Public Pressure Grows Against Arizona Law

Public figures and organizations continue to line up in opposition to Arizona's racist and unconstitutional law aimed at immigrants. The law would make Hispanics to carry identity papers or risk going to jail (even citizens) and would force the police officers in the state to engage in racial profiling.

Last night, the Phoenix Suns basketball team wore special jerseys that identified them as "Los Suns" during game 2 of their playoff series. The game was played in Phoenix. Team owner Robert Sarver, a self-identified Republican, said the jerseys served a dual purpose. They "honor our Latino community and the diversity of our league, the state of Arizona and our nation." But he made it clear that the jerseys were also worn as a political statement against the state's new anti-immigrant law.

Sun's guard Steve Nash, himself an immigrant (from Canada), also spoke out on the law saying, "I think the law is very misguided. I think it is unfortunately to the detriment of our society and our civil liberties and I think it is very important for us to stand up for things we believe in. I think the law can obviously can target opportunities for racial profiling. Things we don't want to see and don't need to see in 2010."

Charles Barkley, former NBA star and current Arizona resident, also spoke out. He said, "As a black person, I'm always against any form of discrimination or racial profiling. I really respect Adrian Gonzalez for coming out and saying something (he threatened to boycott the 2011 All-Star game in Arizona). . . Living in Arizona, I'm disappointed we came up with the law. . . I'm very disappointed in John McCain. . . Most of those immigrants here are busting their hump, doing a great job, and to go after them every couple years because you want to raise hell doing something to get re-elected, that's disrespectful and disgusting."

Meanwhile, one of the most prestigious black fraternities in this country, Alpha Phi Alpha, has decided to move it's annual convention, which was scheduled to be held in Arizona this year. The fraternity's leadership sent an e-mail to all members saying:

” … the Board of Directors of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity voted unanimously to rescind the location of Phoenix, Arizona as our meeting location of the 104th Anniversary/ 90th General Convention in July, and to denounce the egregious immigration act signed recently by the governor of Arizona. It was the full opinion of the board that we could not host a meeting in a state that has sanctioned a law which we believe will lead to racial profiling and discrimination, and a law that could put the civil rights and the very dignity of our members at risk during their stay in Phoenix Arizona."

The fraternity was founded in 1906, and it's members have included W.E.B. Dubois, Thurgood Marshall, Jesse Owens, Duke Ellington, Paul Robeson, Martin Luther King Jr. and a long list of other distinguished Americans. They honor both the current and past members with this decision.