Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Arizona has spoken: Gov. Jan Brewer (seen above) signed the bill on Friday making it a state crime to be in Arizona illegally and requires police and other law-enforcement agents to check the documents of people they suspect to be illegal. However, critics say the law will lead to racial profiling.
But calls to boycott Arizona have already begun and gone viral. Arizona lawmakers and Gov. Jan Brewer apparently didn’t think about this when they approved this draconian legislation some have compared to Germany in WWII, when Jews were required to produce papers when stopped or risk arrest — or worse.
On Facebook, the largest social networking site with 400 million members, at least 10 pages are now dedicated to boycotting Arizona, attracting thousands of supporters. They are Boycott Arizona and Boycott Arizona 2010. The boycott effort is already having an impact. A convention for immigration attorneys scheduled for the Camelback Inn this fall has been canceled.
State tourism officials are worried. The Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association on Monday set up its own Facebook page, “Don’t Boycott AZ Tourism” with the tagline: “Don’t punish 200,000 tourism employees for politics.”
Meanwhile, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on a resolution calling for an end to any business the city has with Arizona or any Arizona-based businesses. La Opinion, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the country called for an economic boycott. Henrik Rehbinder, editor of the editorial pages for the Los Angeles-based publication, said the boycott is intended to send a signal to Gov. Brewer and other political leaders.
All of this comes decades after Arizona refused to adopt a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, costing the state the Super Bowl. The Arizona Diamondbacks are hoping the law doesn’t cost them next year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Time will tell.
From the Left 
It’s about time Twitter is good for something. This boycott thing is definitely going viral online. It’s cost me a few friends from Arizona but who cares?
If you live in Arizona, there’s a good chance you voted for one of the nutballs who either drafted the bill, voted for it, or signed it. And if you did, shame on you for putting a bullseye in between my shoulder blades just because I’m brown.
I’m curious what this “law” will mean for doctors and school teachers?
If they suspect a patient or a student is an illegal, will they be required to call the Stasi to come pick the person up or risk their license and job?
This is a very poorly thought out law and terrible implications for everyone and does nothing to secure the border.
Let’s all remember this is the same bitch who signed a law removing domestic partner benefits approved by Arizona lawmakers because “God told her to do so.”
Brewer is a Bush-league lunatic.
The real religion of the USA is sports.
If the laws costs Arizona the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, everyone will sit up and take notice and hopefully act. Brewer is a moron but she will bow to pressure if sports fans put the screws to her.
Check this out.
Breathing While Undocumented
I’m glad I’ve already seen the Grand Canyon.
Because I’m not going back to Arizona as long as it remains a police state, which is what the appalling anti-immigrant bill that Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law last week has turned it into.
What would Arizona’s revered libertarian icon, Barry Goldwater, say about a law that requires the police to demand proof of legal residency from any person with whom they have made “any lawful contact” and about whom they have “reasonable suspicion” that “the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States?” Wasn’t the system of internal passports one of the most distasteful features of life in the Soviet Union and apartheid-era South Africa?
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/breathing-while-undocumented/?ref=opinion
Arizona is known as a low tax state.
They’re going to have to defend this law in local, county and state courts for years to come. I predict they will be forced to raise taxes or repeal it outright.
Jan Brewer and the Arizona legislature = Epic Fail.
This will come back to haunt them for years to come and wind up costing the state $$$ as well as good will from everyone from movie and music stars, to professional athletes and national politicians.
I hope it was worth it.
I’m sure they’ll be able to keep the MLB all-star game. It’s not as if there are any Latino ballplayers.
Bo Latino baseball players ? Are you kidding me ! Geez some people !some of the best players are Latino / Mexican ! I hope it cost them much more than the mlb all star game !
Come on RJ, that is a completely unfair statement to say that chances are if you live in AZ you voted for somebody who voted for this bill. Many of us here don’t like it. Some people realize that it’s not the poor migrants fault that he is trying to put some food on the table of his dirt shack back home. Some of us recognize that it is more the fault of those that hire them, giving them reason to be here.
AZ was the last state to recognize Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday as a holiday…until the boycotts cost us so much the legislature relented. I can not relate to you enough the heavy burden that the GOP has placed on this state. I talk to people everyday who just make my eyeballs spin in their sockets. But I won’t give up.
I say YES, boycott this state until they get it right. But please recognize that there is good here too.
Thank you Jimmy.
As a Latina, I am grateful for all the support and activity I’ve seen on the net, decent thinking people, voicing their concerns with SB1070 and it’s vagueness. At the same time I am saddened by the intolerance and racism, which was once whispered, has now become shouts not only in the streets but also being spewed openly by our politicians, in the twenty first century.
Gov. Jan Brewer has crazy eyes. It’s the same look you see when you encounter someone on the streets screaming at the top of their lungs, spewing Scripture and shaking a Bible.
She looks certifiable.
This is a terrible law and totally unconstitutional, I’m sure. Good for everyone who is boycotting Arizona.
