Remember that 10,000 person anti-Arpaio march that happened recently? You know, like four days ago?
That was really great and all, but where we need those 10,000-plus persons right now is down at the Arizona State Legislature Wednesday morning to oppose neo-Nazi hugger and state Senator Russell Pearce's latest putrid piece of prejudiced legislation, Senate Bill 1070, which practically does everything but make brown people criminals because of the color of their skin.
Like those of Hispanic origin -- or those who look like they're of Hispanic origin -- are not fair game already in Sand Land, Pearce has concocted a grab-bag of bigoted legislative goodies from his trash heap of failed bills past. And if this doesn't earn Pearce a one-way ticket to the hot place (should you believe in such stuff), I don't know what will.
And here in Ari-bama, who do you think will be questioned about their status under this new law? Fade to brown. If you're as white as a Zero bar, you get a free pass.
Further, the bill, "Requires a reasonable attempt to be made to determine the immigration status of a person during any legitimate contact made by an official or agency of the state or a county, city, town or political subdivision...if reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the U.S."
That "reasonable suspicion" goes a long way with civil servants not trained in law enforcement methods. See, the language requires such an investigation from any "official or agency of the state or a county, city, town or political subdivision." Does that include the local dog catcher? A social worker? The principal of a local grade school? This requirement is not limited, as are some other provisions, to "law enforcement officers."
Non-Hispanics could be questioned about their residency and citizenship as well, but we all know who Pearce is gunning for here. Ironically, Republican state Representative Steve Montenegro, who is nominally Hispanic, is one of the co-sponsors of this nefarious legislation.
Pearce himself supposedly has some half-Latino grandkids, though he rarely mentions them. Reckon that wouldn't go over too well in far-right LD18. Wonder if they know grandad is attempting to rob them of their civil liberties?
Pearce takes a shot at day-laborers too, making them nearly verboten under his new Afrikaner-like rules. See, "if a motor vehicle is stopped on a street roadway or highway and blocks or impedes the normal movement of traffic," it will become unlawful for the vehicle's occupant to "attempt to hire or hire and pick up passengers for work at a different location."
The language of the bill would also make it unlawful for a day laborer to enter the hiring vehicle. Remember, this is regardless of whether or not the worker is undocumented. But if he or she is, it would be illegal simply to "apply for work, solicit work in a public place or perform work as an employee or independent contractor in Arizona."
Obviously, there's no shame in Pearce's game. Nor should there be in those who oppose this madness. This Wednesday, January 20, at 9 a.m., the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee, chaired by state Senator Linda Gray, will be holding a hearing on the matter in Senate Hearing Room 3. If you can't make it down to the legislature to face off the smelly hillbillies who'll be there to support the measure, e-mail your state Senators. Tucson's Boarder Action Network provides an easy method of doing so. Just follow the link, here.
