Activists Urge Supreme Court to Strike Down Arizona's Controversial Immigration Law

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Activists Urge Supreme Court to Strike Down Arizona's Controversial Immigration Law(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Blowing whistles, singing songs of solidarity, and waving signs that read “Do I look illegal to you?” and “People are more than their papers,” hundreds of immigrant rights activists and members of the faith and labor communities rallied in front of the Supreme Court Wednesday as Justices inside heard arguments over Arizona’s controversial immigration law.  “Together, we are united across the nation in calling on the Supreme Court to strike down Arizona’s unconstitutional immigration law,” said CASA de Maryland Executive Director Gustavo Torres (below at right). “Yes, Congress must act to fix our broken immigration system. Yes, the President must act to help stop the unnecessary separation of our families, but the states must not  enact immigration laws like SB1070 that terrorize immigrant communities and have impact of undermining our constitution.” The law is part of a movement intended to create a climate of fear and force illegal immigrants to “self-deport” but many argue that it legitimizes racial profiling and results in the criminalization of undocumented families. “All people deserve the right to live without fear,” said Catherine (at left, speaking), a 16-year-old student who came to America from Columbia two years ago with her family. “Families like mine are hard-working and help to make this country a better place. It’s not fair to be discriminated against because of how you look.” Similar laws are currently active or being considered in states across the nation, including Virginia. – report/photos by Adam Wright

 

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