Los Angeles Daily News
The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education will consider Tuesday adding its voice to those of cities and community groups opposing Arizonas recently approved law cracking down on illegal immigration. The board will consider adopting a resolution condemning the law and exploring ways of curtailing economic support of the state and companies based in Arizona.
The resolution proposed by board President Monica Garcia and members Nury Martinez and Yolie Flores would also call for LAUSD civics and history classes to include a discussion of the Arizona law in the context of unity diversity and equal protection for all.
The proposed LAUSD resolution states that the legislation effectively sanctions and promotes unconstitutional racial profiling and harassment and blatantly violates the civil rights of both Arizona residents and all visitors to the state.
SB 1070 the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act makes it illegal to be in Arizona without proper documentation.
It authorizes local law enforcement to investigate a persons immigration status whenever there is a reasonable suspicion that the individual is in the country illegally. However it bars solely using race color or national origin to question suspected illegal immigrants.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the law on April 23 although it is not expected to take effect until around August. A week later she signed a package of
amendments to the law that she said make it crystal clear and undeniable that racial profiling is illegal and will not be tolerated in Arizona.
Arizona is acting responsibly to address a border security crisis that is not of our making Brewer said. The federal governments failure requires us to act to protect our citizens and we are doing just that.
Passage of the law has prompted outcry from various officials across the country. The Los Angeles City Council approved an economic boycott of Arizona in response to the law and Los Angeles County will consider following suit Tuesday.
The proposed LAUSD resolution urges students and their families to be aware of Arizonas policies and directs Superintendent Ramon Cortines to come back to the board with recommendations of how the district can curtail any economic support of Arizona such as district-sponsored employee travel or contracts with companies based in the state.
