By Fidel "Butch" Montoya
Today is Mother’s Day – a very special day in the lives of so many people. For me it is an extra special day because my Mom has gone on to her eternal reward. My Mom was a minister of the Gospel, and she was my father’s partner in ministry.
My Mom and Dad were ministers with the Assemblies of God for over 30 years. They pastured several churches and as preacher’s kids, my sister and brother and I moved around the pastoral circuit. We had some special times depending in the church my Dad and Mom pastured, but we had a wonderful life as preacher’s kids.
Mom and Dad pastured churches in Denver, Colorado Greeley, Colorado, Center, Colorado, and Farmington, New Mexico. In Denver, he pastured the La Primera, La Segunda, & Aposento Alto. We had some wonderful times…and times when we all were forced to our knees in prayer for God’s Grace and Love.
But through all of the times in the ministry, my Mom was the best mother I could ever have. I remember coming home for lunch from school, and there was Mom making me something for lunch. She was always around when I needed to be loved or cared for. I have so many wonderful memories of my Mom, and I really miss her today.
I miss my Mom very much. She was so wise, so compassionate, and such a wonderful example of how to love others. There are many days when I want to just reach out and call my Mom. There are so many days when I just want to drop by her house and spent some time with her. On so many days, I just want to hear her voice one more time. I loved dropping by her home on my way home from work. It usually meant a small but delicious snack or meal…the only way Mom could make it.
Mom has gone on, but there is not a single day that goes by without a special memory of her that comes to mind. I love her and miss her so much. She was my anchor and my friend. Not often that we think of our mothers as our friend, but she always had the right answer or solution to a problem I might be experiencing. Mom was always there for me.
So today on this special day, if you have your Mom with you today, call her, send her flowers, and make sure she knows you love her. I wish I had one more chance to just tell “Mom, I love you….and I miss you so much!”
“Mom, I miss you…and I will always love you!”
"He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water." Isaiah 49:10
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Let Us Come Together and Pray....
By Fidel "Butch" Montoya
Today is the National Day of Prayer, a day in which our nation pauses to recognize the importance what prayer has meant for our nation. It should also be a day in which we express our faith in a higher Being. It is also a day in which we can proclaim the blessings given to our nation. A National Day of Prayer can also help to remember that we were established as a nation founded on the biblical principles of justice and righteousness.
Our nation has been blessed since the founding of this great nation by founding fathers who recognized the importance of a Supreme Being guiding and watching over our country. President George Washington, our nation’s first President issued a proclamation declaring the first “National Day of Prayer” on Thursday, November 26, 1789. It was done in recognition of our dependence upon God to guide our nation.
Over the years we have been a nation that has represented the best in democracy and justice. We must never take this privilege for granted and be on guard to protect our right of prayer.
The April 15 ruling by a federal judge that ruled that a National Day of Prayer violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment and thus ruled it unconstitutional is a step away from what our founding fathers wrote, accepted, and established in our country’s constitution.
However, as with other nations in the Bible that turned away from God’s guidance and rejected their faith in God, God’s word is clear on what happens if we reject his Word. The threat of what can happen if we reject the very basic principles of faith in God are told in story after story in the Bible. God’s judgment of destruction and punishment are shared throughout the Bible when people begin to turn to idolatry and other evil practices and reject the Biblical principles of justice and righteousness.
Today we find our nation at the crossroads of either moving forward and continuing to accept the importance of having a day in which we can express our faith and dependence on a Divine Being as an important tradition.
The whole notion of separation of Church and State is merely a wedge issue used to create confusion and fear over accepting the great tradition proclaimed by the prophets of the past.
Today as we gather across this great nation, may we once again renew our faith and determination to always find a day in which we declare not only a “National Day of Prayer” in recognition of God’s hand in the formation of our great democracy, but as a way to publicly express our continuing dependence on God’s hand in the affairs of our nation.
The Family Resource Council issued a statement regarding the importance of declaring a National Day of Prayer. In part it states, “The National Day of Prayer has a monumental place in our nation's history, but more importantly, its annual observance is a living expression of our collective faith in God today. It is a sign of our hope for the future of our nation and lends truth to our national motto; "In God We Trust." Those who have labored to promote this day have played a major role in envisioning, birthing, encouraging, strengthening and expanding the much larger trans-denominational prayer movement. This movement may be the brightest star in an America darkened by troubles on every side. “
As we gather today, let us once reclaim the spiritual heritage of our founding fathers and extend our faith and liberty in God, the One in whom we trust.
Political correctness and rulings by activist federal judges who mettle in the affairs and historical heritage of our nation by declaring a National Day of Prayer as unconstitutional should not stand in the way of a national tradition.
Let us join together recognizing a model and tradition of prayer handed down over the years so that today, on May 6, 2010, we can gather to renew our faith and trust and our commitment to remain a nation committed to justice, fair play, and righteousness for all.
As we pray today, may God’s Word refresh our commitment to continue in this battle for faith and justice. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries - Latino Faith Initiative. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today is the National Day of Prayer, a day in which our nation pauses to recognize the importance what prayer has meant for our nation. It should also be a day in which we express our faith in a higher Being. It is also a day in which we can proclaim the blessings given to our nation. A National Day of Prayer can also help to remember that we were established as a nation founded on the biblical principles of justice and righteousness.
Our nation has been blessed since the founding of this great nation by founding fathers who recognized the importance of a Supreme Being guiding and watching over our country. President George Washington, our nation’s first President issued a proclamation declaring the first “National Day of Prayer” on Thursday, November 26, 1789. It was done in recognition of our dependence upon God to guide our nation.
Over the years we have been a nation that has represented the best in democracy and justice. We must never take this privilege for granted and be on guard to protect our right of prayer.
The April 15 ruling by a federal judge that ruled that a National Day of Prayer violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment and thus ruled it unconstitutional is a step away from what our founding fathers wrote, accepted, and established in our country’s constitution.
However, as with other nations in the Bible that turned away from God’s guidance and rejected their faith in God, God’s word is clear on what happens if we reject his Word. The threat of what can happen if we reject the very basic principles of faith in God are told in story after story in the Bible. God’s judgment of destruction and punishment are shared throughout the Bible when people begin to turn to idolatry and other evil practices and reject the Biblical principles of justice and righteousness.
Today we find our nation at the crossroads of either moving forward and continuing to accept the importance of having a day in which we can express our faith and dependence on a Divine Being as an important tradition.
