Friday
May142010
Arizona Bill "Dehumanizes" And "Demonizes" Latinos, Says Hispanic Rights Advocacy Group
By Miles Wolf Tamboli
Talk Radio News Service
During a conference call Friday, focused on polling in response to Arizona's recent passing of immigration legislation, Clarissa Martinez de Castro, Director of Immigration and National Campaigns for the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), sent a strong message to the media: "The intent of this law is clear: to dehumanize and demonize Latinos, regardless of immigration status."
Regardless of the intent of the law, some groups have begun enacting economic boycotts against the state of Arizona in response to the controversial legislation. According to Elisio Medina, Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), "[Arizona] is getting a very strong message from the rest of America, that this is unacceptable behavior...A growing number of U.S. cities, institutions, and civil rights leaders have announced opposition to S.B. 1070, and support for economic sanctions against Arizona."
Despite a growing sentiment that conservative Republicans oppose federal immigration reforms pitched by moderate Republicans and Democrats, it is clear that voters are looking to both parties to find a solution to their concerns. It can be seen that Latino support for Republicans has fallen dramatically in recent years, and the party may soon suffer from this loss of favor by the country's fastest growing constituent group, which has a history of great political plasticity. In light of the coming election, however, the Republican National Committee dropped Phoenix, Arizona from its list of potential convention sites, choosing Tampa, Florida instead as its location for the 2012 political convention.
Matt Barreto, of the Hispanic civil rights group Latino Decisions, clarified during the conference call, however, that 33% of Latino votes believe that both Republicans and Democrats are responsible for the new Arizona immigration law, and Ben Patinkin of Grove Insight adds that, "pluralities of voters believe that both parties are ignoring or avoiding [working towards comprehensive immigration reform]."
According to Medina and Martinez de Castro, voters are "fed up" with the federal government for putting off immigration reform. Their groups are calling for comprehensive immigration reform, formulated on a national level, and not just increased restrictions imposed by states. Said De Castro earlier today, "the response to federal inaction cannot be irresponsible state action." Patinkin added that, "while voters provide support for [Arizona's recently passed law on immigration], they would greatly prefer a comprehensive solution to the issue of immigration at the federal level."
Talk Radio News Service
During a conference call Friday, focused on polling in response to Arizona's recent passing of immigration legislation, Clarissa Martinez de Castro, Director of Immigration and National Campaigns for the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), sent a strong message to the media: "The intent of this law is clear: to dehumanize and demonize Latinos, regardless of immigration status."
Regardless of the intent of the law, some groups have begun enacting economic boycotts against the state of Arizona in response to the controversial legislation. According to Elisio Medina, Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), "[Arizona] is getting a very strong message from the rest of America, that this is unacceptable behavior...A growing number of U.S. cities, institutions, and civil rights leaders have announced opposition to S.B. 1070, and support for economic sanctions against Arizona."
Despite a growing sentiment that conservative Republicans oppose federal immigration reforms pitched by moderate Republicans and Democrats, it is clear that voters are looking to both parties to find a solution to their concerns. It can be seen that Latino support for Republicans has fallen dramatically in recent years, and the party may soon suffer from this loss of favor by the country's fastest growing constituent group, which has a history of great political plasticity. In light of the coming election, however, the Republican National Committee dropped Phoenix, Arizona from its list of potential convention sites, choosing Tampa, Florida instead as its location for the 2012 political convention.
Matt Barreto, of the Hispanic civil rights group Latino Decisions, clarified during the conference call, however, that 33% of Latino votes believe that both Republicans and Democrats are responsible for the new Arizona immigration law, and Ben Patinkin of Grove Insight adds that, "pluralities of voters believe that both parties are ignoring or avoiding [working towards comprehensive immigration reform]."
According to Medina and Martinez de Castro, voters are "fed up" with the federal government for putting off immigration reform. Their groups are calling for comprehensive immigration reform, formulated on a national level, and not just increased restrictions imposed by states. Said De Castro earlier today, "the response to federal inaction cannot be irresponsible state action." Patinkin added that, "while voters provide support for [Arizona's recently passed law on immigration], they would greatly prefer a comprehensive solution to the issue of immigration at the federal level."
tagged 
La Raza, Miles Wolf Tamboli, NCLR, S.B. 1070, arizona, immigration, seiu in Frontpage 3, News/Commentary
La Raza, Miles Wolf Tamboli, NCLR, S.B. 1070, arizona, immigration, seiu in Frontpage 3, News/Commentary
Reader Comments (1)
I believe that the Arizona law is basically an attempt by Republican Anglo Europeans of taking the country back from minorities, however what they do not realize is that the Mexicans and Native Americans were in Arizona before they trickled down from the eastern US. Arizonans need to give AZ back to the Mexicans and Native Americans and pay reparations for its illegal appropriation.
This AZ law is the result of the US congress and President Obama inaction with immigration reform. If the Democrats and Republicans want the Latino votes in November, they better start working together and reform immigration.