclusive of everyone.
And let us not allow history to repeat itself here. Hitler rose to power through a culture of fear and steady propaganda. He targeted Jewish people (and other people deemed “undesirable”) based on their features, culture and community belonging. Today in America, immigrants and citizens are being increasingly reduced to stereotypes and targeted based on their group belonging, all under the guise of Law and Order, claiming to arrest drug dealers and criminals.
Let us stand together and denounce the attacks on freedom and diversity and regain our sense of justice, equity and fairness for all to create greater inclusion and belonging.
If you haven’t yet had the opportunity, make sure to order a copy of Elmer Dixon’s powerful memoir DIE STANDING: From Black Panther Revolutionary to Global Diversity Consultant and check out what others have been saying about Elmer and his story.
Check out these other opportunities to see what folks are saying about Elmer and his continued work.
- See Elmer speak at Stories from the Revolutions’ Front Lines at his keynote at TEDxUTulsa
- Listen to Elmer talk on NPR’s The Jefferson Exchange
- Read about Elmer’s story in a piece featured in The Seattle Times
- Listen to Elmer on The Medium