Are Anti-Immigrant Forces at Work in Arizona? Is there media manipulation against immigration?
Introduction
With the passage of SB1070 and its revisions in Arizona, often called "the toughest anti-immigration policy in the US", I had urged skepticism at all the "media outrage", esp. those leveled by politicians. I even wrote four different hubs (see the links at the end) about how the laws actually do NOT do what its opponents claim will do, and are in fact legal, at least to a lay person like me.
However, I was not aware of the forces behind such anti-immigration movement were in full swing... until I found out about a independent documentary called 9500 Liberty. Then I realized, we are all being manipulated, even I, the skeptic.
What is 9500 Liberty?
The documentary 9500 Liberty is a documentary about Prince William County in the State of Virginia. Apparently, in 2007, it was subjected to a media blitz by anti-immigration organizations as a "test case". In mere months, anti-immigration sentiments rose from a mere 3% to well over 40%. A law very similar to the one passed in Arizona were passed there. In fact, it was alleged that the same law firm helped drafting both pieces of legislation.
The town soon were fragmented along racial lines, and angry citizens went online to form virtual town halls when the local government, faced with tremendously deep pockets of the national anti-immigration organizations, ended up confronting the very citizens it was supposed to serve.
The title, 9500 Liberty, is an actual address, that belongs to a naturalized citizen's family. He chose to use one of the walls to display a banner, facing the town center, that says "Prince William Co. Stop Your Racism to Hispanics!” It became a rally point for local citizens to campaign and reverse the policies.
Prince William County = Arizona?
The movie is opening this weekend in the SF Bay Area, and local news have covered it that I want to see it. The website and news pointed out some very interesting points:
* anti-immigration groups supported both places
* same law firm allegedly help draft both legislations
* both legislations featured the same "reasonable doubt" searches
* both legislations used the "make our street safer' argument
* the county repealed the law after a few years
* crime actually went UP after the passage of the law
I cannot say whether Arizona is meant to be the next "progression", but it may well be. I will have to try to go watch it myself.
Conclusion
The documentary "9500 Liberty" is only being screened in limited cities. However, you can check out an 'extended trailer' here.
I haven't changed my mind about my hubs yet, but I am starting to have second thoughts.
My thoughts on Arizona SB1070
- Racial Profiling and the Arizona SB 1070 Law
Racial profiling: the new Arizona immigration law is accused of doing it. What is racial profiling, are there different types, how it is related to the AZ law, and how can it affect you? - Arizona Senate Bill 1070: what is it really?
The national controversy about the new Arizona law, SB 1070, which modifies the immigration enforcements of Arizona law, is all over the place. Do you know what it really says and what are the complaints about? - Why Court Challenges to Arizona SB1070 will fail
Do you know why court challenges to Arizona's SB1070 are doomed? That's right, ACLU and others will lose. The AZ laws have been carefully written to defeat challenges. Find out why. - SB1070 and Double Jeopardy
On my other SB1070 hubs, a reader, Don, brought up an interesting line of thought. Because Arizona's SB1070 proscribed additional penalties for unauthorized / illegal immigrants/aliens, it subjected them to...
