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PHOENIX — More than a thousand students have walked out of several Valley high schools to protest Arizona’s controversial immigration enforcement bill.
The protest was organized via Twitter and Facebook, according to students who left their campuses and headed for the state Capitol.
The move came despite loud speaker warnings from their principal to stay in class. Carrying protest signs, the students then started a 4-mile-long march to the state Capitol. Students represented at least five area schools: North High, Cesar Chavez High, Metro Tech High, Trevor Browne and Maryvale High School.
Hours earlier, Maricopa County attorney Rick Romley said at a news briefing he will ask Gov. Jan Brewer to veto the immigration bill. Romley said that he’s concerned about potential civil rights violations. Brewer still has not made a decision about whether she’ll sign the bill. She has until Saturday at 11:59 p.m. to decide.
The Governor’s office said Wednesday they’ve received more than 1,300 calls, e-mails and faxes in favor of the bill and about 12,000 against it. The bill would make it a crime for illegal immigrants to not have alien registration documents. It also would require police to question people about their immigration status if there’s reason to suspect they’re in the country illegally.
Other provisions allow lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws, and make it illegal to hire illegal immigrants for day labor or knowingly transport them.
Supporters say the bill uncuffs law enforcement. Civil-rights advocates say it could encourage racial profiling and other abuses.
“We’re the laughing stock of the country because of these crazy laws,” Phoenix Vice Mayor Michael Nowakowski said Wednesday. If SB 1070 is signed into law , Nowakowski said there’s only one way the city can avoid countless civil lawsuits. ”The only way to avoid those lawsuits is to ask every person that’s pulled over by the city of Phoenix Police Department, or called to their homes, to ask for their citizenship,” Nowakowski said.
“I don’t believe that’s the way the law is written,” Don Reily of Phoenix said. “If that’s the interpretation the vice mayor wants to make, that’s his problem.” Reily has a problem with Nowakowski’s interpretation. Currently, the bill states only after a lawful contact can an officer ask a person about citizenship status, if there’s reasonable suspicion that person is in the country illegally.
Meanwhile, Diana Brest has no problem proving she’s a legal U.S. citizen. ”Why wouldn’t I unless (I) have something to hide? I think it’s about time someone does something and I hope it does pass,” Brest said. Kathy Bergman disagrees. ”The cops have way more important things to do than to check our licenses and our birth certificates … it’s a waste of time,” Bergman said.
The Phoenix City Council, Phoenix Police Chief and Nowakowski plan to meet some time next week to discuss his proposal.
For more information go to: www.altoarizona.com
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