Protestors Speak Out Against Arizona’s Immigration Law on Steps of City Hall

A city of immigrants like New York can lead the way to reform.

Groups across the nation have been protesting Arizona’s SB1070 law this week, set to go into effect today, and some of their demands have been heard. US District Judge Susan Bolton struck down controversial parts of the law yesterday, blocking the provisions that require police to check immigration status, allow warrantless arrest of suspected illegal immigrants, and criminalize immigrants that aren’t carrying papers. This is good news for proponents of immigrant rights, but the rest of the law will still go into effect today and the fight for comprehensive immigration reform struggles on.

On Tuesday, a diverse gathering of immigrant rights proponents came together on the steps of New York City’s City Hall with signs that read “Somos todos Arizona” (trans: We are all Arizona), “We are all children of immigrants,” “No human being is illegal,” and lapel pins that said “reasonably suspicious.” Raquel Namuche, who organized the event, told me it was convened to push the city council to pass a resolution to boycott Arizona. Similar resolutions have already passed in cities such as Boston, Los Angeles and Oakland as public statement of solidarity with the immigrant community of Arizona. “New York is a city of immigrants,” she explained. “Our mayor is supportive of immigrant rights.” So New York should be a city that leads the crusade for immigration reform. “Arizona’s struggle is New York’s struggle,” she told the crowd.

Reshma Saujani, who’s running for Congress in New York’s 14th district, stood in the crowd of protestors. When I asked why she was there, her answer was blunt: “What happened in Arizona was wrong.” Immigration reform is a pressing issue, especially in this recession, she said. “You can’t fix the economy on a broken system.” Even if Congress can’t pass comprehensive immigration reform, it can pass other measures like the DREAM Act, she said, which would enable children of immigrants to attend college. If students graduate high school without the chance to go to college, what economic options do they have?

Many of the speakers made their statements in Spanish through a translator. A representative of the NYCPP told the crowd that while we don’t know how long it will take to get justice for the immigrant communities, they are giving a “clear message” to lawmakers that they “will always be here trying to create a better and more just world.”

As the speakers finished, the protestors shouted “Obama escucha, estamos en la lucha!” (Obama listen, we are in the struggle!), “Si se puede!” (Yes we can!), and “Boycott Arizona!” Maybe their cries reached Judge Bolton’s ears. Now they have to reach the President’s.

Bryce Covert is Assistant Editor at New Deal 2.0.