On Sunday, La Crosse, Virginia held a Latino Community Picnic as a sort of social experiment headed by La Crosse Police Chief Rob Hall. According to Hall, "The Latino community is traditionally afraid of law enforcement, whether that has to do with the fear of immigration issues or the way the police are in the country they came from."

The idea for the picnic came to Hall from a community survey that suggested a "community get-together" type of even. Nevertheless, the Latino community was still suspicious of such an invitation thinking it may have been a rouse. Therefore, "We had to go back again with bilingual flyers printed up to assure them that it was no trick," Hall said.

Resident Claudio Guerrero served as the interpreter when handing out flyers and at the event. Guerrero stated, "We were still hearing rumors that it was a trap on the day of the picnic."

Finally, when Hall and other involved in the even began to gill food in the park at the picnic, people observed from afar. Once they decided the picnic was a serious event, they began to enter the area with their families.

According to Hall, "People genuinely seemed to enjoy the picnic and have a good time." Phase 2 is to try to do the same thing for the entirety of La Crosse.

25 August 2008