Al Sharpton Calls for Boycott of Arizona for Racial Profiling Law

By Black Voices On Money on 04/26/2010 – 12:28 pm PDT -- Business News

Filed under: Dr. Boyce Money, News, The Economy

During a public debate with Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona, Rev. Al Sharpton called for an economic boycott of the state of Arizona as a result of the new law which allows law enforcement to check anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant. I didn’t know about the boycott at the time I spoke with Rev. Sharpton on the radio this afternoon, but I agree with his decision. While the citizens of Arizona have quite a few reasons to be frustrated by federal immigration policy, the act of legalizing racial profiling can be incredibly threatening to the freedoms of all Americans.

The reason that African Americans may want to support the boycott against the state of Arizona is that if black and brown people are being racially profiled in that state, this can open the door for additional profiling around the nation. Also true is the fact that many immigrants are black people coming from Haiti, Africa and other parts of the world. Dangerous laws like the one in Arizona would create an environment in which any person of color to be stopped and searched without just cause.

The economic impact of a boycott of the state of Arizona would be significant. The state has one of the largest deficits in the country, and doesn’t have many avenues to get out of that hole. In fact, Arizona has the largest deficit in the nation as a percentage of it’s total state budget, so it is in serious financial trouble. If the nation, entertainers and all fair-minded Americans were unified in a boycott against the state, the impact could be significant.

President Barack Obama has expressed his disappointment with the law, and many groups are already filing challenges in court. Additionally, there are protests in the streets of Arizona, as the Latino community will not allow the government’s decision to go without a response. Fighting this law is good for America, since we cannot tolerate a blatant violation of our civil liberties. Sometimes the best way to fight for a cause is with the money in your pocket, and that’s what Sharpton is doing.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

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Ron Strobak

I Urge Al Sharpton to actually go to AZ And live on the border. Or Visit it atleast. I have Lived in Tucson all my life.And let me tell u Sharpton You have no idea in anyway what You are even talking about i can assure you that. You maybe made have gotten millions preaching your hate towards white folks and people You that dont agree with you But this is something that you have no idea about you are looking for another pay check thats. Now of course i know you wont visit the border cause you will shut your eyes to what you see its ashame though you can open your mouth about it
Terrie

I agree somewhat with the previous person. Al Sharpton knows nothing about what he is spouting his mouth off about and he looks and sounds ignorant doing it. We live with this on a daily basis and it’s time to stop it. Ms. Brewer asked Obama 5 times for help and she was ignored. Drug trafficking, human smuggling, kidnapping, home invasions are a daily occurrence. Who are they smuggling in the country and the last I heard human and drug smuggling was illegal. So what is the problem with this law? It is against the law to be in the country illegal and yet that law is not being enforced. It seems that we in Arizona have to take a stand and finally say it, and enforce it. Sharpton stay out of it and keep your big mouth shut.
Norm Barrett

As usual Sharpton has got to stick his nose into a situation that no one has asked him to. I’d call him “Reverend”, if I really thought he was one. He is nothing but an anti-American racist who is a fast talking con artist and trouble maker. All he wants to do in this case is turn as many Latinos as he can against white people. I’ll admit it, he’s good at it. He’s got the majority of the black people to believe in him. I wonder who foots the bill for all of his traveling. He has no job,— oh sorry he is a “Reverend” and we all know how much they make. I thought the Democrats were for separation of church and state. They are, except in his and Jesse Jacksons cases.

Al, go home and stay there.
Amy

Rev. Sharpton has it right. This is a disgrace for Arizona. This is not about illegal aliens, this is about voter suppression. Jan Brewer is known for this. If they can intimidate democratic people to stay away from the poles, there will be more votes for Republicans. And typically poor people are democrats, or vote democratic.

This is about oppressing poor people. A lot of people WHO WERE BORN IN THIS COUNTRY, do not have their birth certificates (I am white and I don’t have an official copy) and may have to apply to the state that they were born in to get a new copy. In some states, this can cost up to $130 apiece. If there is a family of 4, this would cost them $520. A family living on the poverty line cannot afford this, so they may stay away from the poles in November.

JAN BREWER NEEDS TO BE VOTED OUT. She is a disgraceful bigot using the disadvantaged to further her own career. She is selfish and needs to be gone.
Lola James

I saw the CNN show with Rev. Sharpton. Good job Rev. Sharpton. The problem is the Law itself. Some problems will be Jurisdiction; Probable Cause; Suspicion Intent; International Law or Laws; Tribal Laws and Local Laws and depending where crime or alledged crime or crimes take place along with profiling. So, AZ will have quite a nightmare in the Judicial System not to mention cost of it all. There will be so many Lawsuits they will have a State Budget Crisis.
Do they realize how many officers it will take just to enforce this law and the documentation needed will be incredible. They will be bogged down in paperwork and they will certainly need extra man power to track documents; prepare warrants; and just piles and piles of work. It may help economy with fines and such but they will also incur cost.

I understand the crimes that come accross the border but, actually Immigration should be kicked hard in the rear. Border Patrol too. There are some that are a part of the crimes but we will whisper-okay? Oh some getting paid betcha that. So, this issue is one that will not go away. And Whites need not front. Some of them are the King Pins in the drug scene then act like “we are just law abiding citizens”. So, get ready to show that ID and documentation with the rest of us. Damn Straight on that one. How do we know you ain’t some terrorist or somethin-ha, ha, ha!
S Gallegos

To boycott Arizona is a horrible idea! I am a legal hispanic arizona citizen and I will be directly hurt by this boycott.

Just this week there were found 3 more drop houses and 60 plus illegals arrested in another several traffic stops and just now a sheriff was shot by illegal aliens in the desert just south of the city of phoenix with an ak assault rifle!!!

We are desperate for help! The Governor wrote to the President no less than 5 times and he never even bothered to reply to her.

Instead of hurting us more the rest of the country should be supporting Arizona and helping us!!!
S Gallego

Sounds like you’re coming from left field. It’s ALL about illegal aliens!!!! Where are you from? You have no clue what’s going on in Arizona. If you are from Arizona you need to pay more attention to the laws, facts and truths.

It’s SUPER easy to get a copy of a birth certificate (unless you’re here illegally). Tell me, what state it is that charges $130 for a birth certificate?

Since you know so much about what’s happening you should also know you’re uninformed of facts, misinformed of the truth and naive.
Marty Rogers

The least educated governer in the US, Ms. Brewer, let her bigotry get the best of her. Of course there is a problem in the Arizona border with smugglers. Clearly the federal government, including 8 years of Bush, hasnt put a dent in the problem. They are frustrated and scared. But the hysteria is out of sink with the reality: Crime droped over 35% in Arizona over the last 2 years. Stats are clear the illegal immigrants are the least likely group to commit violent crimes. I think they are confusing drug runners with no intention of staying here with the vast majority of illegal immigrants who work the fields, wash dishes, and other menial jobs not typically associated with drug dealers… By passing this law, these short sighted people severed the relationship between the hispanic community and the police which will be real problem over the long run. But most importantly, it offended millions upon millions of US citizens of hispanic descent who have real economic power, not to mention the embarrassment that this law is to the US for the rest of the world. It does have one positive aspect to it: it is so appalling that it will cause the feds to finally do something, assuming the republicans dont block it. At the very least, they need to send help to patrol the border asap