Hispanic Evangelicals Call Arizona Bill SB1070 "Legislative Nativism, Declare a 40 Day National Fast for Justice in Arizona"
Press Release
For Immediate Release April 20, 2010
Contact: Maritza Ramirez
Press and Media Director, NHCLC
hispanicchurch@aol.com
hispanicevangelicals.com
916-919-7476
Hispanic Evangelicals Call Arizona Bill SB1070 "Legislative Nativism, Declare a 40 Day National Fast for Justice in Arizona"
WASHINGTON, April 20 /Hispanic Christian News/ -- America's largest Hispanic Christian Organization, The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), The Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals, called the passage of SB1070 in Arizona legally sponsored nativism and xenophobia.
"Today, Arizona stands as the state with the most xenophobic and nativist supportive laws in the country. We need a multi-ethnic firewall against the extremists in our nation who desire to separate us rather than bring us together. Shame on you Arizona Republicans and shame on you Senator John McCain for endorsing the legislation, "stated Hispanic NAE President, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez.
The measure expands law enforcement powers to racially profile anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant.
"We call upon RNC Chairman Michael Steele to condemn this new law or Hispanic Americans will read the silence as a defacto endorsement and a purview of what will come if the GOP takes over Congress in 2010. Second, we call upon Attorney General Eric Holder to review this legislation since it's clearly a violation of constitutionally protected Civil Rights. If you are Hispanic in Arizona, you just became a suspect and open to police harassment. We call all upon all Latinos and immigrants who are citizens in Arizona to defend their constitutionally protected rights," added Rodriguez.
Rev. Eve Nunez, Vice President of NHCLC and Arizona State Chapter Director for the Association, delivered Bibles to all the legislators who signed Senate Bill 1070. This includes the two sponsors of the bill, Russell Pearce and Steve Montenegro, who is also a former immigrant. Each Bible had the name of the legislator and the following scriptures:
"Woe to the legislators of infamous laws, to those who issue tyrannical decrees, who refuse justice to the unfortunate and cheat the poor among my people of their rights who make widows their prey, and rob the orphan. What will you do on the day of punishment, when, from afar off, destruction comes? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches? - Isaiah 10:1-3
Proverbs 31:8-9 says: "Speak up for those who cannot speak themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy"
Rodriguez, Mat Staver President and Chairman of the Freedom Federation and Dean of The Liberty University School of Law and Jim Wallis, President and Founder of Sojourners, joined over 500 participants in a national telephone conference to discuss a comprehensive faith response to the Arizona Law. Moreover, Rodriguez addressed a separate group of conservatives on the Arizona law.
"The Arizona Law stands as evidence that in 21st Century America, we may no longer be in the Desert of Segregation or the Egypt of Slavery but we just discovered there are Giants to be slain in the land of Promise. The Arizona Law is without a doubt, anti-Latino, anti-family, anti-immigrant, anti-Christian and unconstitutional. In addition, the law is without a doubt, Anti-Conservative. It runs counter to the Republican vision of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.
The law in AZ has created a moral, political and economic crisis. It is the prime example of what happens when the federal government lacks the leadership to solve this issue.
We have elected our leaders to lead and it's time that they did so. From Republicans, we're hearing they want to wait until next year. Democrats like Harry Reid are playing politics with the issue and the President appears to be letting Congress off the hook.
To the Democrats and the President we say, remember your promise. We sure do and we will remind you this November and November 2012. To the Republicans we say, you are either the party of Lincoln and Reagan or David Duke , Tom Tancredo and Pat Buchanan. Remember Pete Wilson in California? We remember.
We are tired of excuses, now we want solutions that will end the division and fear in Arizona and put our country on the right path again. Where is the leadership that we need?
In the name of justice and in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln as we repudiate inequality we have called for a National 40 Day Fast beginning May 1st, Marches across our nation beginning on May 1st and subsequent marches on Phoenix throughout the month of May. In addition, we urget groups to consider Boycotting Arizona. Finally, we will consider Non violent Civil Disobedience exercises as viable components of a biblically rooted justice campaign in defense of our brothers and sisters who suffer injustice. Conservatives must lead to push back on xenophobia, nativism and racial profiling.
Let me be clear, We say no to Amnesty, no to racial profiling , yes to the protection of the borders and yes to Just Integration Reform NOW!
One more reminder; remember the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and how Conservatives, in the majority, stood on the wrong side of history. Let us learn from our mistakes."
The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference will host a number of meetings in Arizona including strategies to engage in non violent civil disobedience. In addition, the organization is requesting Attorney General Eric Holder to look into the measure as a violation of federally protected civil rights.
The Arizona Law stands as evidence that in 21st Century America, we may no longer be in the Desert of Segregation or the Egypt of Slavery but we just discovered there are Giants to be slain in the land of Promise. The Arizona Law is without a doubt, anti-Latino, anti-family, anti-immigrant, anti-Christian and unconstitutional. In addition, the law is without a doubt, Anti-Conservative. It runs counter to the Republican vision of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.
The law in AZ has created a moral, political and economic crisis. It is the prime example of what happens when the federal government lacks the leadership to solve this issue.
- We have elected our leaders to lead and it's time that they did so. From Republicans, we're hearing they want to wait until next year. Democrats like Harry Reid are playing politics with the issue and the President appears to be letting Congress off the hook. To the Democrats and the President we say, remember your promise. We sure do and we will remind you this November and November 2012. To the Republicans we say, you are either the party of Lincoln and Reagan or David Duke , Tom Tancredo and Pat Buchanan. Remember Pete Wilson in California? We sure do/
- We are tired of excuses, now we want solutions that will end the division and fear in Arizona and put our country on the right path again. Where is the leadership that we need?
In the name of justice and in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln as we repudiate inequality we have called for a National 40 Day Fast beginning May 1st, Marches across our nation beginning on May 1st and subsequent marches on Phoenix , Conservative and Christian groups to Boycott Arizona and Non violent Civil Disobedience exercises. Conservatives must lead to push back on xenophobia, nativism and racial profiling.
We say no to Amnesty, no to racial profiling , yes to the protection of the borders and yes to Just Integration Reform NOW!
One more reminder; remember the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and how Conservatives, in the majority, stood on the wrong side of history. Let us learn from our mistakes.
Arizona Strategy:
1. March, mass
2. 10 Sundays of Prayer for Arizona and Immigration Reform
3. 40 Day Fast
4. Boycott
5. Letter Writing Campaign: Gus Reyes idea: Faxes, emails, texts: Goal is 1 million
The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference is the Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals unifying, serving and representing the Hispanic Born Again Community by reconciling the vertical and horizontal of the Christian Message via the 7 Directives of Life, Family, Great Commission, Stewardship, Justice, Education and Youth.
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