Civil group joins boycott against Arizona over tough immigration law

The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center announced on Monday that it is joining an economic boycott of Arizona to protest against the state's new illegal immigration law.

"The recent passage of two bills in Arizona that promote discrimination are rooted in racist bigotry," said center Chief of Staff Darrel Cummings.

Cummings said the center will prohibit staff travel to Arizona for conferences or other professional activities and will take steps to end all relationships with businesses headquartered in Arizona.

Arizona recently passed two bills that critics say will lead to racial profiling. One legislation is SB 1070 which empowers local law enforcement to check the immigration status of suspects suspected of being in the country illegally. The other law prohibits the teaching of ethnic studies in public schools.

Cummings said his center will follow the Los Angeles City Council in boycotting Arizona.

The center will stand with all those who oppose legal attempts to "marginalize, stigmatize, or persecute any community, anywhere, " he said.

Last week, the City Council passed a measure that prohibits the city from doing business with businesses in Arizona and bans any non-essential travel there by city representatives.

"Our community easily recognizes legalized bigotry and discrimination because we have been fighting it so long and so often," Cummings said.

"We know too well the horrific consequences that result from such policies. Elected officials in Arizona can rationalize and justify these laws any way they choose, but underneath it all lies anti-Latino and, specifically, anti-Mexican and Mexican-American prejudice."

Source:Xinhua