Exclusive: Shenandoah Illegal Alien Beating Death
By Wendi Medashefski
Late in the evening of Saturday, July 12, 2008, a 25-year-old illegal alien by the name of Luis Ramirez was involved in a scuffle with several juveniles in Shenandoah, PA, a small town less than 20 miles from Hazleton. The fight ended with Ramirez being beaten so severely that he died two days later from head trauma.
News reports are scarce. From what I can tell, this didn’t hit the AP newswire until July 18, almost a full week after the incident took place. You can make your own conjectures as to why that is. But the few articles I could find are written more like a personal blog special than journalistic reports.
The comments on the news site http://republicanherald.com made me recoil, especially the ones that seem to warn of more violence to come. Most of the comments talk about how this man’s legal status has nothing to do with his death. At the risk of being politically incorrect, I beg to differ. If Luis had stayed in his native country, where he legally belonged, he would not be dead right now. He wouldn’t have been in Shenandoah, PA at 11:30 on a Saturday night when these boys were out. Therefore, his legal status has just about everything to do with this.
Let’s examine the facts, and maybe a few of the rumors.
Fact #1. Luis Ramirez was apparently engaged to a non-Hispanic American citizen by the name of Crystal Dillman, age 24, mother of three children, two of whom were Ramirez’s biological children.
Fact #2. Ramirez worked two jobs, one of which is located in Berwick, PA. Illegal aliens are not permitted to work in the United States. The company he worked for needs to be reported to ICE.
Fact #3. Dillman said that Ramirez was planning on returning to Mexico to take over a business from his aunt. Dillman further states that “the plan” was for her and the three children to join him in Mexico at some future point.
Fact #4. Dillman stated that they were waiting for their “tax return” to move to Mexico.
As an illegal alien, Ramirez cannot get a social security number. He may have used an ITIN, but we don’t know if his employer hired him with an ITIN or a fraudulent SSN. Since Pennsylvania stopped recognizing new common law marriages, the couple would not be allowed to legally file a joint return. Tax law does not allow an ITIN-bearing taxpayer to claim Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Rumor #1. This was a racially-motivated “hate crime.”
The facts: All crimes are committed out of hate, plus there’s no evidence yet that Ramirez’s race (that of white mixed with Native American, generally referred to as Hispanic) played a part. The only reason some are assuming this is because a witness claims to have heard the group yelling ethnic slurs at the man and telling him to go back to Mexico. The witness was inside her own home with her air conditioning unit roaring, which she had to turn down so she could hear. A witness (possibly the same one – the news reports are skewed) claims to have seen Ramirez and another young man “wrestling.” That would lead us to believe that it wasn’t quite the group beat-down the Republican Herald would like us to think it is.
Rumor #2. He was just an innocent illegal alien, working hard to support his family.
The facts: Luis Ramirez was hardly an innocent man, even if we don’t count his illegal entry and illegal residence in the United States. He apparently had no respect for the laws of this land while he was here. He was found guilty of driving without a license in June of 2006. He may have also been a fugitive since 2004 under the name Luis Zavala for felony counts of aggravated assault, among other charges. Please see footnotes
Rumor #3. The attackers were six members of the Shenandoah football team.
The facts: while police have admitted some football players have been interviewed, there is no indication as yet whether they were questioned as suspects or witnesses. Jumping to conclusions may be one of the mitigating factors in this beating, so it’s best to not make conclusions until we have more answers from the people conducting the investigation – the police.
I would never say that “racism” in and of itself does not happen. Sure it does. But to take one incident and make it into a huge racist town war is only going to incite more violence. Of course, those involved in this man’s beating should be punished because we are, after all, a nation that lives by the rule of law. However, Luis Ramirez was caught driving without a license only a year ago. Why was he not reported to ICE as per federal immigration laws?
As for him driving without a license, we can presume he also had no financial responsibility registered with the state. No license, no insurance. What if Ramirez had killed or maimed someone in a car accident? Would all these people claim that it was racism that drove him to it? Of course not! The illegal alien supporters would have him on the national media every day for the next three months, talking about how he just wanted a better life. Meanwhile, the American citizen he destroyed would have nothing but medical/burial costs to show for America’s compassion.
The double standard is set. Illegal aliens kill thousands of Americans every year, yet few are ever made into online race wars. Many people don’t even realize that it happens because the media doesn’t want us to know. It doesn’t fit their agenda, so no airtime.
I noted in the beginning that the comments section of the Republican Herald has a few possibly threatening posts, if one were inclined to perceive them that way.
