Associated Baptist Press - Faith leaders protest Arizona's anti-immigration law
Faith leaders protest Arizona's anti-immigration law
By Bob Allen
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
WASHINGTON (ABP) -- Religious events across the country are being planned this weekend to protest Arizona's new law giving police more power to crack down on illegal immigration. Critics said the bill, signed into law April 23 by Gov. Jan Brewer, encourages racial profiling and illustrates the need for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level.
"We are deeply concerned about the enactment of SB 1070 as it goes beyond anti-immigrant sentiments and supports racial profiling," John McCullough, executive director of Church World Service said in a statement. "This legislation feels reactionary and hateful. It is a clear representation of the politics of division and exclusion."
The law makes it a state crime for illegal immigrants to not have an alien registration document. It also would require police to question people about their immigration status if there's reason to suspect they're in the country illegally.
Speaking on behalf of the relief-and-development organization of the National Council of Churches -- an ecumenical body with 36 member communions including the Alliance of Baptists; American Baptist Churches USA; National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.; National Missionary Baptist Convention of America and Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. -- McCullough urged the Obama administration to do "everything in its power to prevent its implementation and the consequences it will have for human rights."
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