(Photo credit AP/Matt York)
Arizona’s racial profiling law is set to go into effect this week. Despite nationwide protests, vigils, and actions, 45 resolutions opposing it, and a suit by the Obama administration, the judge in the case has not yet ruled. Without a ruling, this Thursday Arizona will start asking people for their papers and worsening the culture of fear already entrenched there.
What does that mean? It means that people are leaving Arizona:
When immigrants leave, Gans said, “stores experience dramatic drops in sales. Apartment owners who rent to immigrants have high vacancy rates and risk losing their buildings. Legal workers or renters or consumers don’t generally step in quickly enough to prevent these businesses from experiencing real additional hardship.”
At 43rd and Thomas, such short-term economic perils are no abstraction.
“If people don’t come here, I don’t make money and I don’t pay taxes,” Katchi said.
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Faviola Davenport, 42, owns 3Girlz Retail. Davenport, who emigrated legally from Mexico 23 years ago, expects she will close the shop next month. In the small space, crammed with phone cards, mattresses and purses, Davenport said that if the law takes effect she will probably abandon Arizona as well. Her three adult daughters and their families — all U.S. citizens — are thinking of following her.
People, whatever their status, are leaving Arizona because of this law. They know that this law is going to make Arizona — their home — less safe for them. Their government doesn’t have their interests at heart — all the Arizona government wants is more enforcement of a broken system. Families and individuals will be in danger if this law goes into effect. And instead of doing anything productive, Arizona politicians (and the ones elsewhere trying to push copycat laws) are only making things worse.
On Thursday, there will be demonstrations and civil disobedience actions throughout Arizona. Activists in California will also be protesting the new law. But these activists can’t push back alone.
Arizona governor Jan Brewer has been using the attention on the new law to further her reelection campaign and push her own agenda to other states. Senatorial candidate J.D. Hayworth has used the law to drag the level of discourse down even further. These politicians aren’t going to stop using their power to hurt people in Arizona, and they’re not going to stop trying to hurt people all over America.
They’re not going to stop unless we stop them. Turning out the vote this November is the only way to stop Brewer, Hayworth, and politicians everywhere who try to enact laws like Arizona’s. These politicians will keep writing laws that hurt people until they’re out of government altogether. It’s up to us to work to make sure voters in Arizona, and all across the country, know that.
Categories: Arizona
Tags: SB 1070