The whole notion of separation of Church and State is merely a wedge issue used to create confusion and fear over accepting the great tradition proclaimed by the prophets of the past.
Today as we gather across this great nation, may we once again renew our faith and determination to always find a day in which we declare not only a “National Day of Prayer” in recognition of God’s hand in the formation of our great democracy, but as a way to publicly express our continuing dependence on God’s hand in the affairs of our nation.
The Family Resource Council issued a statement regarding the importance of declaring a National Day of Prayer. In part it states, “The National Day of Prayer has a monumental place in our nation's history, but more importantly, its annual observance is a living expression of our collective faith in God today. It is a sign of our hope for the future of our nation and lends truth to our national motto; "In God We Trust." Those who have labored to promote this day have played a major role in envisioning, birthing, encouraging, strengthening and expanding the much larger trans-denominational prayer movement. This movement may be the brightest star in an America darkened by troubles on every side. “
As we gather today, let us once reclaim the spiritual heritage of our founding fathers and extend our faith and liberty in God, the One in whom we trust.
Political correctness and rulings by activist federal judges who mettle in the affairs and historical heritage of our nation by declaring a National Day of Prayer as unconstitutional should not stand in the way of a national tradition.
Let us join together recognizing a model and tradition of prayer handed down over the years so that today, on May 6, 2010, we can gather to renew our faith and trust and our commitment to remain a nation committed to justice, fair play, and righteousness for all.
As we pray today, may God’s Word refresh our commitment to continue in this battle for faith and justice. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries - Latino Faith Initiative. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, May 3, 2010
Say What you will, SB 1070 is still Profiling...
By Fidel “Butch” Montoya
The Arizona Legislature after running into harsh criticism and condemnation of SB 1070 as the worst racial and ethnic profiling law in the land, took some feeble steps to change the intent of the law by trying to ensure that law enforcement officers didn’t abuse their authority by stopping and questioning every person who fit the profile of an “undocumented immigrant,” by amending the law with HB 2165.
Governor Jan Brewer signed the bill passed by the Arizona Legislature that now requires every alien present in the state to carry proper documentation that they are legally in the state. The police can use “reasonable suspicion” to question any suspected undocumented immigrant in the state about their legal status. If undocumented immigrants do not carry “their papers,” police can charge them with additional fines, and in effect, making innocent men, or women – criminals.
The whole issue of racial profiling and ethnic intimidation allowing police to question anyone, who fits a profile of an undocumented immigrant, has raised a new issue of defining what an undocumented immigrant looks like. Even Governor Brewer who claims that police will undergo new training in identifying what a undocumented immigrant looks like, could not even venture a response to a question from a reporter what that training will entail.
But like all politicians, she couldn’t pass the chance to give a vague response. "I do not know," she said. "I do not know what an illegal immigrant looks like. I can tell you that I think that there are people in Arizona who assume they know what an illegal immigrant looks like. I don't know if they know that for a fact or not."
Mike Littwin, columnist of The Denver Post, wrote the best response to the question. “She said that they're still trying to come up with guidelines for the law. We all know what the law will do — go after those with the wrong accents or the wrong shoes or who press 2 at the ATM.”
The bottom line, civil rights organizations are already lining up to sue the state and demand that the racial profiling law be reviewed by the courts. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Arizona filed their challenge against Arizona’s Latino racial profiling law last week.
In a major show of support and unity with the Latino community, the NAACP, the nations’ oldest and respected civil rights organization in the country called SB 1070 an attempt to roll back the clock on civil rights protections in our country.
The NAACP is outraged that Arizona would pass a law that empowers the police to legally use racial profiling as a means by which to target the Latino community.
The Black community lead the civil rights movement back in the 1950’s, suffering the indignity and injustice of police abuse and brutality during non-violent civil disobedience protests, know what racial profiling can lead to when police abuse the authority given them under the law.
They also understand how the moral disregard of the law can be abused when segregationist Public Safety manager of Birmingham used his police against non-violent protestors in Birmingham. Theophilus Eugene “Bull” Connor was responsible for the ugliest images embedded in our minds of cops and dogs brutally attacking innocent victims of the civil rights demonstrations. Dr. Martin Luther King called, “Birmingham the most segregated city in America.”
It was here that America watched in horror on television as police used police dogs to drag away protestors in the streets of Birmingham. But one of the most dreadful images caught by news photojournalists of the time were the high powered water fire hoses used to push and wash Black protestors off their feet and into submission.
Speaking from a sense of history and outrage, NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock condemned the fact that SB 1070 was a violation of the moral and human rights standard in our country and an attempt to roll back the clock.
“The passage of SB1070 is an embarrassment to the equal protection clause in the U.S. Constitution, and if we are not careful will leave a permanent stain on the United States’ reputation throughout the world. As an association that has fought for more than 100 years to ensure that basic rights and freedoms would be equally extended to all, it is disheartening to see the State of Arizona enact a law that tramples on the civil rights of Hispanic persons, and one that cannot be enforced without resorting to racial and ethnic profiling. We intend to use the full weight of our 2200 branches and units to ensure that this law is repealed and does not happen in other states across this nation.”
In Colorado, a highly respected civil rights lawyer took the time to analyze SB 1070 and the feeble attempt by the Arizona Legislature to amend the law (HB 2162) in their efforts to quiet claims that by allowing police to use “reasonable suspicion,” basically meant racial and ethnic profiling was legal in Arizona.
Joseph Salazar, who “read and dissected SB 1070,’ even after the legislature passed HB 2165, wrote, “HB 1070 is severely flawed. There are no real safeguards prohibiting unconstitutional conduct, such as racial profiling.” Salazar opined, “The fact is that SB 1070 violates the scared principles of our federal government’s power to regulate immigration.”
Salazar took the task upon himself to read and analyze SB 1070 after Scott McInnis, Republican running for governor of Colorado, claimed that even though he had not read or studied SB 1070, he would sign such a bill if he were Governor of Colorado. The same gentlemen who while in Congress warned the nation right after the 911 terrorist attacks on our country, “the need for profiling for the national security of this country."
David Sirota, columnist for a syndicated column in Oregon Live. Com wrote, “Brandishing his past experience as a police officer, he implored lawmakers "to quit being politically correct" and let authorities make "ethnic background a legitimate component" of law enforcement investigations -- just as Arizona's new statute allows.
