Stop Racial Profiling, Racism & National Oppression!
Legalization and Full Equality for Undocumented Immigrants!
Whereas: Freedom Road Socialist Organization stands against racial profiling, and all forms of racism and national oppression;
Whereas: Freedom Road Socialist Organization supports full legalization and full equality for undocumented immigrants;
Whereas: On April 23, 2010 Arizona Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signed SB1070 into law, which makes it a crime to be an undocumented immigrant and requires police to stop and arrest people who they suspect of being undocumented;
Whereas: This law legalizes racial profiling and is a step back to the days of Jim Crow segregation in the South when African Americans were second-class citizens. It is a green light to racist police to increase terror against Chicanos, Mexicanos, Central Americans and indeed anyone who they think looks Latino, who speaks with an accent, or who they think seems otherwise "suspicious";
Whereas: There is a long history of national oppression and racism against Chicanos and Mexicanos in Arizona, a state that in fact used to be part of Mexico and was stolen by the U.S. in the Mexican-American War and its aftermath. SB1070 is an outrage but it is not something entirely new. It can only be understood as part of this ongoing history of national oppression against the Chicano nation and racism in Arizona and in the Southwest in general.
Whereas: The fact that SB1070 is part of a targeted campaign of national oppression and racism was made crystal clear when it was immediately followed by another new law that passed just 20 days later, HB 2281, which aims to outlaw Ethnic Studies programs and oppressed nationality student organizations in the state. The author of that bill said explicitly that it was written to target the Chicano Studies program in the Tucson school system, and also directly targets the Chicano student group MECHA (Movimeinto Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán);
Whereas: SB1070 is the most flagrant example of racist anti-immigrant laws in the U.S., and has inspired reactionary politicians in many other states to introduce copycat bills, but SB1070 and the copycat bills are not the only problem; in fact the currently-existing 287g program on the national level that trains local police around the country to enforce immigration law is in essence the same policy as SB1070 that leads to the same effect of racial profiling, harassment, discrimination and oppression against Chicanos, Mexicanos, Central Americans, other Latinos, Native Americans or any other people with brown skin;
Whereas: An inspiring mass movement has broken out and taken root in Arizona to resist SB1070, and more broadly to fight against the oppression of Chicanos and of Mexican, Central American and other Latino immigrants;
Whereas: This movement has helped unify and build the immigrant rights struggle in Arizona and around the U.S. has brought forward a new generation of Chicano and other Latino students and youth taking bold initiatives; and the immigrant rights movement and progressive forces nationally are rallying to support the people of Arizona resisting SB1070 and HB2281;
Whereas: The movement resisting SB1070 has called for a boycott of Arizona until SB1070 is repealed, and this boycott is already having an effect on the bottom line of the hotel and tourism industry of the state, among other sectors;
Therefore Be It Resolved That: Freedom Road Socialist Organization demands the repeal of SB1070 and HB2281. FRSO will actively participate in and help build the Arizona Boycott. FRSO will also support the movement in Arizona to resist the law as well as its enforcement
Therefore Be It Resolved That: Freedom Road Socialist Organization will fight against SB1070 copycat bills around the country.
Therefore Be It Resolved That: Freedom Road Socialist Organization demands the federal government immediately repeal 287g, which in essence already implements SB1070-style racial profiling and oppression of Chicanos, Mexicanos, Central Americans and other Latinos around the U.S.
Therefore Be It Resolved That: Freedom Road Socialist Organization demands that the federal government refuse to cooperate with SB1070 and similar oppressive laws in other states. FRSO demands that the federal government immediately enact legislation for full legalization and full equality for undocumented immigrants.
