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Arizona SB1070 Stress Test
A prominent Arizona civil rights leader and former Phoenix city councilman is speaking out about SB 1070, the state’s new controversial immigration law
“I was terribly stressed when I noticed the governor signed the bill,” said Calvin Goode. “It's something that we don't need in Arizona.”
SB 1070 requires police to question people about their immigration status if they have “reasonable suspicion” they are illegal immigrants.
Goode said the law reminds of him of state’s rights laws in the 1950s and 60s that permitted segregated schools and workplace discrimination against minorities.
“We're entitled to equal protection under the constitution,” said Goode. "We're not getting that kind of protection if we belong to certain groups of people in the country.”
As Rev. Al Sharpton led a march to the state capitol Wednesday, Goode watched from his front lawn in Phoenix.
He said he is encouraged by protests against the law and hopes they will encourage the federal government to address illegal immigration.
Goode was the second African-American elected to Phoenix City Council.
He served 22 years on the council, where he helped pass a city ordinance to ban workplace discrimination against minorities and an ordinance declaring Phoenix would observe the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Abogados May 5, 2010 12:36 PM | Preguntas Para Abogados
