Latinos..Ripped From the Headlines
A scene-by-scene look at the Law & Order episode that was pulled by NBC after it aired.
I've detailed the show from beginning to end. I've used direct quotes from the show. Most scenes are included, but a few were skipped if they weren't directly related to the theme of the episode. Some ethnicities of the characters are assumed based on what their characters said or the trends in the episode. The Puerto Rican characters tended to have olive or brown shades of skin, had accents, clothing with Puerto Rican flags, or explicitly stated their ethnicity (typical and often necessary for television scripts). The characters were written and directed to be "ethnic." The ethnicities of the characters that didn't match this trend are presumed by "television stereotyping" to be white or African-American.
"Law & Order" is one of my favorite shows. They usually include a realistic view of New York City. They don't over-diversify, but they don't create a fictional city with a super majority of whites like "Friends" or other shows. "Law & Order" episodes usually include even representations that will show a minority as a criminal, a cop a judge or politician. Their balance is important in a crime show, and isn't an easy task. This episode was a deviation. One consistent theme, however, is that the show has a habit of showing minorities as oversensitive and sometimes expecting special treatment. They usually find a way for the District Attorney's office to chastise the paranoid minority and remind them that "justice is blind." While there are some people like this in the world, this appears to be a theme when ethnic issues are addressed on the show. It may be the driving undercurrent that makes this episode unusually biased.
As a reminder of the basic problems with the episode, they portrayed a historical event that happened at a treasured symbol of Puerto Rican heritage there - but added a fictional murder and linked it directly to a criminal mob mentality. Not a single Latino character came forth willingly about the crime or supported full and complete punishment. No Latino involved with the parade was a positive character. All of the Latino characters were either criminals, someone who tried to avoid reporting crime (even when they were a victim), or someone who tried to cover up for another Latino's crime. Those who weren't criminals were witnesses who had to be threatened or convinced to testify. Even the murderer's lawyer regresses to a sniveling race baiter when the prosecutors refuse to lower the charge. Four people who came forward to help the investigation were white: one sexual assault victim, the couple who reported the crime and the man who submitted his tape of the parade.
Latinos are presented in this episode as an oversensitive community that shuns personal responsibility, and the consequences of actions and that has no sense of the rule of law, while expecting preferential treatment.
Episode Name: Sunday In The Park With Jorge
Written by William M. Finkelstein and directed by James Quinn.
Some of the key Characters:
Det Briscoe - White Detective, regular Character
Det Green - African American Detective, regular character
Lt. Anita Van Buren - African American, regular character
ADA Jack McCoy - regular Character
ADA Abbie Carmichael - regular character
DA Nora Lewin, regular character
Susan Capp - white murder victim
Ethan Capp - victim's husband
Seth - business partner of Ethan Capp
The show opens up with footage of young Puerto Rican men tipping a vendor cart, spraying Puerto Rican women with water while trying to pull off the women's shirts. This turns out to be video footage captured by a white man who later testifies in court.
A white couple, having an affair, is rowing down the lake and sees a body on the shore.
Note: This is an example where another Latino actor or actress in the cast could have put Latinos on the side of the law. Also, there was no murder connected with the post-parade attacks in real life.
The two investigating cops, Detectives Lenny Briscoe and Ed Green, show up at the scene.
The man who rents the boats described some "knuckleheads from the parade" who tried to mess with the boats that day. He couldn't describe as "tall, short, fat or thin" - just Puerto Rican.
A patrol car lets the Detectives know that some "Hispanics" have been arrested for robbery and sexual assault.
Each of the Puerto Rican men is interviewed and a couple are asked about the "woman in the boat", none of them give any information.
During the interview, one of the men complains, "One stinking day out of the year to honor the Puerto Rican people and I gotta get this kind of harassment." The Detective responds in disgust, "You ripped the girl's shirt off out of patriotism?"
Note: This is the first time in the episode a minority is chastised for race-baiting.
A white girl is interviewed about having her clothes ripped off in the middle of the day. She complains about the lack of police presence. Briscoe responds that they didn't know there would be "that type of crowd" or else they would have had a much greater police presence. She says that it's not comforting to know this is what happens without a cop around. The young woman can't identify any of the men. She describes them as "teens, 20s, I guess Puerto Rican." All she remembers is hands.
Note: This is another example where another Latino cast could have put Latinos on the side of the law. Also, Briscoe defends the image of the police department.
Note: None of the people could identify the Puerto Rican men, yet they all had very distinctive and different characteristics. One is wearing a Puerto Rican flag bandana, another has a yellow tank top with a PR flag, another with a baseball cap and sports jersey, another has a blue tank top and bleached blonde hair with a black goatee.
The Police Chief is updated and he asks them to visit the woman's husband - a "computer billionaire" named Ethan Capp and to pursue the case aggressively. They visit the husband who is with his friend and business partner, Seth. Ethan says he can't understand "how people can just go crazy like that" and Seth follows up by saying he can't believe "how they can be allowed to go crazy like that." Seth also complains about the lack of police presence and their lack of action - "just standing there." Briscoe says, "If they did, they were wrong".