"Insurance companies profile for risk. That is what I am asking that we continue to do -- we need to profile for risk," he thundered, adding that using ethnicity as a risk factor "is very legitimate -- I think it is smart."
Commenting further, Sirota wrote, In other words, we should do to civil rights what insurance firms have done to, say, health care -- namely, deny people rights and privileges based on their ascribed characteristics.
No wonder, McInnis didn’t need to read SB 1070 and stand before the microphones and proudly state he would readily agree to sign it into law if he were elected Governor of Colorado. It is part of his DNA as a former cop to understand how easily it is to make “ethnic background a legitimate component” for profiling people who look like the bad guys.
With McInnis’s lack of political astuteness and understanding that SB 1070 is morally reprehensible to a large group of voters in Colorado, he allowed his own personal feelings about racial and ethnic “profiling for risk” to blurt out without understanding the political repercussions of being so frank and in this case, dishonest.
So while civil right lawyer Salazar took the time to read and analyze the law, it was very easy to see that the intent of the Arizona law – as written in the law itself, “The legislature declares that the intent of this act is to make attrition through enforcement the public policy of all state and local governmental agencies in Arizona.”
For McInnis and others who champion the violation of civil rights under the guise of protecting our country by using racial and ethnic profiling might want to take the same amount of time and effort as Salazar and find out for themselves that, “HB 1070 is severely flawed. There are no real safeguards prohibiting unconstitutional conduct, such as racial profiling.” Salazar opined, “The fact is that SB 1070 violates the scared principles of our federal government’s power to regulate immigration.”
No matter how much the Arizona Legislature tried to hide the true intent of SB 1070 by amending the law with HB 2165, putting lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries - Latino Faith Initiative. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Arizona Legislature after running into harsh criticism and condemnation of SB 1070 as the worst racial and ethnic profiling law in the land, took some feeble steps to change the intent of the law by trying to ensure that law enforcement officers didn’t abuse their authority by stopping and questioning every person who fit the profile of an “undocumented immigrant,” by amending the law with HB 2165.
Governor Jan Brewer signed the bill passed by the Arizona Legislature that now requires every alien present in the state to carry proper documentation that they are legally in the state. The police can use “reasonable suspicion” to question any suspected undocumented immigrant in the state about their legal status. If undocumented immigrants do not carry “their papers,” police can charge them with additional fines, and in effect, making innocent men, or women – criminals.
The whole issue of racial profiling and ethnic intimidation allowing police to question anyone, who fits a profile of an undocumented immigrant, has raised a new issue of defining what an undocumented immigrant looks like. Even Governor Brewer who claims that police will undergo new training in identifying what a undocumented immigrant looks like, could not even venture a response to a question from a reporter what that training will entail.
But like all politicians, she couldn’t pass the chance to give a vague response. "I do not know," she said. "I do not know what an illegal immigrant looks like. I can tell you that I think that there are people in Arizona who assume they know what an illegal immigrant looks like. I don't know if they know that for a fact or not."
Mike Littwin, columnist of The Denver Post, wrote the best response to the question. “She said that they're still trying to come up with guidelines for the law. We all know what the law will do — go after those with the wrong accents or the wrong shoes or who press 2 at the ATM.”
The bottom line, civil rights organizations are already lining up to sue the state and demand that the racial profiling law be reviewed by the courts. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Arizona filed their challenge against Arizona’s Latino racial profiling law last week.
In a major show of support and unity with the Latino community, the NAACP, the nations’ oldest and respected civil rights organization in the country called SB 1070 an attempt to roll back the clock on civil rights protections in our country.
The NAACP is outraged that Arizona would pass a law that empowers the police to legally use racial profiling as a means by which to target the Latino community.
The Black community lead the civil rights movement back in the 1950’s, suffering the indignity and injustice of police abuse and brutality during non-violent civil disobedience protests, know what racial profiling can lead to when police abuse the authority given them under the law.
They also understand how the moral disregard of the law can be abused when segregationist Public Safety manager of Birmingham used his police against non-violent protestors in Birmingham. Theophilus Eugene “Bull” Connor was responsible for the ugliest images embedded in our minds of cops and dogs brutally attacking innocent victims of the civil rights demonstrations. Dr. Martin Luther King called, “Birmingham the most segregated city in America.”
It was here that America watched in horror on television as police used police dogs to drag away protestors in the streets of Birmingham. But one of the most dreadful images caught by news photojournalists of the time were the high powered water fire hoses used to push and wash Black protestors off their feet and into submission.
Speaking from a sense of history and outrage, NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock condemned the fact that SB 1070 was a violation of the moral and human rights standard in our country and an attempt to roll back the clock.
“The passage of SB1070 is an embarrassment to the equal protection clause in the U.S. Constitution, and if we are not careful will leave a permanent stain on the United States’ reputation throughout the world. As an association that has fought for more than 100 years to ensure that basic rights and freedoms would be equally extended to all, it is disheartening to see the State of Arizona enact a law that tramples on the civil rights of Hispanic persons, and one that cannot be enforced without resorting to racial and ethnic profiling. We intend to use the full weight of our 2200 branches and units to ensure that this law is repealed and does not happen in other states across this nation.”
In Colorado, a highly respected civil rights lawyer took the time to analyze SB 1070 and the feeble attempt by the Arizona Legislature to amend the law (HB 2162) in their efforts to quiet claims that by allowing police to use “reasonable suspicion,” basically meant racial and ethnic profiling was legal in Arizona.
Joseph Salazar, who “read and dissected SB 1070,’ even after the legislature passed HB 2165, wrote, “HB 1070 is severely flawed. There are no real safeguards prohibiting unconstitutional conduct, such as racial profiling.” Salazar opined, “The fact is that SB 1070 violates the scared principles of our federal government’s power to regulate immigration.”
Salazar took the task upon himself to read and analyze SB 1070 after Scott McInnis, Republican running for governor of Colorado, claimed that even though he had not read or studied SB 1070, he would sign such a bill if he were Governor of Colorado. The same gentlemen who while in Congress warned the nation right after the 911 terrorist attacks on our country, “the need for profiling for the national security of this country."
David Sirota, columnist for a syndicated column in Oregon Live. Com wrote, “Brandishing his past experience as a police officer, he implored lawmakers "to quit being politically correct" and let authorities make "ethnic background a legitimate component" of law enforcement investigations -- just as Arizona's new statute allows.
"Insurance companies profile for risk. That is what I am asking that we continue to do -- we need to profile for risk," he thundered, adding that using ethnicity as a risk factor "is very legitimate -- I think it is smart."
