Think Pete Turner Didn't Keep the Name "Illegal Pete's" to Make a Profit Off Bigotry? Think Again

The grand opening of the restaurant "Illegal Pete's," a restaurant chain started by Pete Turner of Colorado has caused quite a stir. Here in the state of Arizona, the word illegal has been used to dehumanize and degrade brown people and treat them like lesser human beings. I say brown people because I know of several undocumented white people from Canada who have been spared the wrath of such a label. I know of several Tohono O'odham people, including myself, who have been accused of being "illegal" simply because we are not white. Which is pretty ironic, because we have been here since time immemorial.

Pete Turner defends the name of his restaurant by claiming that the "illegal" part was not intended as a derogatory connotation towards undocumented people. However, it is clear that he is aware the name attracts a certain type of white supremacist. After Colorado residents protested the name, a similar outcry of xenophobic support occurred. After complaints were made, Turner was flooded with support from racists.

Business owners can be pretty savvy when it comes to public relations. Turner may claim the name of this restaurant does not evoke a derogatory connotation all day, but that doesn't change the racist face of a sizable amount of his customers. There is no doubt that Turner was aware of this phenomena. He doesn't need to make a statement on his intentions. The response is visible in his receipt returns in addition to his vocal supporters/commentators on social media. He certainly wasn't oblivious that he would receive such an outpouring of support by racists when he chose to open up his restaurant in Tucson, where books have been banned, ethnic studies outlawed, and children are torn apart from their parents through mass roundups and daily Streamline deportations. No, this move was quite calculated, no matter what the man claims.

The following are screenshots of people supporting "Illegal Pete's." Pete Turner is making a pretty sizable profit from their patronage, and doesn't seem to have the slightest problem doing it.

"Illegal Pete's" has become the new gathering spot for SB 1070 supporters, white supremacists, neo-Nazi's, and Minutemen. Is that the type of establishment our community should support?

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