ChendoFanNoMore writes “The 462 better pray that this doesn’t bring MS 13 to town. Where is Geraldo Rivera when we need him?!” (462 is in reference to the 3-digit exchange for the Shenandoah area.) BTW, we have NEVER needed Geraldo Rivera and now certainly isn’t the time to start.
The Apocalypse wrote “The Apocalypse: The 462 vs. MS13”
I was informed by a close friend that RUMOR had it that a particular Sunday church festival was going to turn violent. The festival went off without a hitch, but I had to track down where the rumor came from. My concern is that citizens might hear the rumor, think it’s true, and create even bigger problems by retaliating. So, I finally found the source. Apparently, someone dubbing himself “The King” posted onto the same news site which has now been removed. However, there is a comment directed back at “The King”:
Skookie wrote
” To The King
You act as if the illegals are the only people that work back breaking jobs. What about all the Legal “skooks” that cook, clean, cut, chop, carry, mine,and serve their country in the military.. that pay their taxes and hospital bills!? You leave comments suggesting violence during the weekend festival making people of ALL ethnics and ages fear going to a celebration that is tradition. Shame on you! If those of other races retaliate against the whites.. they are just as wrong as the group of kids responsible for Luis and are hypocrites. … the worst part is the children are now fatherless and a young woman will raise 3 children alone. plus, the friends of the victim will definitely retaliate. welcome to a race war.” [sic]
Footnote: one of the commenters referred to Ramirez as “EDUARDO RAMIREZ ZAVALA.” I decided to do a docket search on this name. What I found was a person named “Luis Zavala” having the same date of birth “3-16-1983 (25 years old)” is listed as a fugitive in Schuylkill County for two counts of aggravated assault (felonies), two counts of simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person. I cannot say for certain, but it is suspicious that this person would have the same exact birthdate, with a name that was used by one of his apparent friends. Please feel free to search the PA Web Dockets page yourself to verify:
The Shenandoah police department has not yet returned my phone call seeking comment on this interesting development.
(Type in name and choose Schuylkill County)
Last Name: Zavala
First Name: Luis
County: Schuylkill
This is what you’ll see at the bottom of page:
| Docket Number | Office | Filing Date | Short Caption | County | Case Status | ||||||
| DKT | CR- 0000223 -04 |
MDJ- 21- 3-05 |
07/29/ 2004 |
COMMON- WEALTH OF PENNSYL- VANIA -V- ZAVALA, LUIS |
Schuyl -kill |
Fugitive | |||||
| 1 | |||||||||||
If you check on the Docket number here’s the report. Click on link below. It opens a PDF document in a new window.
Magisterial District Judge 21-3-05
You’ll see filed on 07/29/2004 charges against:
ZAVALA, LUIS of GORDON, PA 17936
Date Of Birth: 03/16/1983 Male Hispanic
2 counts of AGGRAVATED ASSUALT, 2 counts of SIMPLE ASSAULT, and 1 count of RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON
[It is a shame that anyone loses their life. Would tougher Immigration Laws that are Enforced, have prevented this tragedy? —ed]
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Sean
Thu 08/14/2008
Illegal, law-abiding alien. Think about that.
Trust me, I’m not racist. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt no matter what color, shape, or size. And I understand the ‘circumstances’ scenario many illegals paint. But I also know that if you want something bad enough, i.e. to become and American citizen, you find a way. TOo many illegals say they don’t have the money for the process. And it is expensive, my sister in law just became a citizen in January. Yet they managed to save up enough money in Mexico (and might I add their money is worth a percentage of ours) to pay someone to shadow them across the border. It’s also been my experience to see many an illegal alien send hard earned cash home to relatives. I say, abide by our laws. Become a citizen. It opens up doors such as education, which in turn leads to a better, higher paying job. Then you can afford not only to send that money home to (most likely) relatives who desperately need it, but to also send for them to come here and follow in your footsteps by also becoming legal citizens.
I know a lot of our great grandparents were WOP’s, but they didn’t flaunt that fact. They didn’t organize mass protests or demand the anthem be converted to Italian, German, Polish, or any other language of origin. I find it intersting that many latino immigrants cry discrimination, yet my son in law recently got into an arguement with my daughter and told her “White women are easy. You never see Mexican woman go with white men.”
I know you can’t blame all for one, but it goes to show you how we all got to this point.
Going back to the topic at hand, I find it very interesting that the media, who portrayed this crime to be hate based, is nowhere to be found upon the arrest of Ms. Dillman, and the crcumstances surrounding that. For just as much attention was given to the case because of the allegations flung against a communtiy by the two women involved, where are they now that the truth is starting to come out? I guess the factual events don’t sell as many newspapers…
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Dave
Tue 08/12/2008
Would I be stereotyping drug dealers if I said that the people of Shenandoah are tired of ‘those people’ bringing more crime into the town? You can not demand one crime be punished while another is overlooked.