Commenting further, Sirota wrote, In other words, we should do to civil rights what insurance firms have done to, say, health care -- namely, deny people rights and privileges based on their ascribed characteristics.
No wonder, McInnis didn’t need to read SB 1070 and stand before the microphones and proudly state he would readily agree to sign it into law if he were elected Governor of Colorado. It is part of his DNA as a former cop to understand how easily it is to make “ethnic background a legitimate component” for profiling people who look like the bad guys.
With McInnis’s lack of political astuteness and understanding that SB 1070 is morally reprehensible to a large group of voters in Colorado, he allowed his own personal feelings about racial and ethnic “profiling for risk” to blurt out without understanding the political repercussions of being so frank and in this case, dishonest.
So while civil right lawyer Salazar took the time to read and analyze the law, it was very easy to see that the intent of the Arizona law – as written in the law itself, “The legislature declares that the intent of this act is to make attrition through enforcement the public policy of all state and local governmental agencies in Arizona.”
For McInnis and others who champion the violation of civil rights under the guise of protecting our country by using racial and ethnic profiling might want to take the same amount of time and effort as Salazar and find out for themselves that, “HB 1070 is severely flawed. There are no real safeguards prohibiting unconstitutional conduct, such as racial profiling.” Salazar opined, “The fact is that SB 1070 violates the scared principles of our federal government’s power to regulate immigration.”
No matter how much the Arizona Legislature tried to hide the true intent of SB 1070 by amending the law with HB 2165, putting lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries - Latino Faith Initiative. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, May 1, 2010
The Denver Post
Guest Commentary
Taking a stand against Arizona law
By Butch Montoya
Posted: 05/01/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
The problem with Washington delaying taking positive action on comprehensive immigration reform is that states like Arizona are left to act independently, taking drastic measures with shocking and immoral implications.
Unfortunately, the law in Arizona is not actually about fixing our woefully broken immigration system and making our country safer. Instead, it preys on fears and suspicion and creates the perfect temptation for police to use racial profiling and discriminate against all people with brown skin. We are familiar with the saying, "driving while black." This law creates a new dynamic: "breathing while brown."
This law allows any person to be stopped by police if there is "reasonable suspicion" of being undocumented. Encouraging these fearful sentiments is wrong. It sends us backwards as a nation in a time when we need real solutions to move us forward.
The irony is that this bill, under a guise of increasing safety for Americans, actually creates a perilous mistrust between the immigrant community and law enforcement. The fear of speaking to police about any criminal activity increases the real threat to our children and our communities' safety.
However, one of the most abhorrent aspects of this new law is the implications for faith institutions. The law states that those who "knowingly transport or harbor" undocumented immigrants will be at risk of arrest.
Therefore, driving the sick to a doctor, offering shelter or food to the hungry — part of what it means to be a person of faith — would be unlawful.
This may force many people of faith into a situation of civil disobedience, living out their belief that God's laws of compassion and hospitality outweigh the mean-spirited law of Arizona.
Arizona is a clarion call for all: We must have the courage to deal with our broken immigration system. We call upon our representatives in Washington to deal constructively with this issue, this year, with a spirit of reason and compassion.
It is time for people of faith and conscience to stand for a positive and humane solution in Washington and against the negative and immoral example of Arizona.
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is director of H.S. Power & Light Ministries-Latino Faith Initiative. This commentary was also signed by Dr. Rev. Jim Ryan, executive director of the Colorado Council of Churches; Rev. Patrick Demmer, Graham Memorial Community Church of God in Christ; and the American Jewish Committee, Colorado.
Taking a stand against Arizona law
By Butch Montoya
Posted: 05/01/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
The problem with Washington delaying taking positive action on comprehensive immigration reform is that states like Arizona are left to act independently, taking drastic measures with shocking and immoral implications.
Unfortunately, the law in Arizona is not actually about fixing our woefully broken immigration system and making our country safer. Instead, it preys on fears and suspicion and creates the perfect temptation for police to use racial profiling and discriminate against all people with brown skin. We are familiar with the saying, "driving while black." This law creates a new dynamic: "breathing while brown."
This law allows any person to be stopped by police if there is "reasonable suspicion" of being undocumented. Encouraging these fearful sentiments is wrong. It sends us backwards as a nation in a time when we need real solutions to move us forward.
The irony is that this bill, under a guise of increasing safety for Americans, actually creates a perilous mistrust between the immigrant community and law enforcement. The fear of speaking to police about any criminal activity increases the real threat to our children and our communities' safety.
However, one of the most abhorrent aspects of this new law is the implications for faith institutions. The law states that those who "knowingly transport or harbor" undocumented immigrants will be at risk of arrest.
Therefore, driving the sick to a doctor, offering shelter or food to the hungry — part of what it means to be a person of faith — would be unlawful.
This may force many people of faith into a situation of civil disobedience, living out their belief that God's laws of compassion and hospitality outweigh the mean-spirited law of Arizona.
Arizona is a clarion call for all: We must have the courage to deal with our broken immigration system. We call upon our representatives in Washington to deal constructively with this issue, this year, with a spirit of reason and compassion.
It is time for people of faith and conscience to stand for a positive and humane solution in Washington and against the negative and immoral example of Arizona.
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is director of H.S. Power & Light Ministries-Latino Faith Initiative. This commentary was also signed by Dr. Rev. Jim Ryan, executive director of the Colorado Council of Churches; Rev. Patrick Demmer, Graham Memorial Community Church of God in Christ; and the American Jewish Committee, Colorado.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Stopping SB 1070 Laws from Spreading....
By Fidel “Butch” Montoya
As the debate over what can be done about SB 1070 continues to generate debate and controversy, other states are now beginning to look at similar laws for their states.
President Obama, who has failed to mount a serious effort to promote comprehensive immigration reform in the Congress, is left with only his bully pulpit and teleprompter. While he did call SB 1070 a misguided attempt by an individual state to enact immigration law, he also ordered his Department of Justice to review whether the law violated the civil rights of potentially many innocent men, women, and children.
In an AP interview, President Obama said that unless the federal government acts in a responsible manner to promote comprehensive immigration reform, it leaves “open the door to irresponsibility by others.”
He said, “That includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threatens to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe.”
Republican leaders have basically shut the door for any legislative cooperation between their party and the Democrats. South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who had joined with New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer in writing an immigration framework for possible bipartisan legislation, has said the chances of immigration reform passing this year will not happen and that the issue needed to wait until 2012.
