In what may be the most despicable development in the wake of Monday's Metro collision, survivors of one of the crash's nine fatalities have been the recipients of severe, deplorable harassment because the victim's surname sounded like it might belong to an immigrant (h/t to DCist).
WTOP reported this afternoon that relatives of Ana Fernandez, who died in Monday's crash, have been receiving aggressive and hate-fueled calls demanding to know if Fernandez was an illegal immigrant. According to City Paper, who spoke to WTOP reporter Kate Ryan, these horrible xenophobic scumbags suspect that Fernandez's family will "use" the collision to "gain legal status" for Fernandez.
Fernandez was a legal immigrant and all six of her children were born in the United States. Her eldest, Evelyn, is now fighting harassment, defending the status of her deceased mother and five siblings, and trying to ensure that all of her siblings can stay together.
Oh, let me try again. She died. How is Fernandez's background the business of anybody? It doesn't make any logical sense.
I want, desperately, to confirm that the people calling the family are not from the area. A large misconception of the people living, working, and existing in this city are that they (we) are cold, emotionless, boring people. And we are a little dull on the outside, but we're also kind, supportive, and interesting just below the surface (and more often than not, on the outside, too). I've seen warmth and generosity in this city, and I'd hate to think that the people I commute with every day and pass in the city may be the culprits. I want this so badly that I refuse to think it could be residents without clear, concise evidence. (The source of these calls, of course, has not been confirmed or mention at press time.)
I doubt any of the callers were Native American. (It seems unlikely, since Native Americans account for a pathetically, tragically mere 1.37 percent of the U.S. population.) It would seem then, that the ancestry of the callers would not include immigrants.
Fernandez' family is grieving. Our city continues, in some ways, to grieve. This behavior is despicable and inappropriate. I hope it stops soon.
Family of woman killed in crash getting hate calls, WTOP
People Are Animals, DCist
Metro Crash Victim's Family Is Receiving Hates Messages, Washington City Paper's City Desk
Comments
That is despicable and absurd.
One can only hope that these people will never be tired, poor, or part of huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Perhaps then they will know what it is to long for someone to lift the lamp beside the golden door.
Check the spelling of your headline.
D'oh! Thanks Ed!
Couldn't have said it better myself!
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