Johnson Changes Stance On Ariz. Ties
Sacramento Mayor Recalls Sadness Over Trade To Phoenix Suns
POSTED: 3:10 pm PDT April 28, 2010
UPDATED: 8:24 pm PDT April 28, 2010
UPDATED: 8:24 pm PDT April 28, 2010
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has changed his mind over intentions to sever the city's economic ties to Arizona regarding that state's new immigration law.
In a blog post Wednesday, Johnson said the law, which directs Arizona's state and local police to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are in the country illegally, "contradicts the foundation of American justice on multiple levels."
"Beyond the law’s discretionary bigotry, it stands as a hypocritical application of presumptive guilt, a violation of our essential Constitutional rights. Ultimately, it requires the most color-blind police officer to judge people based on their skin color," Johnson wrote.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the law last week, sparking protests and threats of boycotts against the state's tourism industry.
California Senate President Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, wants the state to review and possibly break its contracts with businesses and governments in Arizona, and San Francisco has banned city workers from traveling to the state on any non-essential city business.
Johnson applauded those moves at first, saying on his blog that "Sacramento should do likewise, severing any economic ties to Arizona in expression of our city’s belief that justice is not an arbitrary weapon wielded according to skin color and appearance."
Later in the day, Johnson updated his blog to say that he'd prefer to have an open dialogue about the issue after speaking with Phoenix Mayor Phil
In a blog post Wednesday, Johnson said the law, which directs Arizona's state and local police to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are in the country illegally, "contradicts the foundation of American justice on multiple levels."
"Beyond the law’s discretionary bigotry, it stands as a hypocritical application of presumptive guilt, a violation of our essential Constitutional rights. Ultimately, it requires the most color-blind police officer to judge people based on their skin color," Johnson wrote.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the law last week, sparking protests and threats of boycotts against the state's tourism industry.
California Senate President Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, wants the state to review and possibly break its contracts with businesses and governments in Arizona, and San Francisco has banned city workers from traveling to the state on any non-essential city business.
Johnson applauded those moves at first, saying on his blog that "Sacramento should do likewise, severing any economic ties to Arizona in expression of our city’s belief that justice is not an arbitrary weapon wielded according to skin color and appearance."
Later in the day, Johnson updated his blog to say that he'd prefer to have an open dialogue about the issue after speaking with Phoenix Mayor Phil
