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Immigration Sat May 01 2010
May Day Workers and Immigrant Rights Rally!
In approximately ten hours, thousands of people --both immigrants and allies-- will stock up on water bottles, carry signs and banners with messages of hope and walk the streets of Chicago to fight for a path to legalization. Immigration reform has been on the minds of many recently, especially in light of the harsh immigration law that has passed in Arizona.
This new law signed by Governor Jan Brewer, makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally. It also makes it illegal to hire undocumented day laborers or to transport them and requires local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is a reason to suspect they are undocumented. Which brings up a valid question people have been asking since the first day the law was passed: What does an undocumented immigrant look like? And how would one implement the law without engaging in racial profiling? Luckily, the governor has issued an executive order that requires additional training for these officers when investigating a person's legal status.
From CNN...
"This training will include what does and does not constitute reasonable suspicion that a person is not legally present in the United States," Brewer said after signing the bill. "Racial profiling is illegal. It is illegal in America, and it's certainly illegal in Arizona," Brewer said.
This new law has sparked outrage all over the country and has inspired immigrants and allies alike to take a stand against the racist bill. This past Tuesday morning, immigration rights activists were arrested for blocking a van at a federal detention center in the western suburbs. The van held several undocumented immigrants who were being deported. Protesters are also demanding a boycott against all things Arizona. At Thursday's baseball game at Wrigley Field, over 200 people showed up to protest against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who were playing against the Chicago Cubs.
To add insult to injury, Ethnic classes have been banned in Arizona and teachers with accents can no longer teach English. Teachers who don't meet the new fluency standards have the option of "taking classes to improve their english but will be fired or reassigned if they fail to reach the state's targets." I wonder if the same would apply to a person with, let's say, a British Accent, or someone with a southern drawl. A similar question could be asked of this ban: How do you define a heavy accent? Could it be the same way you define "reasonable suspicion"?
People will be marching peacefully tomorrow afternoon and hope that the new bill will encourage others to join protest rallies in Chicago and around the country. It is time we take a stand and demand a comprehensive immigration reform.
Nikki / May 3, 2010 12:53 AM
So much of Charlie Crist issues and let’s be more aware of our rights as a worker. I sympathize to this legal immigrants that been affected by the new immigrant reform. Maybe it’s time to hear the grievances of our community to show equality and respect to all races.