Arizona residents are literally up in arms over the Arizona Legislature’s passage of SB1070. Protest rallies have continued throughout the week, and more are planned for today and this weekend in Tucson and Phoenix.
The New York Times, The Arizona Republic (not exactly the bastion of liberal thinking), Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva, Stephen Colbert, and now President Obama have all come out against this legislation which would require Arizona law enforcement officers to ask people for proof of citizenship during legal contacts. If they don’t have proof of citizenship on their person, they are presumed to be illegal.
Saturday, April 24, is Governor Jan Brewer’s deadline. If she doesn’t sign by then, it will become law without her signature. The Derechos Humanos website announced that she will sign the bill Friday morning– while they protest outside.
Will this legislation have the dire economic and social consequences predicted by The Arizona Republic and others? Only time will tell.
This article originally appeared in my Progressive Examiner column. Click on the link and see the video of students chained to the state capitol building.
The Tucson Progressive: Pamela J. Powers
I stand on the side of Love. I believe in kindness to all creatures on Earth and the inherent self-worth of all individuals–not just people who agree with me or look like me.
Widespread economic and social injustice prompted me to become a candidate for the Arizona House, representing Legislative District 9 in the 2016 election.
My platform focused on economic reforms to grow Arizona’s economy, establish a state-based public bank, fix our infrastructure, fully fund public education, grow local small businesses and community banks, and put people back to work at good-paying jobs.
In the Arizona House, I was a strong voice for fiscal responsibility a moratorium on corporate tax breaks until the schools were fully funded, increased cash assistance to the poor, expansion of maternal healthcare benefits, equal rights, choice, unions, education at all levels and protecting our water supply.
After three terms, I retired from the Arizona Legislature in January 2023 but will continue to blog and produce my podcast “A View from the Left Side.”