The Possibility of stripping a group from Driving legally in Washington

Lesly Salinas

Contributor

I was listening to the news on the radio yesterday and heard that Washington State is coming up with legislation to require proof of citizenship in order to gain a drivers license in that state. After my celebration for Illinois who did the exact opposite, this seemed awful. I'm always shocked when a state goes after a group of people and the communities in that state are okay with it. It is as if people didn't realize that this group of people that they are hurting and affecting are just that, a group of people. Just because you don't belong to that particular group of people, doesn't mean that you don't belong to some other group. Lately, the harassment has been focused on making undocumented people suffer. These people who are suffering are people just like you and I. They work, love, play, read, go to the movies, enjoy good food, parent, they are siblings, children, consumers, students. They also have feelings and emotions. It is awful when people are placed in a group like objects because of one similarity or one area in their lives where they happen to be targets and then bad things happen to them because of this, such as with this new piece of legislation that would prevent them from driving.

What if tomorrow, those same selfish dominant people decided that a group that you are part of should not have a driver's license anymore. What if they came up with a plan of action that would affect all people with target status? What if the schedule to remove Drivers licenses went like this:

Schedule for removing drivers licenses:

• Feb. 1st: People who are Undocumented
• Feb 15th:  People Over 60
• Feb 28th: People of color
• March 15th: People who are Gun Owners
• March 30th: People without Children
• April 15th: People with disabilities
• April 30th: People with any mental illness
• May 1st: People who are women
• May 30th: People who are Homosexual
• June 15th: People with a criminal record

The list can go on and on, however because I am hungry I'm going to stop there! People wake up, this is a social justice issue! Don't wait until you are affected to stick up for your neighbors, customers, community members, students, employees who are not protected. We all need to drive!