In a previous diary that dealt with the Prescott, AZ mural, I commented that the Woodland WA city council was considering a resolution supporting the Arizona "Papers Please" law. Woodland would become the second city in Washington to pass such a resolution. Long Beach, Washington was the first with their city council passing a resolution in support of the Arizona law.
I am very happy to report that the Woodland City Council rejected the voices of intolerance and bigotry. One city council member, Al Swindell made this observation about it:
"It would bring hate and discontent to our community," Swindell said.
Another city council member, Marilee McCall, made another argument against the resolution.
McCall said her son, a boarder patrol agent along the Mexican boarder, received five to six months of training to do his daily work effectively. Enforcing immigration laws is not as simple as it seems, she said. Following Arizona's example would threaten to alienate a portion of the population.
"We do not understand the subtle prejudice that happens on a daily basis," she said. Passing such a law would "make it not so subtle prejudice," she added.
(Note: I realize that the word "border" is misspelled. That is how it appeared in the news story)
As you can imagine, interest in this was huge. The crowd that was there overflowed into the hallway.
Of the more than 100 people who filled City Hall — in a line that snaked through hallways, down stairwells and out the front door — at least half were Latino, many clutching small American flags.
Two attendees at the meeting explained their opposition to the resolution and it is worth noting here.
Former Woodland police chief and city councilman Grover Laseke said the city has other issues to worry about.
"This is a nonpartisan council and this is a partisan issue and a divisive one ... and it belongs on the federal level," Laseke told the council to a huge round of applause..."I'm legal, I'm a citizen, and a lot of people are here to work in the fields and on the farms," he said as he waited in the hallway outside the council chambers. "I don't understand why they're doing this. I don't think they need it."
The residents of Woodland deserve special credit for organizing against hatred and bigotry. The Woodland City Council also deserves credit for standing up against the voices of intolerance. A very small town saw this for what it was and said "No" to racial profiling.