I mean…. I really really didn’t have enough money to go to Arizona anyways…… I have a hard enough time just getting to Milwaukee once in awhile….. but I am not going to buy ‘Arizona Ice Tea’ and Arizona Jeans are gone. I wish it was a boycott I could really boycott…… but ….
Gov. Brewer rescinded gay domestic partner benefits for state employees because she said she disapproved of such benefits based solely on her religious beliefs. I had no idea until all of this nonsense came to light with immigration just how far to the right the state had drifted. Once, Arizona was the state Californians escaped to for lower housing prices. What happened?
AG Eric Holder today said he is looking at the legal and constitutional aspects of the Arizona law.
Like Big Hank said, what does this law mean for state educators? Will they suddenly be required to act as law enforcement officers? I thought duty of a teacher is to teach, not play border control agent.
The only thing the crazies feel more strongly about than their extreme right-wing religion is the almighty $$$$. The financial pressure of a boycott is probably the only way to make any change a possibility.
Jan Brewer es una ramera racista. Odia a mexicanos y todos lo saben.
Arizona can pass race base laws, pass Birthers laws, pass no permit conceal weapons laws and the state boycotted Martin Luther King Day, well the rest of the Country can boycott the state of Arizona and spank them where it hurts them the most their pocket book. Their phony patriotism is sickening, they are just racists going by another name. We all know you are just itching to put a sheet on their head? Let’s face it the Republicans had eight years to deal with health care, immigration, climate change and financial oversight and governance and they failed. It appears that the Republican Party is only good at starting wars (two in eight years, with fat contracts to friends of Cheney/Bush) but not at winning wars as seen by the continuing line of body bags that keep coming home. The Republicans party will continue turned inward to their old fashion obstructionist party (and their Confederacy appreciation roots) because they continue to allow a small portions (but very loud portion) of their party of “birthers, baggers and blowhards” to rule their party. I will admit that this fringe is very good at playing “Follow the Leader” by listening to their dullard leaders, Beck, Hedgecock, Hannity, O’Reilly, Rush, Savage, Sarah Bailin, Orly Taitz, Victoria Jackson, Michele Bachmann and the rest of the Blowhards and acting as ill programmed robots (they have already acted against doctors that perform abortions). The Birthers and the Tea party crowd think they can scare, intimidate and force others to go along with them by comments like “This time we came unarmed”, let me tell you something not all ex-military join the fringe militia crazies who don’t pay taxes and run around with face paint in the parks playing commando, the majority are mature and understand that the world is more complicated and grey than the black and white that these simpleton make it out to be and that my friend is the point. The world is complicated and people like Hamilton, Lincoln, and Roosevelt believed that we should use government a little to increase social mobility, now it’s about dancing around the claim of government is the problem. The sainted Reagan passed the biggest tax increase in American history and as a result federal employment increased, but facts are lost when mired in mysticism and superstition. For a party that gave us Abraham Lincoln, it is tragic that the ranks are filled with too many empty suits and the crazy Birthers who have not learned that the way our courts work is that you get a competent lawyer, verifiable facts and present them to a judge, if the facts are real and not half baked internet lies, then, and only then, do you proceed to trial. The Birthers seem to be having a problem with their so called “facts”. Let’s face it no one will take the Birthers seriously until they win a case, but until then, you will continue to appear dumb, crazy or racist, or maybe all three. I heard that Orly Taitz now wants to investigate the “Republican 2009 Summer of Love” list: Assemblyman, Michael D. Duvall (CA), Senator John Ensign (NV), Senator Paul Stanley (TN), Governor Mark Stanford (SC), Board of Ed Chair, and Kristin Maguire AKA Bridget Keeney (SC), she wants to re-establish a family values party, that’s like saying that the Catholic Church cares about the welling being of children in their care, too late for that.
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I’ve been boycotting Arizona for years simply because it’s boring and my parents live there. Now a new reason never to visit!
Papacito — Concuerdo con usted.
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Was this a surprise at all?
Palin: Attacks on AZ. law are politically motivated:
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Tuesday criticized attacks on Arizona’s controversial immigration-enforcement law by President Barack Obama and others as politically motivated to stir up Democratic voters in a tough election year.
“It is over-the-top, and it’s really to incite and energize some of Obama’s base,” Palin told conservative Fox News personality Sean Hannity. “If you look at the polls in the midterm elections in November, this is one issue that they really feel that they need to grab hold of. Because much of the Democrat Party coming up in this November midterm election is a sinking ship, and they have to have a couple of lifeboats out there and they believe that this is one.”
Blog on azcentral.com by Dan Nowicki.
I should add that McCain and Kyle are in lock step with Palin. McCain, a few years ago, wanted to introduce an amnesty program that actually made some sense. Whichever way the wind blows is, apparently, the way John will go.