Note: Here we have the image of police being protected for a second time.
The victim, Susan, left that day to take the rowboat out alone, according to her husband. The Doorman, a wannabe cop and obvious parody of NYPD Blue characters, says he thinks they just miscalculated the parade detail and got caught shorthanded. He reveals that they had marital problems and at one point she moved out with a male Caucasian friend in his 60s with a Boston accent. This man turns out to be the victim's father.
Note: Here the cops are being offered an excuse for their inaction for the third time.
The parents are interviewed. The father suggests they look at the husband for the crime. Susan's mother tries to defend the Ethan. The father tells the Detectives that Ethan had met someone else and wanted to end the marriage. Susan had seen a lawyer.
They talk to the Susan's attorney who indicates Susan wanted to take a route of divorce that might have caused the computer company to be sold and the assets divided.
Lt Van Buren lets the Detectives know that all the young men pleaded guilty to robbery or assault and will serve about 18 months in jail. The Detectives suggest looking at the husband.
Ethan is confronted and is asked for an alibi. He provides a very detailed one with witnesses and receipts.
They meet with the mistress, part of Ethan's alibi. She has bruises on her neck. She says Seth had attacked her after she laughed at him. Seth has blamed her for ruining Ethan's marriage.
The Chief of Police yells at the Lieutenant and Detectives for interviewing the husband and making him a suspect. Detective Green confronts the Chief and lets him know about the messy and costly divorce. The Chief doesn't see any reason to suspect a "guy like this" of murder. He finishes his tirade with "Do us all a favor. Find out it was one of the punks from the parade."
Note: Here the police Chief is obviously asking to indict a Puerto Rican instead of even investigating a wealthy white man. Det Green stands up to the Chief. The scripts doesn't make the Chief's sentiment seem bad by having someone stand up to him, although the characters do stand up to him to protect their investigation and the minorities are scolded for "race baiting."
They talk to the Ethan's limousine driver (African-American). He drove Seth to several places including Central Park and the rowboats.
Seth confesses to meeting Susan at the lake. He says they talked about the divorce with her. A bunch of guys start coming down the hill "yelling spraying people with water." Susan told him to go get a cop. There were no cops. He said he was afraid that cops would suspect him and say that he made the story up.
Donny, from the mayor's office tells the District Attorney that he was hoping an effective prosecution would offset the outcry about the lack of police action during the attacks. The DA says she expects an effective prosecution. Donny complains, "It's not a prosecution of one of the individuals from the wilding." McCoy says that it's because there's not enough evidence for that. The evidence against Seth doesn't impress Donny. Donny says they were hoping to use this trial "to punish one or more of those Puerto Ricans that went nuts in the park that day." He wants to be able to report back to the mayor that they are convinced they have the right guy.
Note: This is the second mention of prosecuting Puerto Ricans instead of Ethan. It's a negative portrayal to me, but it's presented as "normal" since nobody comments on the idea.
Seth's Trial:
(A white judge presiding)
Ethan's mistress reveals more about Seth's anger and his competition for power in the company.
Kiki Morales, one of the kids arrested earlier for assault, says he can place Seth in the rowboat and testifies.
In exchange for a reduced sentence, Kiki takes the stand and identifies Seth. Briscoe tells McCoy and Carmichael that Kiki is lying. His story on the stand contradicts his statement to police.
Briscoe and Green interview Kiki again. They threaten him with perjury for one of the two stories he's told. Kiki says they went down to the lake and saw the lady and started throwing things at her. She got upset, rowed to shore and "said some stuff." Everyone who was arrested earlier saw Nestor get in the boat and he "got into it" with Susan. He offers a witness - David (who is Latino).
David says he was at the parade and left. Green tells him not to play cat and mouse, that they already know he was at the murder scene. David says he stopped the beating. Green yells at him for not coming forward, knowing the person on trial was innocent. David says he thought that Seth would get off because he was rich. David tells them he has 2 kids, has a job, no arrest record. He suggests another witness to convince the police not to prosecute him.
Note: This is one Latino witness who didn't come forward.
Ms Guzman says she didn't want to get involved; she was mad but wanted to leave it alone. After being convinced, she identifies Nestor.
Note: This is a second witness who didn't come forward - even though she was a victim. The white victim came forward earlier though.
They arrest Nestor.
Donny comes back and says he already went to the mayor and told him he could tell Hispanics nobody from their community was being targeted. McCoy says that nobody was "targeted". Donny fears demonstrations. In order to save minority relations, they strike a deal. The mayor's office will attack the decision to prosecute in the press and the DA won't comment on the attacks.
Note: In a city with almost a million Puerto Ricans, there are several local and state representatives who are Latino, yet they are referred to in a third person - like bystanders to the system. This scene ingrains the Us versus Them attitude about justice. It finalizes the stereotype that Latinos would like it if the government ignored crimes committed by Latinos. With 3 witnesses and a coming admission, Latinos are portrayed as not wanting the boy prosecuted.
