Pro-Arizona Protesters Hit L.A. City Hall
A pro-Arizona immigration law rally hit City Hall Tuesday, and there wasn't exactly a sea of people: Only about 30 were estimated to be in the crowd as demonstrators took a stance against the Los Angeles City Council's official boycott of the desert state. (Check out photos of the event at LAist).
"We want a safe, lawful Los Angeles, we believe in a safe and lawful Arizona, and we believe in strong borders and we believe in a strong America," said protester Tony Katz.
Arizona's law encourages police to check the immigration status of people they detain or arrest who they believe are possibly in the country illegally. Critics have said the legislation will have cops checking the "papers" of anyone who looks Mexican, even if they're citizens.
The council approved an Arizona travel and business ban on May 12. "We believe it targets a certain segment of our population and we believe it could target American
citizens," said Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who coauthored the city boycott.
The law "has to do with a law and order issue of people who come here
illegally and abuse the system,'' rally organizer Gary Aminoff, first vice chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles, said. "We wouldn't care if the 12 to 15 million illegals in this country were Swedish -- we would still oppose illegal immigration.''
"What we want to do is bring a message to the City Council there are many people in the city of Los Angeles who do not agree with their decision to boycott Arizona,'' Aminoff said.
-With reporting from City News Service. Got news? Email us.
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