Graham told The Washington Times, “If immigration comes up this year, it’s absolutely devastating to the future of this issue.” He has refused to ask other Republicans to join any bipartisan effort to pass legislation this year.
This self-destructive attitude by the GOP against working for comprehensive immigration reform this year is the final nail in the coffin and Latino voters will remember at the polls the selfish and indignant attitude Republicans have shown toward Latino voters.
So it appears the game of cat and mouse by the Republicans and Democrats has reached an impasse and the lack of any federal effort to enact immigration reform will only encourage and force more states to take action on immigration reform on their own.
As of this date, seven states are contemplating introducing a similar law that recently was signed into law by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Brewer believes the whole controversy over SB 1070 is overblown and will soon pass into obscurity and soon forgotten by the people in Arizona. Yet, by watching the growing momentum in other states, in at least evaluating voter interest in this law, it does not appear the idea of SB 1070 is going to go away quietly.
Republican candidate for governor of Colorado, Scott McInnis said if he were governor of Colorado, he would push a similar law for Colorado. Another Republican running for governor from Georgia said he wants to mirror a similar law for his state. Other states wanting to push this racial and ethnic profiling law include Utah, Maryland, Ohio, Texas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.
No, the controversy over SB 1070 is not going to go away without a battle and a very divisive debate and political discussion at water coolers across America. It is unfortunate that the proponents of SB 1070 refuse to acknowledge that this bill is strictly a bill that is based solely on racial and ethnic profiling as the only means by which to enforce the legal status of any person “driving while brown” in Arizona.
When a reporter asked Governor Brewer if she could define what an undocumented immigrant looked like, she said no, but it was obvious that she was not going to give an honest reply to the question, even if she knew the answer. But the question remains, what exactly does an undocumented immigrant look like? Unfortunately, other states are preparing to try and answer that question with legislation of their own and debating if perhaps the color of shoes ought to be part of the racial profile.
So while we plan marches and possible boycotts of Arizona, if we do not impress upon the President the urgent need for the federal government to move forward on passing comprehensive immigration reform legislation this year, we may end up boycotting more states if they move forward with their own plans to enact twin SB 1070 bills.
What is simply appalling is the fact that more states are even considering passing legislation that is based on racial and ethnic profiling. It is even shocking that more Americans do not see anything wrong in considering passing more hate and fear bills like SB 1070. It is as if we have lost our way and have forgotten that as a nation that stands as a model for democracy around the world, we cannot ignore issues of justice and laws that violate the basic core values of civil rights.
All of the analogies of Nazi Germany and the yellow stars forced upon Jews, the rounding up of Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor and detaining them in internment camps far from their homes and friends, and similar government efforts like “Operation Wetback” when anyone who looked like a Mexican was deported, seem to have been forgotten and erased from our collective memories.
Can you imagine having our government use “Operation Wetback” as a relocation effort to get rid of undocumented immigrants today?
Unfortunately, like the situation back in the 1950’s, many Latino American citizens will find themselves on the wrong side of the border simply because they “looked like illegal immigrants.”
If we expect to see dramatic changes that are needed in our government today, we must pray and fast and ask for Godly leaders who will have the courage to speak up for justice and righteousness.
In a recent national teleconference, Conservative Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform called upon the President and the Congress to move forward without delay on immigration reform.
At the present time, the Schumer/Graham immigration framework is not an acceptable alternative to fix the broken immigration laws and system we have in place now.
The Schumer/Graham framework is heavily weighted in more border security and militarizing the border. The biometric Social Security card is another bad proposal for institutionalizing a big brother national ID card, and increased “interior immigration enforcement” is code for more raids on families and further destruction of the Latino family cultural value.
The immigration system and laws in place today are simply outdated, unconstitutional, and were put in the law books based on the special interests of big business, right wing political interests, and cultural values and morals based on the racist and bigotry of the 1950’s.
I would like to think we have come a long way from a strictly ugly and racist past. It is time to revisit the broken immigration system and put in its place a systemic overhaul of comprehensive immigration reform that addresses the needs of our economy, our national security concerns, and for ensuring the long term preservation of a work force that can contribute to meeting the needs of Social Security and pension plans by being paid a fair wage, treated with respect and a sense of fair play, and that offers any undocumented immigrant the privilege of becoming an American citizen.
More than ever, let’s put a stop to the ugliness and hate of SB 1070 by not passing any more of hate and fear bills in other states. Let us reason together and as a nation and people of justice, let us say with a collective “NO” to any more divisive and hate oriented laws intended to racially and ethnically punish and profile Latinos and undocumented immigrants.
Pray we must, but as stewards of representative democracy, let’s make sure our prayers certify that we act justly, that we love mercy, and that we walk humbly before our God. Engraving these principles and values in our minds, our souls, our hearts, and in our spirits will ensure that as people of faith, we can fight to overcome any evil attempt to replicate SB 1070 in any more states.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries - Latino Faith Initiative. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the debate over what can be done about SB 1070 continues to generate debate and controversy, other states are now beginning to look at similar laws for their states.
President Obama, who has failed to mount a serious effort to promote comprehensive immigration reform in the Congress, is left with only his bully pulpit and teleprompter. While he did call SB 1070 a misguided attempt by an individual state to enact immigration law, he also ordered his Department of Justice to review whether the law violated the civil rights of potentially many innocent men, women, and children.
In an AP interview, President Obama said that unless the federal government acts in a responsible manner to promote comprehensive immigration reform, it leaves “open the door to irresponsibility by others.”
He said, “That includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threatens to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe.”
Republican leaders have basically shut the door for any legislative cooperation between their party and the Democrats. South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who had joined with New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer in writing an immigration framework for possible bipartisan legislation, has said the chances of immigration reform passing this year will not happen and that the issue needed to wait until 2012.
Graham told The Washington Times, “If immigration comes up this year, it’s absolutely devastating to the future of this issue.” He has refused to ask other Republicans to join any bipartisan effort to pass legislation this year.
This self-destructive attitude by the GOP against working for comprehensive immigration reform this year is the final nail in the coffin and Latino voters will remember at the polls the selfish and indignant attitude Republicans have shown toward Latino voters.
So it appears the game of cat and mouse by the Republicans and Democrats has reached an impasse and the lack of any federal effort to enact immigration reform will only encourage and force more states to take action on immigration reform on their own.
