A woman called 911 after hearing two young people speaking Spanish in a supermarket in Jonesboro, Georgia. The video of the incident, recorded in July and posted by content creator Marina Fisher on TikTok, went viral, reigniting the debate on racial and linguistic discrimination in the United States.
In America, we speak English, thank you. I will call 911, the woman can be heard saying in the video, before contacting the authorities and reporting that “there are a couple of illegals here.” What she didn’t know is that none of the young women she confronted were in an irregular situation.
Marina Fisher, who recorded the moment, is a U.S. citizen of Mexican descent and resides in Houston, Texas. Her companion was a young woman from Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States, whose inhabitants have been U.S. citizens by birth since 1917, so she also does not require a visa or special permission to live in the country.
The events took place at the Goodwill store located on 138th Street in Jonesboro, in the northern part of Georgia.
Fisher explained in a second video that he was with his friend in the electronics section, discussing a grill set that they thought was "nice," when a woman approached them in a hostile manner and demanded that they speak in English.
"I was shocked. My mind was trying to process the situation and figure out how to handle this with dignity, so I wouldn't look crazy and get expelled.", commented Fisher, clearly affected by the episode.
In another part of the video, the young woman states: “My family has been in the United States since 1890. I am proudly Mexican, but I am also American,” she said, reaffirming that she has never lived in Mexico.
The episode has generated a wave of outrage on social media and in the news, which interpret it as a new example of the climate of racial tension and xenophobia that persists in various areas of the United States.
A similar incident was reported on July 11 at a Walmart supermarket in New Mexico, where agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a Mexican migrant using a stun gun. The intervention was heavily criticized on social media for excessive use of force.
In June, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a message on social media urging citizens to help locate and apprehend undocumented migrants.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Discrimination Incident and Immigration Policies in the U.S.
Why did the woman call 911 after hearing two young people speaking Spanish?
The woman called 911 because she heard two young people speaking Spanish in a supermarket and wrongly assumed that they were illegal immigrants. This incident highlights the racial and linguistic discrimination present in some areas of the United States.
What is the legal situation of the young women involved in the incident at the supermarket?
None of the young women were in an irregular situation. Marina Fisher is a U.S. citizen of Mexican descent, and her companion is from Puerto Rico, whose inhabitants have been U.S. citizens by birth since 1917.
How has the community and the media reacted to the incident at the supermarket?
The incident has sparked a wave of outrage on social media and in the press, being seen as an example of the climate of racial tension and xenophobia that persists in various areas of the United States. The community has expressed its rejection of such discriminatory acts.
What measures is the U.S. government taking regarding undocumented immigration?
The current administration has intensified operations to detain undocumented immigrants, often in an aggressive manner, which has raised concerns and criticisms from civil rights organizations. These actions reflect a hardening of immigration policy and a climate of fear within migrant communities.
Filed under:
