Victor L’Esperance
The arrest, assault and detention last week of Alejandro Reyes was outrageous on many levels. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) stopped Mr. Reyes on Linwood Road in Lynn. This continues an ICE operation in the city in support of their national goal to make 3,000 arrests a day of “illegal” immigrants; that’s 1,095,000 souls targeted by an administration that promised to rid the country of “criminals and lunatics.”
The facts of this incident scream out for great scrutiny and impact more Lynners than the Reyes family and the immigrant community. Those who are observing these events from the comfort of their easy chairs should ponder some deeper issues and their connections to this horrifying event.
This law enforcement operation was staged from Pine Grove Cemetery. Mr. Reyes was beaten and later had his neck used as a kneeling pad for an ICE Agent who obviously didn’t get the cautionary memo on detention procedures after the George Floyd fiasco. This is within the confines of a jewel of the city that houses the remains of esteemed veterans from our nation’s wars. If you haven’t visited the meticulously groomed lawns festooned with American flags, period cannon and replica cannon balls in the Civil War section, you should. Take a moment to ponder the consequences of enslaving and mistreating other members of the human race and the price ultimately paid by the brave and almost always young for those policies. Notice, as you navigate the paths of this maze-like warren of roads and pathways, the service insignia on the headstones. This is especially personal for me as my parents, Godparents, maternal grandparents, nephew, cousins, aunts and uncles are interred here. I’m sure many of the readers have similar connections. How dare these cretins desecrate this hallowed ground!
This is all in the service of individuals with delusions of grandeur who usurp and disrespect long-standing traditions of military protocol and honor. These have long been observed in Lynn, especially on Memorial Day. The memories I have as a youth are of the Amvets (American Veterans), Franco-Amvets, and other veterans’ posts from around the city marching (not walking) in formations by division. I eventually became a life member of the Amvets and proudly remember each member wearing short-sleeved white shirts and garrison caps, formed up in platoons by the war they served in — WWI and the Lady’s Auxiliary in open convertibles at the front of the procession, each post took turns as the lead. After parading through city streets past packed crowds, including Theresa the Ballon Lady, the WWII, Korea, and then Vietnam vets ended up at the review stand comprised of local elected officials and dignitaries at the entrance to, you guessed it, Pine Grove Cemetery. There, we listened to the speeches and gunfire salutes.
The last great parade I recall was when we returned from the first Gulf War. I know the times are divisive and precarious now, but the 60’s and 70’s battles over civil rights and Vietnam left scars that took years to heal, if they ever did. Through a set of circumstances best told another time, I ended up as a senior advisor to the Kuwaiti Government and led the first elements of their civilian government into Kuwait City after the US Marines fought a tank battle at the airport as is their proper role. Boy, did those people love seeing Americans! The streets of Lynn were packed the following May on Memorial Day as we walked, not marched, to Pine Grove, where thankfully no Lynner had been sacrificed in that liberation. It was a patriotic outpouring of joy not seen in years. But over time, the parade has turned into a ceremony attended by a few stalwarts who insist on fealty to tradition and remembrance.
Just over a week before Mr. Reyes’ interaction with those amateurs posing as federal agents, I participated in the Memorial Day ceremonies along with a handful of dedicated veterans. The Veterans Office, led by Director Mike Sweeney, organizes this to include the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) High School unit and the Lynn Public School Band. After the speeches, the ROTC drill team puts on a thrilling exhibition that’s special to this former Coast Guard Petaluma Honor Guard member. The band plays patriotic songs, and we stand and salute our hymns. The Marine Corps League of Essex County, which may include some great-grandfathers, offers a poignant 17-gun salute before two of the band members play taps.
It’s hard not to notice that many, if not most, of the band and ROTC members are young people of color. Judging by the name tags, there is a majority Hispanic presence in this elite cohort. Their dress, military bearing, politeness, respect toward their elders and overall conduct are outstanding. This is a credit to their parents, their heritage, and their teachers. Oh, by the way, the ROTC leader is an active duty Marine Gunnery Sergeant who has a Spanish last name.
I point this out because those clowns in the masks and guns who resemble the Green Men who invaded Crimea about 10 years ago engaged in racial profiling. One of the big lessons that law enforcement learned after 9-11 was that profiling is ineffective. Conduct and history are the indicators that drive good police work. Quotas will result in the stupidity that victims like Mr. Reyes will unfortunately endure. We need to stand up against this regardless of status because this senseless beating of innocent individuals touches everyone and is un-American. I doubt our President will be thinking this as he celebrates his birthday parade.
Victor L’Esperance is a political activist with state, national, and international experience. He grew up and lives in Lynn.