As of this date, seven states are contemplating introducing a similar law that recently was signed into law by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Brewer believes the whole controversy over SB 1070 is overblown and will soon pass into obscurity and soon forgotten by the people in Arizona. Yet, by watching the growing momentum in other states, in at least evaluating voter interest in this law, it does not appear the idea of SB 1070 is going to go away quietly.
Republican candidate for governor of Colorado, Scott McInnis said if he were governor of Colorado, he would push a similar law for Colorado. Another Republican running for governor from Georgia said he wants to mirror a similar law for his state. Other states wanting to push this racial and ethnic profiling law include Utah, Maryland, Ohio, Texas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.
No, the controversy over SB 1070 is not going to go away without a battle and a very divisive debate and political discussion at water coolers across America. It is unfortunate that the proponents of SB 1070 refuse to acknowledge that this bill is strictly a bill that is based solely on racial and ethnic profiling as the only means by which to enforce the legal status of any person “driving while brown” in Arizona.
When a reporter asked Governor Brewer if she could define what an undocumented immigrant looked like, she said no, but it was obvious that she was not going to give an honest reply to the question, even if she knew the answer. But the question remains, what exactly does an undocumented immigrant look like? Unfortunately, other states are preparing to try and answer that question with legislation of their own and debating if perhaps the color of shoes ought to be part of the racial profile.
So while we plan marches and possible boycotts of Arizona, if we do not impress upon the President the urgent need for the federal government to move forward on passing comprehensive immigration reform legislation this year, we may end up boycotting more states if they move forward with their own plans to enact twin SB 1070 bills.
What is simply appalling is the fact that more states are even considering passing legislation that is based on racial and ethnic profiling. It is even shocking that more Americans do not see anything wrong in considering passing more hate and fear bills like SB 1070. It is as if we have lost our way and have forgotten that as a nation that stands as a model for democracy around the world, we cannot ignore issues of justice and laws that violate the basic core values of civil rights.
All of the analogies of Nazi Germany and the yellow stars forced upon Jews, the rounding up of Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor and detaining them in internment camps far from their homes and friends, and similar government efforts like “Operation Wetback” when anyone who looked like a Mexican was deported, seem to have been forgotten and erased from our collective memories.
Can you imagine having our government use “Operation Wetback” as a relocation effort to get rid of undocumented immigrants today?
Unfortunately, like the situation back in the 1950’s, many Latino American citizens will find themselves on the wrong side of the border simply because they “looked like illegal immigrants.”
If we expect to see dramatic changes that are needed in our government today, we must pray and fast and ask for Godly leaders who will have the courage to speak up for justice and righteousness.
In a recent national teleconference, Conservative Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform called upon the President and the Congress to move forward without delay on immigration reform.
At the present time, the Schumer/Graham immigration framework is not an acceptable alternative to fix the broken immigration laws and system we have in place now.
The Schumer/Graham framework is heavily weighted in more border security and militarizing the border. The biometric Social Security card is another bad proposal for institutionalizing a big brother national ID card, and increased “interior immigration enforcement” is code for more raids on families and further destruction of the Latino family cultural value.
The immigration system and laws in place today are simply outdated, unconstitutional, and were put in the law books based on the special interests of big business, right wing political interests, and cultural values and morals based on the racist and bigotry of the 1950’s.
I would like to think we have come a long way from a strictly ugly and racist past. It is time to revisit the broken immigration system and put in its place a systemic overhaul of comprehensive immigration reform that addresses the needs of our economy, our national security concerns, and for ensuring the long term preservation of a work force that can contribute to meeting the needs of Social Security and pension plans by being paid a fair wage, treated with respect and a sense of fair play, and that offers any undocumented immigrant the privilege of becoming an American citizen.
More than ever, let’s put a stop to the ugliness and hate of SB 1070 by not passing any more of hate and fear bills in other states. Let us reason together and as a nation and people of justice, let us say with a collective “NO” to any more divisive and hate oriented laws intended to racially and ethnically punish and profile Latinos and undocumented immigrants.
Pray we must, but as stewards of representative democracy, let’s make sure our prayers certify that we act justly, that we love mercy, and that we walk humbly before our God. Engraving these principles and values in our minds, our souls, our hearts, and in our spirits will ensure that as people of faith, we can fight to overcome any evil attempt to replicate SB 1070 in any more states.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries - Latino Faith Initiative. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, April 26, 2010
And They Will Know Us by Our Love.....
By Fidel “Butch” Montoya
All across the country, the controversy and condemnation over SB 1070 continues to grow since Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed one of the most misguided state attempts at legislating immigration reform.
With the signing of SB 1070, undocumented families now face the real prospect of being stopped and questioned by the police over their immigration status. “Reasonable suspicion” will be the standard used by police to stop and question suspects. Now based on the visual ethnic and racial profiling standards, looking like an undocumented immigrant will be sufficient reason to be stopped, questioned, convicted, and deported.
Father Donald Bahlinger, of the Arizona pastoral care ministry, Kino Border Initiative, believes SB 1070 in the days ahead, will force more families without proper documentation to make the decision to flee the climate of hate and fear becoming so prevalent in Arizona. Families will begin looking to other states where immigration enforcement may not yet have reached the intensity and degree of hate, panic, and fear as it has in Arizona.
The Kino Border Initiative is an immigrant humanitarian effort sponsored by people of faith and “provides immediate and pastoral accompaniment to immigrants” recently deported from the USA back to Mexico. They also provide housing and shelter for unaccompanied women and children who are targets for human trafficking and extremely vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
In speaking with Father Bahlinger, it is clear he understands the complexities and the consequences of a failed immigration system that is broken and focuses on separating and destroying families.
The heavy-handed enforcement of immigration laws by the Obama Administration has forced immigrants and families stranded far from home and relatives with few options for finding shelter, food, or a place safe from exploitation and fear.
The Kino Border Initiative provides a proven faith based strategy and ministry in providing pastoral care to undocumented immigrants in need of a temporary place of shelter, food, or place of sanctuary for their families.
If the prophetic voice of Father Bahlinger becomes a reality, people of faith across our country will need to draw upon their faith and humanitarian values to reach out to provide pastoral care and ministry to families seeking places of sanctuary and safety.
The need to meet the temporary assistance for families will not only allow people of faith to practice the values and beliefs of their faith, it will also challenge the Church to exemplify the teachings of Christ toward helping the stranger in our land.
The Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition was right on target in convening a meeting for people of faith from across our state to begin to consider a pastoral ministry framework prepared to meet the temporary needs of families fleeing the animosity and trepidation felt in Arizona.
I believe we must look to the leadership of faith leaders like Father Bahlinger to guide our efforts in assisting undocumented immigrants affected by SB 1070 and which clearly violates the civil rights of a group of people based solely on a racial or ethnic profile.
We must remember that as people of conviction and faith, we must provide pastoral accompaniment for the victims affected by this hate-inspired law which has created so many undesirable consequences in destroying families and homes of so many undocumented immigrants.
It is incumbent that we now come together as a community of faith and inspired by our faith, be prepared for the pastoral care and ministry to families who may find themselves in need of our love and care.
While we come together to provide shelter, pastoral care and sanctuary for immigrant families, we also call upon President Obama and the Congress to remember as they debate comprehensive immigration reform, that any proposed legislation or framework must keep as the paramount theme, we are dealing with the lives of men, women and children and not just the systemic change of laws that in the past has misled us into believing that discrimination, fear, panic, and hopelessness were eliminated.
As people of faith, we will follow the precepts of our faith and the biblical principles that require that we follow the teachings of love, care, and justice.
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6: 8.
May we have the fortitude to move forward together in ensuring that any immigrant family in need may call upon us and learn to know us by our love for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All across the country, the controversy and condemnation over SB 1070 continues to grow since Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed one of the most misguided state attempts at legislating immigration reform.
With the signing of SB 1070, undocumented families now face the real prospect of being stopped and questioned by the police over their immigration status. “Reasonable suspicion” will be the standard used by police to stop and question suspects. Now based on the visual ethnic and racial profiling standards, looking like an undocumented immigrant will be sufficient reason to be stopped, questioned, convicted, and deported.
Father Donald Bahlinger, of the Arizona pastoral care ministry, Kino Border Initiative, believes SB 1070 in the days ahead, will force more families without proper documentation to make the decision to flee the climate of hate and fear becoming so prevalent in Arizona. Families will begin looking to other states where immigration enforcement may not yet have reached the intensity and degree of hate, panic, and fear as it has in Arizona.
The Kino Border Initiative is an immigrant humanitarian effort sponsored by people of faith and “provides immediate and pastoral accompaniment to immigrants” recently deported from the USA back to Mexico. They also provide housing and shelter for unaccompanied women and children who are targets for human trafficking and extremely vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
In speaking with Father Bahlinger, it is clear he understands the complexities and the consequences of a failed immigration system that is broken and focuses on separating and destroying families.
The heavy-handed enforcement of immigration laws by the Obama Administration has forced immigrants and families stranded far from home and relatives with few options for finding shelter, food, or a place safe from exploitation and fear.
The Kino Border Initiative provides a proven faith based strategy and ministry in providing pastoral care to undocumented immigrants in need of a temporary place of shelter, food, or place of sanctuary for their families.
If the prophetic voice of Father Bahlinger becomes a reality, people of faith across our country will need to draw upon their faith and humanitarian values to reach out to provide pastoral care and ministry to families seeking places of sanctuary and safety.
The need to meet the temporary assistance for families will not only allow people of faith to practice the values and beliefs of their faith, it will also challenge the Church to exemplify the teachings of Christ toward helping the stranger in our land.
The Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition was right on target in convening a meeting for people of faith from across our state to begin to consider a pastoral ministry framework prepared to meet the temporary needs of families fleeing the animosity and trepidation felt in Arizona.
I believe we must look to the leadership of faith leaders like Father Bahlinger to guide our efforts in assisting undocumented immigrants affected by SB 1070 and which clearly violates the civil rights of a group of people based solely on a racial or ethnic profile.
We must remember that as people of conviction and faith, we must provide pastoral accompaniment for the victims affected by this hate-inspired law which has created so many undesirable consequences in destroying families and homes of so many undocumented immigrants.
It is incumbent that we now come together as a community of faith and inspired by our faith, be prepared for the pastoral care and ministry to families who may find themselves in need of our love and care.
While we come together to provide shelter, pastoral care and sanctuary for immigrant families, we also call upon President Obama and the Congress to remember as they debate comprehensive immigration reform, that any proposed legislation or framework must keep as the paramount theme, we are dealing with the lives of men, women and children and not just the systemic change of laws that in the past has misled us into believing that discrimination, fear, panic, and hopelessness were eliminated.
As people of faith, we will follow the precepts of our faith and the biblical principles that require that we follow the teachings of love, care, and justice.
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6: 8.
May we have the fortitude to move forward together in ensuring that any immigrant family in need may call upon us and learn to know us by our love for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, April 23, 2010
Boycott Arizona!
By Fidel "Butch" Montoya
El Semanario 4/21/2010
The very fact that the Arizona State Legislature would pass SB 1070, a bill that outlaws and criminalizes undocumented immigrants as trespassers, and allows the police to use “reasonable suspicion” to stop and question a person about their legal status even if no other law has been violated is outrageous and immoral.
The worst racist and immoral piece of legislation of our time now sits on the desk of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer waiting for her signature to sign it into law.
In their feeble attempt to fix a broken federal immigration system, SB 1070 only opens the door to outright racial profiling and illegal questioning about a person’s status for being in the State of Arizona. It is frightening to see a legislative body take it upon themselves to outlaw a group of people based only on the fact that they may look like an undocumented immigrant.
This law allows law enforcement officials who have a “reasonable suspicion” to stop and question any person who looks like an “undocumented immigrant” and that may be in the State of Arizona without proper documentation.
No other law has to be violated for the police to stop and question you. It is simply the assumption that because you look like an “undocumented immigrant, you can be stopped, questioned, detained, and most likely deported.
Driving while being Latino will be the only reason the police can pull your over in Arizona. You don’t have to break any traffic or minor violations, just simply look the part of an undocumented immigrant.
The worst implications of this law are that it legalizes racial profiling and is targeted at anyone who looks Latino. If a police officer just suspects you look illegal, he will have the law on his side to stop and question your right to be in Arizona. It is the most outlandish, immoral, and illegal violation of our Constitutional rights.
Governor Brewer needs to veto SB 1070 and put an end to this legislative nightmare.
It may be if you are visiting in Arizona, you may need to wear a yellow star on your coat so that law enforcement officials will know of your status in the country. Hitler forced the Jews to wear these yellow stars so that they could be easily identified, intimidated, and sent to concentration camps.
