Last week marked a major victory in the fight for human rights and justice in Arizona. Five hateful bills, again targeting migrants, were defeated last week as the business community pushed several Republicans to pause their hatred and focus on economic recovery and the public deficit. After Senate President Pearce asked the Arizona Chamber of Commerce what economic recovery meant, he vowed at least one more crack and cracking migrants. But we all know once a leader has been successfully challenged from within the clock is ticking.
The rebuke of 5 immigrant bashing bills, including birthright citizenship repeal, marks more than just another instance where business gets its way. This change of direction marks a victory for those grassroots and community leaders who almost a year ago told musicians, artists, cities, organizations, tourists, and writers, “the only way these folks will learn is in the pocket.” Thus organizations like Derechos Humanos, PUENTE, NDLON, The Sound Strike, Somos America and many others called for an economic boycott of Arizona. Since then the economic boycott of Arizona has become stronger than ever.
With business pulling on the coat tails of the Republican Party in Arizona it is time to bring this baby home! Arizona cannot begin an economic recovery and (bad) business as usual until it does more than merely halt new forms of hate. It is time for Arizona to repeal SB 1070 and to negotiate changes to many other policies and laws that discriminate against migrants, or anyone for that matter.
When Senator Russell Pearce’s favorite hate bills died perhaps a little bit of him died as well. Maybe that is what he needs. Yes, that’s it. Russell Pearce needs us to help him save himself. The Sound Strike wants to do our part. Why? Because we care about Crusty Russ. Believe that.
ART BY RUSSELL VARNER
While The Sound Strike has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars and taken a variety of artists and visitors to Arizona, we are proposing to bring together the local organizations we work with and allied entertainment industry leaders to help raise needed funds for local projects as well as to help build support for the repeal of SB 1070.
In the coming days we will be speaking with members of the Sound Strike about some general principles and rules that maintain both the integrity of the Arizona boycott while being able to be of more assistance on the ground.
We want to make it clear that the role of business in turning some coats in the Arizona State Legislature is a key moment. However, that moment comes in response to the courageous resistance and organizing being done by the true heros of all of this. The migrant community that has braved many storms in Arizona to emerge, as usual, with dignity, grace, honor, hope and courage. We also thank the artists who have served as cultural warriors and ambassadors for justice in this fight. We especially want to those artists who took the courageous stand to cancel booked shows under extreme pressure.
