Anti-immigration law doesn't reflect the beliefs of Arizona's people

[azmouse]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/23/AR2010042304469.html

Not in my state: Anti-immigration law doesn't reflect the beliefs of Arizona's people
By Phil Gordon
Saturday, April 24, 2010

PHOENIX

As an immigration bill that nationally embarrasses Arizona becomes bad law, our best hope in my hometown is that the rest of America doesn't do to Arizona what Senate Bill 1070 requires our police officers to do to people with brown skin: "profile" them based on stereotypes and insufficient information.
Arizona is not a state seething with hatred, eager to trample the civil rights of residents in haphazard pursuit of illegal immigrants. Nor are most Arizonans bigots eager to drag our state back to the 1980s, when Gov. Evan Mecham's absurd behavior made our home a national laughingstock.

Our state is frustrated. We have become ground zero in the battle over illegal immigration because of years of lapsed federal border security. This week that frustration exploded, thanks to hateful political opportunists such as state Sen. Russell Pearce, the author of the legislation, and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is already under investigation by the federal Justice Department for alleged violations of civil rights.

Pearce and Arpaio -- two men who are to Arizona law enforcement what George Wallace was to Alabama government -- care less about capturing human smugglers and drug cartel gunmen than they do about capturing headlines. And in a state with a far-right legislature that is increasingly out of step with an increasingly moderate population, they're also out of step with the rules of basic civility.

This place we've heard about lately, the Arizona willing to risk economic boycotts and international ridicule in the pursuit of an ugly, discriminatory law? I don't recognize it.
But I do recognize those responsible for this humiliating moment. They are bitter, small-minded and full of hate, and they in no way speak for Arizona.


(The writer, a Democrat, has been mayor of Phoenix since 2004.)

[pampango]

1. "They are bitter, small-minded and full of hate, and they in no way speak for Arizona."

"... we will explore every option available to quell the fear and frustration that have become rampant here. Already, I have called a special meeting of the Phoenix City Council to establish standing to sue the state on the grounds that S.B. 1070 unconstitutionally co-opts our police force to enforce immigration laws that are the rightful jurisdiction of the federal government.

The opponents of S.B. 1070 will continue to work with Washington to permanently secure the Arizona border, where last year 500,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended. Our aim is nothing short of comprehensive immigration reform, a new policy that cracks down on predators and criminals who have entered the United States illegally even as it establishes a path to legal residency for law-abiding immigrant neighbors who want nothing more than the chance to earn a paycheck and live a productive life."

"This place we've heard about lately, the Arizona willing to risk economic boycotts and international ridicule in the pursuit of an ugly, discriminatory law? I don't recognize it.

But I do recognize those responsible for this humiliating moment. They are bitter, small-minded and full of hate, and they in no way speak for Arizona."

[azmouse]

2. I'd like to see Mayor Gordon become Governor Gordon some day soon.

Many, many of us here in AZ are very upset about this law... and we are upset at being lumped into the RW hate-monger camp.
We are not all like that.

[paulsby]

3. if it doesn't speak for arizona, then who do the VAST majority of arizonans support it?

including , last i checked, 51% of democrats??

facts trump rhetoric

[EFerrari]

4. This is the best statement I've read from an AZ Dem

who is not himself a Latino.

[AzJusticeFreedom]

5. Thanks for posting.....

I was looking for that link.

[azmouse]

6. I read it in the paper this morning but they didn't have it with the online edition.

Had to go to the Washington Post to get it.

I like Mayor Gordon. He's one of the good guys. And I think he explained what is happening in this state fairly well.

[azmouse]

7. kick

[azmouse]

8. ...

For the evening crowd, I just want you to know we are not all racists in AZ and we hate, hate, hate this law.