IMMIGRATION — CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO MOVES TO JOIN GROWING BOYCOTT OF ARIZONA OVER NEW ANTI-IMMIGRATION LAW: On Friday, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) signed a draconian, likely unconstitutional immigration bill that has been slammed by both Democrats and Republicans. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) has been calling for a boycott of his own state, urging, “Do not do business with a state that is propagating the idea separate but equal treatment under the law can be codified.” The idea is catching on as the “nation’s biggest Spanish-language newspaper,” La Opinion, called for “a boycott of all goods and services from Arizona and [a] pledge to avoid tourism in the state as well.” Indeed, a growing number of travelers have said they will avoid visiting Arizona because of the new law, and the state has already lost the business of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, which decided, “moments after” Brewer signed the law, to move its upcoming conference from Arizona to another state. Meanwhile, San Francisco City Supervisor David Campos — himself a former undocumented immigrant from Guatemala — said yesterday that he will introduce emergency legislation calling for a boycott of Arizona. “I feel the city and the county of San Francisco has to take a stand against what happened in Arizona,” Campos said. San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said he is “fully committed” to the effort and will help to “identify all applicable contracts, and to pursue termination wherever possible.” Tourism is one of Arizona’s biggest industries, but Jon Garrido, a former Tucson economic development official, wrote in the Tucson Citizen that a national boycott is necessary to combat “Jim Crow actions,” even if it causes economic pain.