Nobody voted for Brewer – she assumed office when Janet left for Homeland Security. Who cares what Palin says – Raul is wrong and isn’t representing his voters by inciting a boycott – I’ve never voted for McCain or Kyle or Russell for that matter – SB 1070 is racial profiling – I refuse to carry my birth certificate as I can’t really afford identity theft which shouldn’t really matter here soon as I file for unemployment.
Nothing more powerful than a seriously major boycott. No business as usual Arizona.
Pam, it’s not about caring what Palin thinks, it’s a matter of being educated as to what those with differing opinions are saying. Glad you didn’t vote for McCain or Kyle. Don’t worry about not carrying around an ID or a Birth Certificate. There is federal law that says you don’t have to show proof of citizenry by producing documents. That law overrides SB 1070. All you have to do is say you are an American citizen, nobody can require you to show proof of that.
You know what they say about Arizona: “Yes, it’s hate, but it’s a dry hate.”
Just carry lots of water and of course, your U.S. Passport so you won’t wind up in jail for trespassing.
Brad writes:
“There is federal law that says you don’t have to show proof of citizenry by producing documents. That law overrides SB 1070. All you have to do is say you are an American citizen, nobody can require you to show proof of that.”
To be the practical cynic. Let’s be honest. If a couple of police officers (to stay polite) decide to ask for your ID, armed with their guns and billy sticks, are you really going to trot the line of “I am an American citizen, and you can’t require proof according to federal law?” Especially if you happen to be of Latino extraction (forget brown skin. Many latinos are fair skinned, fyi)? I don’t know about you, but I am not risking finding out what those cops would do to me. So, I am staying away from Arizona and telling my friends to do the same until such day until you and the rest of your state vote those asshats out who are making you look so bad.
Just curious, will you boycott Alabama if Tim James is elected Gov. and changes law to conduct drivers test in English only?
What about Texas, Utah, Ohio, Georgia? What if they pass similar laws, will you boycott those state as well?
uwsdwf,
I can think of no compelling to reason to visit the states of Alabama, Texas, Utah, Ohio and Georgia to begin with, so for me, it’s an easy decision.
I mean, why would anyone in the right mind visit (or live) in those five states?
Your friendly neighborhood bank, can I help you?
Customer: Yes, I want to cancel my account. I don’t want to do business
with you any longer.
The Bank: Why?
Customer: You’re giving credit to illegal immigrants and I don’t think
it’s right. I’m taking my business elsewhere.
The Bank: Well, Mr. Customer, we don’t want to see you do that, but we
can’tstop you. I’ll help you close the account. What is your account number?
Customer: (gives account number)
The Bank: For security purposes and for your protection, can you please
give me the last four digits of your social security number?
Customer: No?
The Bank: Mr. Customer, I need to verify your information, but in order
to helpyou, I’ll need verification of who you are..
Customer: Why should I give you my social security number? The reason
I’m closing my account is that your bank is issuing credit cards to illegal
immigrants who don’t have social security numbers. You are targeting that audience and
want their business. Let’s say I’m an illegal immigrant and you’ve given me a
credit card. I have a question about it and call for assistance. You wouldn’t
be asking me for a Social Security number, would you?
The Bank: No sir, I wouldn’t.
Customer: Why not?
The Bank: Because you would have pressed ‘2’ to speak in Spanish. We
don’t ask for that information when calling in on the Spanish line.
MOVING TO MEXICO
Dear President Obama:
I’m planning to move my family and extended family into Mexico for my health, and I would like to ask you to assist me. We’re planning to simply walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico , and we’ll need your help to make a few arrangements. We plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I’m sure they handle those things the same way you do here. So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Calderon, that I’m on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:
1. Free medical care for my entire family.
2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.
3. Please print all Mexican Government forms in English.
4. I want my grand-kids to be taught Spanish by English-speaking (bi-lingual) teachers.
5. Tell their schools they need to include classes on American culture and history.
6. I want my grand-kids to see the American flag on one of the flag poles at their school.
7. Please plan to feed my grand-kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.
8. I will need a local Mexican driver’s license so I can get easy access to government services.
9. I do plan to get a car and drive in Mexico , but I don’t plan to purchase car insurance, and I probably won’t make any special effort to learn local traffic laws.
10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from their president to leave me alone, please be sure that every patrol car has at least one English-speaking officer.
11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my housetop, put U S. flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.
12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, or have any labor or tax laws enforced on any business I may start.
13. Please have the president tell all the Mexican people to be extremely nice and never say critical things about me or my family, or about the strain we might place on their economy.
14. I want to receive free food stamps.
15. Naturally, I’ll expect free rent subsidies.
16. I’ll need income tax credits so that although I don’t pay Mexican taxes, I’ll receive money from the government.
17. Please arrange it so that the Mexican Government pays $4,500.00 to help me buy a new car.
18. Oh yes, I almost forgot, please enroll me free into the Mexican Social Security program so that I’ll get a monthly income in retirement.
I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all his people who walk over to the U.S. from Mexico . I am sure that President Calderon won’t mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.
Thank you so much for your kind help.