I’m not demanding a crime be overlooked. I’m demanding that we stop scapegoating and stereotyping undocumented immigrants as if they are to blame for all of society’s ills. There are many undocumented immigrants who do not commit crime, and who ARE, contrary to Wendi’s comments, law abiding.
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Sean
Tue 08/12/2008
To Dave: Would I be stereotyping drug dealers if I said that the people of Shenandoah are tired of ‘those people’ bringing more crime into the town? Or what if I said that the people of Shenandoah are tired of ‘those people’ trying to spin one particular crime in order to cover up another?
Is it prejudice if I said the pedofile down the street is a pervert? Would I be sterotyping him if I said I didn’t want to see your daughter get molested by ‘perverts like him’? I guess as long as their skin has no color you can say whatever you’d like.
Frankly, I don’t care if a person is pink with purple polka dots. If they are a drug dealing, minor corrupting, crime committing, statatory rapist, then I don’t want them anywhere near my neighborhood. Even better yet, if this was Lou Robertson instead of Luis Ramirez, my sentiments concerning his death would not change.
You can not sit here and call a double standard. You can not demand one crime be punished while another is overlooked. ALL PARTIES INVOLVED should be prosecuted.
You seem to be missing Wendi’s point.
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Dave
Tue 08/12/2008
“White cultural pride is a euphanism(sic) for hate?”
I never said that. Please re-read the prior comments where this comes up, preferably with a dictionary at hand, so you can look up the word euphemism. Do you even know what the word means?
“Alright smart guy, what is your definition of White Cultural Pride?”
I’d be the last person to try to define that, since I’m not white. Ask Wendi. She brought up the terms “celebrating white European cultures”, which you then changed to “White Cultural Pride.”
“Bending over for every non-White that comes along to rape and kill simply because it’s racist to stand up to them? It’s racist to identify with your people….if you are White.”
Whoa! I never suggested that one should bend over for rape and murder, regardless of where it comes from. And identifying with one’s people is not racist, for anyone. Again, unless “identifying” is a euphemism for hating and oppressing others because of theirs. Capiche?
“It will increase in frequency as people get sick and tired of THEM and their subversive supporters (YOU).”
Unfortunately this is true, if we aren’t careful. Violence towards undocumented immigrants (and those who either look like them and/or “aid and abet” them) will increase in frequency as people read about hateful words and actions directed at a group of people and feel that it is acceptable to beat up on them, maybe even kill them, because after all, they are just cockroaches who get exactly what they deserve.
And we live in a sad, sorry-ass country if, by advocating for a nonviolent approach to resolve our differences, I’m considered subversive.
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Dave
Mon 08/11/2008
Wilson, I might go away, and soon enough, but not just because you tell me to. Besides…what’s the point of having a comments section if everyone agrees with everyone? Kinda boring, huh?
I…happen to really like white people. Some of my best friends…
Read my comments, Wilson, all of them. Do I ever bash white people? Am I white? Did I claim to be white? Does that make me a racist?
My contempt for some people has nothing to do with their race. In fact, my main points for responding to comments here is mainly that: 1) I can, and that the moderators have chosen to show my comments and 2) I have contempt for people that choose to stereotype a group of people without adequate knowledge of the group they stereotype. It’s called prejudice.
Wilson says: “Well, these people do not behave in a humane fashion themselves.”
That’s exactly my point. “These people.” They are ALL BAD. It’s consistent with how Wendi chooses to stereotype our latest scapegoats in our society, as well.
Wilson says: “It is only appropriate (ie justice) that the tables get turned on them.”
That is exactly the tone I find objectionable. “Them” is referred to the whole group of people you choose to stereotype. “Illegals”. That somehow his death, or the death of any other “illegal” is justified. Regardless of what people uncover about Luis Ramirez, regardless of the speculation on what he did during his life, it should never be a justification for anyone to inflict harm on him. If he is guilty of anything, he needs to be tried in court, and sentenced appropriately. The fact that he is, as you say, an illegal, doesn’t change our proper response to him, which is to let our legal system do it’s job. It is not our job, nor the job of the 3 teens, to dispense “justice.”
Also, at the risk of being accused of disrupting (btw, my comments are a disruption of what, exactly?) and moral bashing, calling my statements propaganda-esque and utter hogwash doesn’t mean much, unless you can give reasons why you feel that way.
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