In print | Published April 29, 2010

To the Editor,

As a college alumnus from Arizona, I am writing to encourage the college, faculty and all student organizations to follow the lead of Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva and boycott Arizona until such time as its recently-passed, regressive and racist immigration bill is either repealed or overturned.

I’m sure many in the college community are aware of the unfortunate and likely unconstitutional bill that has passed, which would deputize local police departments and state agencies in enforcing federal immigration law, authorizing both criminal and civil penalties for noncompliance. Any person, when asked, would be forced to prove their immigration status or face jail time, a fine and court costs, even if they are later found to be a legal resident.

While Arizona drivers’ licenses would be valid in proving citizenship, many out-of-state licenses would not be, so a visit to Arizona requires a birth certificate or visa.

The college would be following precedent it set in 2000, when it pledged to move spring athletic team training from South Carolina in recognition of a widespread boycott of that state over the flying of the Confederate flag over the state capitol. Many student and faculty conferences were also moved from South Carolina for the duration of that conflict.

Would such a boycott of Arizona work? Indeed, it already has. In the 1980s, Arizona refused to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A concerted boycott throughout the country changed many Arizonans’ opinions on the matter, and they voted in referendum to overrule the state legislature in recognizing the holiday.

Arizona has been hit hard by the recession, and has regrettably chose to use immigrants as scapegoats. Arizonans undoubtedly could use your dollars — but we could use your moral leadership more.

I urge the college to consider such a boycott.

Ivan Boothe ’05

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