Tucson, AZ – Arizona’s Apartheid bill, SB1070, was signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer, April 23. The law gives local and state police the authority to stop anyone, anywhere, to demand proof of citizenship based only on “reasonable suspicion.” In Arizona, “reasonable suspicion” of being an undocumented immigrant means being Latino and speaking Spanish. The bill also lets citizens sue government institutions for not enforcing immigration law aggressively enough.

For over a week now, thousands of people have been taking to the streets in protest. Calls for a boycott of Arizona have gone out from numerous sources, including Arizona Congressman Raúl Grijalva, who said, “We are calling on organizations not to schedule conventions and conferences in Arizona until it recognizes civil rights and the meaning of due process.”

Immigrant rights lawyer and founder of the Coalición de Derechos Humanos was asked about three components that have been widely discussed – boycotting Arizona conventions, tourism and the Arizona Diamondbacks (who are major contributors to Republican supporters of SB1070). Her response: “Yes, all of that! Do not spend your money in Arizona!” Exempted are visits to family and friends and participation in mobilizations against the Arizona Apartheid apparatus.

Angel Sanchez is a Tucson High School student. He addressed an April 23 demonstration saying, “We are not criminals. We…demand dignity and respect….They want to cause us fear, but it is those individuals who need to be afraid…because in November we will vote….We need to work together and show this is our community and our state. We will show them we are here. We will march and nonviolently show them who we are – that we are bigger than they will ever be.”

#TucsonAZ #ChicanoLatino #ImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcementICE #Apartheid #SB1070 #CoaliciónDeDerechosHumanos