The state committee of the Arizona Democratic Party vowed today to "take every responsible action" to oppose a law they said amounted to "government-sponsored discrimination, racial profiling and harassment of Hispanics and others."
The resolution was adopted unanimously by the 200 plus delegates meeting in Tucson.
It noted that Hispanics had been in the American Southwest for more than 400 years.
The resolution, brought to the floor by the Progressive, Hispanic, Labor, LGBT and African American caucuses says:
WHEREAS, The truse spirit of our country is grounded in immigration and the willing participation and shared responsibility of ordinary working men and women;
WHEREAS, Hispanic people have lived in the American Southwest for more than 400 years;
WHEREAS, Violence on both sides of the border is being manipulated to distort the debate for true comprehensive immigration reform;
WHEREAS, The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated; and
WHEREAS, SB1070 is an unconstitutional, misguided response that violates civil rights by enacting a program of government sponsored discrimination, racial profiling, and harassment of Hispancis and others;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The Arizona State Democratic Party, its officers and members shall take every reasonible action, private and public to oppose this legislation.
Several speakers, including National Committeewoman Carolyn Warner, said they felt the bill would be a tipping point, turning Arizona Blue. The Dems are now within 60,000 permanent early ballot requests of the number held by Republicans. Arizona elections are usually narrowly decided by the votes cast before election day.
In addition to the seat of widely unpopular Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, Sen. John McCain's seat is up for election this year, along with the entire state Legislature and other state offices.