It's revealed that Nestor has a very low IQ.
Trial 2:
(Black judge presides)
Nestor's lawyer, a Black Puerto Rican, tries to get the tape thrown out. The tape is allowed. They interviewed the white man who recorded the tape and they show it in court. It's mostly shows water spaying and some grabbing.
Note: Another character that could have been cast as Latino - who came forth willingly.
Nestor is just standing there in the tape while others spray water on women. Nestor watches the tape with a blank stare and open mouth.
Ms Guzman, testifying, says she was at the park when the men said something but she ignored them. One man finally grabbed her, one splashed her and then they surrounded her. They started tearing her clothes and groped her. One grabbed her breasts and put a tongue in her ear. She kicked and threw punches to fight them off. She identifies Nestor Salazar as one of the members of the group. Nestor's lawyer asks what Salazar did specifically. She responds - "he was there." She couldn't identify anything he did. Nor did she see him with the murder victim.
David, testifying, says that Nestor was Brazilian and was always trying too hard to fit in. He says he stopped the young men earlier from spraying some women. Later, he was buying ice cream for his kids when one of the guys came up and said Nestor was "flipping out." He went down and saw Nestor banging the woman's head on the boat. He ran into the lake, climbed in the boat and pulled Nestor off. David finishes with, "I didn't know how bad she was hurt. I didn't know she was going to fall in the water and drown. I needed to get Nestor out of there. I needed to look after my kids. With all the craziness in the park, I never got back."
Note: David, who was threatened to testify, tells the court that he was concerned about Nestor, yet ignored the battered woman. He saved the Latina from being attacked, but ignored the white woman who was severely beaten. He needed "to get out of there" and to protect Nestor. In a neat image twist, they reveal the kid is Brazilian and not Puerto Rican - which is what everyone is expecting because of his name and appearance.
Nestor's lawyer tries to plead to negligent homicide instead of 2nd degree manslaughter. The lawyer complains when they reject the offer. "You guys finally got the defendant you wanted. Even though the kid's not Puerto Rican, he looks like he could be Puerto Rican. I mean Brazil is still Latin America right? So. As long as he's Latino, you've got just the right kind of head on your stick."
Note: This could have been a positive character, but for some reason he expects special treatment. They reduce him to a whining stereotype.
McCoy responds, " I don't care what kind of head I have on a stick. All I care about is did he do the crime."
Note: This is the second time a minority is chastised for even mentioning race.
Nestor's sister testifies. She describes him as a follower, not a leader. She says he respected women; he grew up in a house full of strong women. He would not have gotten away with any kind of disrespect if he didn't respect women. He didn't start dating until 17 and wouldn't talk around girls. When Nestor was teased about not sleeping with his first girlfriend, he simply said, "We're waiting."
Nestor testifies. He says he didn't spray anyone and didn't rob anyone. He didn't feel right about what his friends were doing, so he "held back." He finally decided to "make like a pirate" and show his friends he was like them. He jumped in the rowboat and splashed her "to make her body show through her clothes." She stood up and slapped him, then started "beating him up." Out of embarrassment, he grabbed her and banged her head until someone pulled him off. She jumped off the boat into the water. He says he didn't expect she would die.
McCoy asks if he knew how to get home on his own when his friends where attacking people. Nestor replies, "We came together, I figured we'd leave together."
Nestor's lawyer makes his closing argument. He says, "The events shocked and horrified us." We watched young men engage in brutal and bestial behavior and we felt, correctly, that it must be punished. We in the Puerto Rican community, felt that it must be punished. Puerto Ricans felt a certain sense of dread and revulsion because it would be held against all Puerto Ricans. The Parade, a joyful expression of culture and pride would be linked to an unrelated event. There is no question the young man did something wrong and it must be answered for, but it's not manslaughter. He acted negligently, foolishly, impulsively. But he did not commit manslaughter.
Note: 2nd degree manslaughter is negligence. This character, oddly enough, is saying what Puerto Ricans are saying about the episode: don't link two events that aren't related. Except this episode makes the link with a fictional event.
McCoy closes. What was in the tape was a mob. "Not a Hispanic Mob. Not a Puerto Rican mob. Just a mob." "A mob is made up of people. We hold people responsible for the consequences of their actions." "What happened that Sunday afternoon in Central Park in June was the suspension of civilization. This is when civilization gets restored. This is how it gets restored. Find him guilty of manslaughter."
Note: This is the third time the mention of race by minorities is chastised, though none of the characters calling for a Puerto Rican to be prosecuted when the evidence pointed elsewhere were chastised.
Jury finds him guilty of manslaughter in 2nd degree.
Carmichael says at the end, "We started off with a white guy, put a Brazilian behind bars for what happened at the Puerto Rican Day parade."
The DA responds, "New York City. The melting pot"
Previous page < Ripped From the Headlines < Page 1, 2
--by Richard L Vázquez--