How can we protest Arizona?

[A.R.Amistad]

Its official. Arizona has legalized racial profiling and assured a white supremacist local government. It even openly says that it intends to make "life so hard for them (Latinos) that they want to leave." The fact that anyone would want to make life unlivable for anyone is repulsive. I am thinking us comrades need to organize a type of "freedom rider" thing to Arizona to directly combat these policies. Any ideas on how to bring racist Arizona to its knees?

[Stand Your Ground]

I agree, something does need to be done.

The fashing of America is coming.

I'm gonna make a protest on Tuesday. Fuck a permit, I'm getting this shit organized ASAP.

[The Gallant Gallstone]

I'm an ardent supporter of protests, and I do think a protest is necessary for this situation.

But I think we need to attack the law with a mind to its weaknesses. The law mandates that police officers must question someone if they suspect the person is an "illegal." Such a pogrom would be impossible to enforce if every opponent of this legislation, legal or not, wore a placard, button, or T-Shirt loudly emblazoned with "I am an Illegal Immigrant"

[A.R.Amistad]

I'm an ardent supporter of protests, and I do think a protest is necessary for this situation.

But I think we need to attack the law with a mind to its weaknesses. The law mandates that police officers must question someone if they suspect the person is an "illegal." Such a pogrom would be impossible to enforce if every opponent of this legislation, legal or not, wore a placard, button, or T-Shirt loudly emblazoned with "I am an Illegal Immigrant"
sounds like an idea for the freedom rider idea, but we also need to get activists from around the country to go to Arizona to show their discontent.

[S.Artesian]

Its official. Arizona has legalized racial profiling and assured a white supremacist local government. It even openly says that it intends to make "life so hard for them (Latinos) that they want to leave." The fact that anyone would want to make life unlivable for anyone is repulsive. I am thinking us comrades need to organize a type of "freedom rider" thing to Arizona to directly combat these policies. Any ideas on how to bring racist Arizona to its knees?


I wouldn't be adverse to everyone showing up with a yellow star sewn on his or her shirt/blouse.

Or everyone showing up with a Mexican flag sewn on his/her shirt.

Or everyone showing up with a button that says "I'm an immigrant. Arrest me."

[Decommissioner]

If a protest does get organized, I could probably rally up some comrades in my area to join.

I too like the idea of have stars, or buttons claiming to be an illegal immigrant.

[MarxSchmarx]

I would encourage comrades to make common cause with the undocumented people. Too often people without paperwork are equated with scabs and raising the area's housing costs. But what if we organized so that even people without papers will refuse to cross picket lines or pay rent to a slum lord?

It will quickly change the attitude of native born from one of confrontation to one of collaboration.

[Agnapostate]

Since dark skinned (i.e. Indian-looking) people with Spanish surnames will be targeted, the most potent symbol of protest would be one of indigenous solidarity. The majority of Mexican and Central American immigrants are of full and mixed-blooded Amerindian descent. If the Tohono O'odham were to declare their reservation a sanctuary for Pima County immigrants in the name of indigenous solidarity, that would send a strong message to the likes of Sheriff Joe Arpaio in neighboring Maricopa County and Arizona state officials about exactly who the true owners of American territory are.

There are some problems with this approach, however. Firstly, the majority of immigrants are more prone to view themselves as "mestizos" rather than as "Indians," perhaps even being scornful towards self-identified Indians even if there is no substantial difference in their admixture. The natives of the Southwest will obviously not take kindly to this attitude, nor should they. Secondly, while I believe most immigrants are relatively apolitical, some of their advocates have promoted orthodox Chicano ideology and the placement of "Atzlan" (the U.S. Southwest), under Mexican political authority. This would be a deeply reactionary aim, as Mexico is ruled by a white upper class, members of which are often openly racist towards the Indian majority. It also does genuinely insult the indigenous peoples of the Southwest, as one might expect. Thirdly, as a practical issue, many immigrants have caused ecological damage to the Tohono O'odham reservation while crossing through Pima County territory, which has led to hostility towards their presence. However, this is related to the fact that their inability to use official roads and checkpoints provides a perverse incentive for them to hike through wilderness areas, polluting because of the lack of waste bins or facilities in such remote places.

So though it's not likely to happen, it would still send quite a message.

[counterblast]

You could call the police on the white racists who supported this bill.

Tell the police, "This lady, Jan Brewer (the Arizona governor) who lives down the street is harboring illegal immigrants, and I'm pretty sure shes part of a drug cartel. There is no way she could afford to live in a 6 bedroom house in the suburbs and drive a Cadillac, otherwise. Please conduct a raid, immediately!"

[Crusade]

I'm an ardent supporter of protests, and I do think a protest is necessary for this situation.

But I think we need to attack the law with a mind to its weaknesses. The law mandates that police officers must question someone if they suspect the person is an "illegal." Such a pogrom would be impossible to enforce if every opponent of this legislation, legal or not, wore a placard, button, or T-Shirt loudly emblazoned with "I am an Illegal Immigrant"

That idea is crazy enough to....get us all hit with fire hoses. :thumbup1:

Nah, actually that's a really good idea. Clever thinking.

[Sean]

Sorry that it seems like I've been living under a rock, but for my sake - and for the sake of people googling this subject and finding here - could we explain fully what this law is for the sake of the thread and my own density?

[Stand Your Ground]

Sorry that it seems like I've been living under a rock, but for my sake - and for the sake of people googling this subject and finding here - could we explain fully what this law is for the sake of the thread and my own density?


On Friday, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Jan+Brewer) signed a bill into law making failure to carry proof of citizenship or legal status a crime, and any immigrants who can't produce the documentation can be arrested, fined $2,500 and jailed for up to six months.
Critics fear it would give cops free reign to harass the state's Hispanic population.

[aziraphale]

I say we have a flood of Latino American citizens descend upon Arizona. The police would not know who to arrest. THere would be too many of us. They'd either clog up their police stations and time with tons of American citizens or not enforce the bill, or potentially both. Then, many of the arrested could file a suit for racial profiling, costing the government large amounts of money to fight those, and during a recession! This would get hte bill overturned really fast.

[Stand Your Ground]

I say we have a flood of Latino American citizens descend upon Arizona. The police would not know who to arrest. THere would be too many of us. They'd either clog up their police stations and time with tons of American citizens or not enforce the bill, or potentially both. Then, many of the arrested could file a suit for racial profiling, costing the government large amounts of money to fight those, and during a recession! This would get hte bill overturned really fast.
I like that idea.

My protest signs are ready! :D

[aziraphale]

Yeah. I wonder if we could actually do the flood. Hmmm, I know some Latino rights activists personally. I think I'll talk to them about this idea.

[cska]

I say we have a flood of Latino American citizens descend upon Arizona. The police would not know who to arrest. THere would be too many of us. They'd either clog up their police stations and time with tons of American citizens or not enforce the bill, or potentially both. Then, many of the arrested could file a suit for racial profiling, costing the government large amounts of money to fight those, and during a recession! This would get hte bill overturned really fast.

This would be great. If we can get a bunch of Latino citizens to go to Arizona, they wouldn't be able to tell who is undocumented. Plus the racists will be wishing they hadn't passed a law that would invite so many Latinos over. :lol: