September-October 2005

A perfect night for a fight

WICHITA, Kan. – By the time Sept. 2 arrived, there was excitement in the air. For a couple years, Hispanos Unidos had been partnering with Department of Motor Vehicles area supervisor John Holroyd to create and maintain a process for driver’s license renewals for those without a Social Security number in the state of Kansas. This resulted in safer roads, an increase in the economy (with taxes, registration fees, and insurance), and the opportunity for workers in the state to drive safely to work, school, or church.

When Holroyd did not show up to the scheduled meeting, it was no small thing. Over 400 people turned out to see some real, concrete resolve on the issue. The room for the meeting was a cafeteria – and not a particularly large one, at that. People poured out of the exits and doorways and lined the white brick of the hallway, with cameras flashing and reporters writing.

Emira Palacios, NPA co-chair and a Hispanos Unidos leader, took hold of the meeting when it was clear Holroyd would not be coming. “If (Holroyd) will not come to our meeting, then we will take our meeting to him! We have directions to his house in the back. Please line up behind the blue minivan out front,” she said, while a mass of people moved out into the hallway, heading for the front door.

It was unclear who was going home and who was pulling up behind the lead car. There were so many people that the stack of directions to Holroyd’s house vanished in a few seconds. Parked in a narrow street, the lead car was continually forced to pull forward more and more, to allow the line of cars to grow.

Then the trek began.

For 20 miles, and with the sun setting to the right, over 100 cars drove intercity traffic, small town traffic and the interstate to get our message heard. Upon arriving at Holroyd’s residence, night had taken over. And as cars surrounded the house, a flood of car lights woke up the neighborhood – telling them that their neighbor had missed an important meeting!

In short, it can be said that Holroyd did not sleep that night. The message was clear, strong and sudden. It was one of the most glorious and amazing displays of power, to see a 100-car-caravan light up the night, only to blind the enemy when the light became a weapon.