Members of the Westside Republicans rally Tuesday against the City Council's vote to boycott Arizona over its immigration law.
May 25, 2010 12:51 pm US/Pacific
Angelenos Protest City Council's Arizona Boycott
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
(4/27/2010)
Protesters Downtown Tuesday showed the state of
Arizona that they support its immigration battle by demonstrating against Los Angeles' economic boycott of Arizona.
Members of the Tea Party movement, who gathered in front of City Hall, say the city's boycott hurts the wrong people.
The City Council voted 13-1 in favor of the boycott on May 12, in hopes of pressuring Arizona into repealing Senate Bill 1070. The boycott could affect nearly $8 million in city contracts with the state of Arizona, CBS 2's Kristine Lazar reported.
"We're not going to stand for it," protester Tony Katz said. "We want a safe, lawful
Los Angeles, we believe in a safe and lawful Arizona, and we believe in strong borders and we believe in a strong America."
Another protester shouted "'Illegal' is the key word there," adding that the council should focus on solving its own problems -- such as a massive budget deficit -- "and then once you fix it, then maybe you can step out and talk about other things."
The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act makes it illegal to be in Arizona without proper documentation. It authorizes local law enforcement to investigate a person's immigration status whenever there is a reasonable suspicion that the individual is in the country illegally. However, it bars solely using race, color, or national origin to question suspected illegal immigrants.
Councilwoman Janice Hahn, one of the proponents of the Arizona boycott, stood by the council's decision.
"We know that people are frustrated about illegal immigration but we on the City Council do not feel like (Arizona's new immigration law) is the right way to address this frustration," she said. "We believe it targets a certain segment of our population and we believe it could target American citizens. We know the federal government needs to take up immigration reform, but we think this law targets American citizens who may look a certain way."
Gary Aminoff, first vice chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County and rally said the council acted irresponsibly in approving the Arizona boycott.
"The state of Arizona is dealing with its own issues," he said. "It's not up to the City Council of the city of Los Angeles to decide to boycott and cut off funding to Arizona. That only hurts the people of Arizona and does nothing to deal with the issues that the L.A. City Council is ostensibly concerned about."
Aminoff said the protest "has nothing to do with race, color of skin, country of origin, language or color of hair."
"It has to do with a law and order issue of people who come here illegally and abuse the system," he added.
Aminoff called Senate Bill 1070 "a restatement of the federal law" and "closely duplicates" Section 834b of
California's Penal Code, which calls for every law enforcement agency in the state to attempt to verify whether an arrestee is legally in the country.
The law's opponents show "a lack of trust in Arizona's police officers that feel they would intentionally profile by race," Aminoff said.
Aminoff said he does not think the council will rescind the boycott because of the protest.
"What we want to do is bring a message to the City Council there are many people in the city of Los Angeles who do not agree with their decision to boycott Arizona," Aminoff said.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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The 2010 30th Congressional District Republican Candidates Forum is now up on FBN:
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"Republican Congressional Candidates
Hold Debate At Beverly Hills High School"
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DEFEAT HENRY WAXMAN!30 Congressional District GOP
CANDIDATES FORUM
APRIL 28, 2010, 7:00 P.M.
BEVERLY HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
Salter Theater
241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
David Benning * Ari David
Robert A. Flutie * Chris Kolski * Chuck Wilkerson
Larry Greenfield is our moderator this evening.
PRESENTED BY:
WESTSIDE REPUBLICANS
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY REPUBLICAN CLUB
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PROTEST L.A.’s ARIZONA BOYCOTTTuesday, May 25, 2010
8:45am to 9:45amLos Angeles City Hall
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
On the South Lawn of the City Hall
TJ McCormack(Host) -Radio Talk Show Host
Tony Katz
Radio Talk Show Host
Stephen Kruiser- Comedian and PJTV HostSonja Schmidt- Comedian and PJTV Host
Walter Moore
Former candidate for Los Angeles Mayor, author, attorney
Errol Valladares- Chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly - LA North
Teresa Hernandez - Political Activist - owner of El Cielito Restaurant.
PLEASE NOTE:This event required us to obtain an LA city permit.
We have to stay on the south lawn of city hall. We can't be in the street or block traffic.
We want to keep on message, so we don't want signs about Pelosi or Obamacare. Just signs that relate to the fact that we are protesting the City Council boycott of Arizona.
Please arrive early to find parking so they are on site by 8:45am.
PARKING PASSES AVAILABLE for those that live in Los Angeles, when people call your Coucilman's office, they just tell the receptionist that you live in the Councilmans district, and would like to attend the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 25 and request a parking pass for the day.
CALL LA CITY HALL AND SHARE YOUR OPINIONS - See our Next Page for telephone numbers.
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