“Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor! The camera’s are ready to roll, sir! We need you to take your position at the podium. Please sir, this way!”
            The attractive, female aide guided the well-dressed, closely-shaven, Hispanic man to the four-foot wooden stand with a City of Los Angeles Emblem etched on the front. A handsome, Middle Eastern man adjusted the numerous microphones to the appropriate levels. The lady shifted the knot on the Mayor’s blue tie and straightened his dark-blue, Brooks Brothers suit jacket. He winked at her before she stepped away from the stage.
            With her out of his sights, he was faced with an audience of reporters from various local news stations and publications. Security saturated the room, keeping a close eye on the few feet that separated the journalist and broadcasters from the slightly elevated stage the Mayor was standing on.
            He surveyed the room once more and took a deep breath. He whirled his right index finger in the air as the cue to start. Red, record lights came on as the small contingency of cameras focused in.
            The media loved him, and his political prowess was undeniable. There were already talks from politicians across the U.S. that he would be the next Governor of California. He looked significantly younger than he was, and epitomized charisma and charm. Even a recent scandal with a mistress that led to his wife filing for divorce hadn’t tarnished his image too much. His Hispanic heritage had played a significant factor in being elected mayor in the predominately Latin city. But despite a nod of approval from the current governor of the state, and even a late confirmation phone call from the United States President himself, this particular announcement had the potential to be career suicide.
            “Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, fellow Angeleanos, I want to thank you for taking time out of your schedules in light of the short notice provided to you. Thank you.” He thumbed through a couple of index cards and then continued. “As many of you are now aware, several executive decisions have been handed down on both domestic and certain state levels that would have previously been considered unprecedented. Clearly, we are in an era of change.” Despite his Hispanic background, there was little evidence of an accent. “For too long now, we have watched as the rights and freedoms allowed to us in this great country have been taken for granted by many and taken advantage of by many others. Well, it is time for change. The government has made clear that no longer will our hard earned tax dollars be utilized on undeserving individuals or measures, which is why we are restructuring the classrooms and ending government assistance. No more will destructive outlets be permitted to contaminate the young minds of our future generations, which is why rap music has been banned throughout our U.S. We will no longer sit around and watch as the fabric of this mighty nation comes unraveled at the threads.”
            Everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats. With the recent amount of extreme legislation passing that had shocked the country, even members of the media had no insight as to what could be expected. Wave after wave of special interest laws were being handed down that, just one week prior, would have seemed unthinkable. 
            “It is imperative that we embrace the same spirit our founders established this land on. Today, we have experienced tragedy like none other of late. City-wide riots have left so many father and husbandless, mother and wifeless, sister and brotherless, childless. To the brave families of the fallen police, sheriffs, and school officials, I promise you that we will not allow this misfortune to continue. Early stats have shown a direct link to the recent violence and one particular ethnicity,” he paused as the eyes of everyone in the room grew with him in sight. “For that reason, from this moment forward, all African-Americans, at work, at school, on the street, no matter where, that are deemed threatening by local law enforcement authorities, will be detained on site and placed in restrictive confines.”