Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Guv'ment Human and civil rights groups decry Georgia's immigration legislation
Posted by Joeff Davis @joeffly on Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 6:41 PM
Human and civil rights groups took to the Capitol steps today and — standing under a statue of one of Georgia's most famous advocates of white supremacy — declared their opposition to a slew of anti-immigrant bills state lawmakers are considering.
"Georgia is about to pass a bill that encourages police officers to stop, interrogate, and hold residents if an officer suspects they are undocumented," said Everette Thompson of Amnesty International USA Southern Region. "What kind of things would make somebody 'suspicious?' Is it the kind of car we drive? The way we dress? Or, simply the color of our skin? How exactly do you enforce this law without instituting a new state sanctioned form of racial discrimination?"
Thompson was referring to House Bill 87, which has been likened to Arizona's controversial immigration bill that sparked a national debate about the issue. The bill is currently in committee in the Georgia House. A similar measure has also been proposed in the state Senate.
Other pieces of anti-immigration legislation under consideration by state lawmakers include bills that would prohibit undocumented immigrants from attending state colleges — even if they were brought to the United States by their parents — and make it illegal to pick up day laborers.
Speakers at the rally included state Rep. Pat Gardner and state Sen. Nan Orrock, both Atlanta Democrats.
Gardner said the legislation wasted the Legislature's time.
"Let's get serious about the serious issues we have to deal with in the General Assembly and not focus on those who might look different than we do," she said.
Orrock argued that the bills would be bad for Georgia's economy, saying that the "immigrant work force is a critical part of our Georgia economy" and that the agriculture, restaurant and hospitality industries have all come out against Georgia's proposed legislation.
Not everybody at the rally was against the pending legislation. Standing several feet from the press conference, holding a bumper sticker reading "Kick me, I am citizen" was D.A. King, a well-known advocate of tighter immigration reform.
King called the people at the rally "shameless race baiters," adding that "they have no argument because there is no civil right to be in the United States illegally."
Comments (50)
Showing 1-50 of 50
Latest in Fresh Loaf
-
Atlanta almost looks like NYC in 'Anchorman 2' trailer
This one should be good for my new favorite movie-watching drinking game: drink when you recognize Atlanta
-
Congressman John Lewis to deliver keynote at Decatur Book Festival
2013 Decatur Book Festival keynote speaker and lineup announced
-
First Slice 6/19/13: Scooter thieves strike in southeast Atlanta 5
Plus, John's Creek mayor under fire for his 'questionable actions'
- More »
More by Joeff Davis
-
National Socialist Movement rallies at the Gold Dome 73
On Saturday, members of what's considered the largest Neo-Nazi group in the country gathered downtown
-
Final Four players should strike 15
Without NCAA reform, drastic action is needed
- More »
Search Fresh Loaf