Here we find ourselves in the 21st century in a neighboring state, which has passed a law that will deport anyone who looks like an undocumented immigrant and who is believed to be trespassing” and who will be required to carry the proper documents to prove ones legal status. Unbelievable!
By giving police the right of “reasonable suspicion” to stop you and question you, it will legalize racial profiling and lead to further police abuse and misconduct. It is wrong, it is immoral, and it is racism at its worst. It must not be signed into law and Governor Brewer must veto it.
On the other hand if Governor Brewer refuses to listen to reason and understand why we are demanding that SB 1070 be vetoed, a BOYCOTT of any business or vacation trip to Arizona will become our weapon of choice.
If the Arizona Legislature believes it can pass such a heinous law, and Governor Brewer believes she can sign it into law and not face any repercussions, they are sadly mistaken. The day SB 1070 becomes law will the first day of a national boycott of this state. Across this nation, people of good conscience and moral values will need to make it clear that all business and vacation visits to Arizona will stop.
Tourism is big business in Arizona and we will ask Americans across this country to boycott any trips to the Grand Canyon state. We can bring this state legislature and those who voted to create a climate of fear and panic in Arizona to their knees. If Governor Brewer does not veto this bill, I can guarantee a national boycott of Arizona will break the state budget and make the governor understand the implications of her signing this bill.
We can condemn the actions of the legislature, we can condemn the Governor if she refuses to veto the bill, and we can complain all we want about how immoral and racist this bill is, but unless we make a major decision to boycott this state and impact the budget and economy of this state, nothing will happen.
We call upon Governor Brewer to veto SB 1070 and condemn this bill for its attempt to outlaw a group of people who merely want a better life, or Governor, be prepared to face the biggest and most damaging boycott in the history of Arizona.
We too have economic weapons that can be used to bring the racist state assembly to the realization that SB 1070 is not only a bad bill, an immoral bill, an illegal bill, and one that might carry with it if it is not vetoed a big bill of financial loss to the State of Arizona.
Boycott Arizona starting today, and perhaps Governor Jan Brewer will see the illegality of this bill and veto SB 1070.
******************************************************
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
********************************************************
El Semanario 4/21/2010
The very fact that the Arizona State Legislature would pass SB 1070, a bill that outlaws and criminalizes undocumented immigrants as trespassers, and allows the police to use “reasonable suspicion” to stop and question a person about their legal status even if no other law has been violated is outrageous and immoral.
The worst racist and immoral piece of legislation of our time now sits on the desk of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer waiting for her signature to sign it into law.
In their feeble attempt to fix a broken federal immigration system, SB 1070 only opens the door to outright racial profiling and illegal questioning about a person’s status for being in the State of Arizona. It is frightening to see a legislative body take it upon themselves to outlaw a group of people based only on the fact that they may look like an undocumented immigrant.
This law allows law enforcement officials who have a “reasonable suspicion” to stop and question any person who looks like an “undocumented immigrant” and that may be in the State of Arizona without proper documentation.
No other law has to be violated for the police to stop and question you. It is simply the assumption that because you look like an “undocumented immigrant, you can be stopped, questioned, detained, and most likely deported.
Driving while being Latino will be the only reason the police can pull your over in Arizona. You don’t have to break any traffic or minor violations, just simply look the part of an undocumented immigrant.
The worst implications of this law are that it legalizes racial profiling and is targeted at anyone who looks Latino. If a police officer just suspects you look illegal, he will have the law on his side to stop and question your right to be in Arizona. It is the most outlandish, immoral, and illegal violation of our Constitutional rights.
Governor Brewer needs to veto SB 1070 and put an end to this legislative nightmare.
It may be if you are visiting in Arizona, you may need to wear a yellow star on your coat so that law enforcement officials will know of your status in the country. Hitler forced the Jews to wear these yellow stars so that they could be easily identified, intimidated, and sent to concentration camps.
Here we find ourselves in the 21st century in a neighboring state, which has passed a law that will deport anyone who looks like an undocumented immigrant and who is believed to be trespassing” and who will be required to carry the proper documents to prove ones legal status. Unbelievable!
By giving police the right of “reasonable suspicion” to stop you and question you, it will legalize racial profiling and lead to further police abuse and misconduct. It is wrong, it is immoral, and it is racism at its worst. It must not be signed into law and Governor Brewer must veto it.
On the other hand if Governor Brewer refuses to listen to reason and understand why we are demanding that SB 1070 be vetoed, a BOYCOTT of any business or vacation trip to Arizona will become our weapon of choice.
If the Arizona Legislature believes it can pass such a heinous law, and Governor Brewer believes she can sign it into law and not face any repercussions, they are sadly mistaken. The day SB 1070 becomes law will the first day of a national boycott of this state. Across this nation, people of good conscience and moral values will need to make it clear that all business and vacation visits to Arizona will stop.
Tourism is big business in Arizona and we will ask Americans across this country to boycott any trips to the Grand Canyon state. We can bring this state legislature and those who voted to create a climate of fear and panic in Arizona to their knees. If Governor Brewer does not veto this bill, I can guarantee a national boycott of Arizona will break the state budget and make the governor understand the implications of her signing this bill.
We can condemn the actions of the legislature, we can condemn the Governor if she refuses to veto the bill, and we can complain all we want about how immoral and racist this bill is, but unless we make a major decision to boycott this state and impact the budget and economy of this state, nothing will happen.
We call upon Governor Brewer to veto SB 1070 and condemn this bill for its attempt to outlaw a group of people who merely want a better life, or Governor, be prepared to face the biggest and most damaging boycott in the history of Arizona.
We too have economic weapons that can be used to bring the racist state assembly to the realization that SB 1070 is not only a bad bill, an immoral bill, an illegal bill, and one that might carry with it if it is not vetoed a big bill of financial loss to the State of Arizona.
Boycott Arizona starting today, and perhaps Governor Jan Brewer will see the illegality of this bill and veto SB 1070.
******************************************************
Fidel "Butch" Montoya is Director of H.S. Power and Light Ministries. He was the Vice President/News Director of KUSA - TV Channel 9 News from 1985-1990, and worked at the news station for 24 years. Montoya also served as Deputy Mayor of City and County of Denver from 1995-1999; as the Manager of Public Safety for the City and County of Denver from 1994-2000. Montoya was Licensed to preach in 1972. He serves on the Executive Council for the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
********************************************************
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