Shame on you, unknown suspect(s)

For years, the California Department of Justice has reported zero incidents of hate crime in Imperial County.

It’s possible that local and state authorities missed unreported cases here or there, but the truth is that regardless of the issues in our communities no felonies like this have occurred in the past — until now.

One might think that a hate crime could happened in another Imperial County city of town, but no — it was reported last week in Calexico.

That old saying comes to mind, “Only in Calexico.”

An unidentified individual or group vandalized at least two vehicles, one of which was confirmed by Calexico Police to belong to a Vincent Memorial High School student — the Scots faced the Calexico High School Bulldogs junior varsity and varsity squads the same day.

The suspect or suspects attempted to intimidate the victims by throwing eggs at their vehicles, wrapping one of the vehicles in toilet paper and left embarrassing, derogatory messages on both.

Whoever the messenger was, it was assumed the victims are from Mexicali.

However, the mere fact that the vehicles were on American soil leaves the ignorant reasoning baseless.

Calexico has been suffering from political turmoil for years, in which local politicians — and their followers — have fought tirelessly against each other and brought financial, legal and public safety concerns including damaging in part their credibility — and now this.

The worse part of it is that the incident probably happened between brothers of skin.

If not the most Hispanic city in the United States, Calexico is among the top in the percentage of Latino population in the Golden State.

So, besides becoming a shameful incident, it is also a paradoxical one. We have seen over the country cases of white supremacists expressing their hate against those different from them.

It seems a bunch of border crooks are no different than those Aryans who think they are superior to all races.

As of today, the case is being handled by the police as a hate crime.

Evidence is being collected and authorities have opened an investigation into the matter in order to possibly move forward with prosecution, trial and conviction.

But what Calexico as a whole must do is to send a strong message against this type of actions.

From school board members to city councilmen, from parents to teachers, from students to pals, hate crime has to be condemned and banned once and for all.

It is not only good for potential victims, but for the well- being of the community as a whole.

Calexico does not need other cases like this one.

As my mother has always told me, “Leave things to God.” In this case, I hope Divine Justice is served.

I am truly glad that no matter the challenges, immigrants have always succeeded.

Blessed be God and Viva Mexico.