Tag Archives: Kathy Binks

So let me get this straight. Kathy Binks spoke the truth and Latinos are angry about it? Go figure. I thought that’s what these children were called. After all, the parents of these children come to America illegally, use our infrastructure to pay for the cost of having the baby that will be born an American citizen and guarantee them the right to stay here and raise said child, and they are angry with Kathy Binks for calling these children anchor babies? Is this not precisely what they are?

What are we supposed to call these children of illegal immigrants? “Children of illegal immigrants?” Perhaps “children born to illegal immigrants” would be better.

How about “children of people that came to America illegally to exploit our social services, work under the table and hide all of their income from the tax man and live better than American born people that take it in the tail pipe by paying taxes to support the children of illegal immigrants.”

I don’t get it. What did she do wrong? Bob

Latino activists plan to speak out at the school board meeting tonight against what they say are racially insensitive remarks made by a trustee during a recent joint session with the City Council.

Kathy Binks, who has served the Fontana Unified School District for more than 22 years, referred to American-born children of immigrants as “anchor babies,” a phrase some use to denigrate the children of illegal immigrants, at the March 29 meeting to discuss cooperative efforts between the district and the council.

“I was appalled and aghast that comments like this are still being used,” said Joe Olague, president of the Inland Empire council of the League of United Latin American Citizens. “If you look back at history, we’re all sort of anchor babies no matter what country we came from.”

Olague said the comment dehumanizes people and his group will denounce it at tonight’s meeting.

“When she says “anchor baby,” the babies cannot speak up for themselves. Somebody has to speak for them, and LULAC is taking that position.”

Binks said Tuesday she had heard the phrase but never used it before the meeting.

“When I read in the dictionary and saw on the Internet what it means, I just about died,” Binks said.

Binks interjected the phrase while Trustee BarBara Chavez – in a broader discussion of DUI checkpoints some say target illegal immigrants – raised concerns over American-born children of immigrants being treated as
immigrants themselves.

“Oh I know that,” Binks said. “They’re anchor babies.”

Binks, who has operated a boys home for 42 years, said a mother of a Latino boy once used the phrase when she dropped him off at the home.

“I had a mother refer to one of the boys, `He’s our little anchor baby and he’s the glue that holds our family together,”‘ she said.

Binks said those who have expressed concern over the remark and those who will be at the meeting in protest are correct and that she owes them a public apology.

“My family and husband and I have been the biggest advocates for children anywhere,” Binks said. “I just had no idea that it was connected to (that) meaning. It’s been a learning experience.”

Some don’t believe that Binks was unaware of the phrase’s connotation.

“She’s a grown woman, she’s had a lot of time as an elected official, she serves a predominately Latino community,” said Leticia Garcia, a candidate this year for the board. “I wouldn’t expect that she didn’t know that that’s a derogatory term.”

Garcia posted a clip of Binks’ comment on YouTube and has called for her to resign.

“She’s completely out of touch with the students’ needs and it’s time for her to move on,” Garcia said.

Demands for Binks’ resignation are uncalled for, said Gus Hawthorn, president of the board.”I think an apology is in order on Kathy’s part,” Hawthorn said. “I think it’s unreasonable to make her resign based on the one remark she made.”

Hawthorn said the impact of the remark should not be minimized, but Binks is nationally recognized for her work and the controversy has become a distraction for the district.

Binks said some members of the community have contacted her to say they will be at the meeting to support her, but she has told them it is unnecessary.

She hopes her critics believe her apology.

“I can’t imagine 42 years raising other people’s kids and to have my legacy end up like this. Good grief.”