A bill in the Arkansas statehouse, dubbed the "Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act of 2025," is set to make waves for its controversial requirement mandating English language proficiency for commercial motor vehicle operators. Officially known as HB1569, this legislation poses significant risks for racial profiling, as it grants police sweeping powers to stop and interrogate drivers they suspect might be unable to speak or understand English. Critics decry the bill as a tool for increased harassment of Hispanic and immigrant drivers, fostering an environment of fear and intimidation across the state.
The proposal emerges at a time when immigration policies under the Trump administration have drawn critiques for their harshness, often employing non-existent “invasions” of immigrants as pretexts to undermine constitutional protections. A TikTok video recently went viral illustrating a troubling incident: a white truck driver at an Arkansas weigh station was subjected to an impromptu literacy test, being asked if he could read and write in English before being expected to demonstrate his abilities. The officer disclosed that failure to prove proficiency could lead to hefty fines—$5,000 for the driver and $10,000 for any Arkansas company employing individuals lacking English literacy—warning that inability to pay would result in automatic arrest and suspension of the driver’s license.
HB1569 ultimately paints a stark picture: while the driver in the viral video was not Hispanic, the implications of this bill are quite clear—it targets the working class, particularly immigrants already facing aggressive policies from the Trump administration. Proponents of the bill have styled it as a necessity for “public safety,” but its echoes harken back to disturbing practices from the Jim Crow era, where literacy tests were weaponized to suppress voter rights among Black individuals following the abolition of slavery. The initiative also draws grim comparisons to the internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II, executed under policies fueled by the Alien Enemies Act.
Despite the bill’s passage potentially adding to an already contentious political climate, the real irony lies in the very context of its necessity. Arkansas faces an alarming literacy crisis, with approximately 23 percent of its population—around 690,000 individuals—considered functionally illiterate, according to Literacy Action of Central Arkansas. Furthermore, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reported that 40 percent of fourth-grade students in Arkansas fell below basic proficiency in reading, the highest score reflecting a troubling trend since 2002. Arkansas students rank poorly nationally, sitting at 49th in mathematics and 43rd in reading, indicating systemic failures within the state's public education system.
The stagnation of basic educational scores reflects a deeper issue: chronic underfunding of public education across the nation, driven by neglect from both major political parties. While the Trump administration pushes a narrative blaming immigrants for educational inadequacies and economic strain, the parallel reality demands attention—the neglect of public school funding and critical support institutions. This dangerous narrative sidesteps a generation of children, who find themselves unarmed in an increasingly competitive workplace and resigned to a future marked by economic instability.
As if to highlight this cultural discord, Trump’s Education Secretary Linda McMahon has launched a severe assault on public education, targeting protections for marginalized groups and dismantling essential institutions that oversee equitable education practices. Landmark rulings, including Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which enforced school desegregation, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1975), safeguarding education rights for individuals with disabilities, face threats of unravelling as education priorities shift toward national school voucher schemes—an initiative that diverts taxpayer funds from underfunded public schools to private and religious institutions. This movement perpetuates socioeconomic disparities, entrenching inadequacy in education while many children struggle to acquire their fundamental right to learning.
The introduction of HB1569 serves as a warning bell that must not be ignored. The rightward shift in American politics, invigorated by increasing economic disparities and popular dissent, has driven the ruling elite to resort to authoritarian tactics. This will inevitably foster backlash and resistance within the working class, as seen in previous organized efforts among truckers. In late 2021, for instance, truckers rallied against a harsh sentence given to fellow driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, whose vehicle malfunction led to a tragic crash. Their solidarity, spurred through social media, achieved a reduction of his sentence from 100 years to 10 years—illustrating the collective power that working individuals possess.
As truckers confront the fallout of HB1569, a broader movement uniting diverse sectors of the workforce alongside both immigrant and native workers becomes essential. The need for unity is clear: to resist growing authoritarian measures and challenge the social injustices perpetuated by this bill. As cries for equity and justice gain strength, the call to action becomes more urgent—working class people must elevate their voices, forge alliances, and stand together against the systemic oppression embedded in legislation like HB1569.
