Boycott Arizona

Mrs. G already emailed the Arizona Department of Commerce, informing them that we love to vacation in Arizona but their state has seen the last of our money because of the 'papers-please' law.

Mother Mags at Kos expands on this theme.

If you’d like to know more about the people behind this shitstorm, notably Arpaio and Pearce, take a look at The Statesmen Behind the Arizona Bill, where I put this disastrous bill in context. Arizona’s racist image is not new, dating to the appalling tenure of Governor Mecham who, in the late 80s, rescinded the MLK holiday, leading to a boycott. State tourism leaders often brag that tourism is Arizona’s largest industry, so when people and conventions stay away it has tremendous economic consequences. That was the case with the MLK fiasco, where the boycott's downturn led to the formation of a committee of human rights and business-friendly groups who got the holiday on the ballot, where it passed.

To Our Friends in States Where You Can Walk Around Without Papers

First thing: boycott Arizona in whatever form you can. As Congressman Raul Grijalva said, stay away. And if you choose not to attend 2011 spring training, tour the Grand Canyon, or visit any of our other wonderful attractions, please let the Arizona Office of Tourism know why you’re taking your money elsewhere. Maybe you've always wanted to see the red rocks of Sedona or the OK Corral in Tombstone. Let their chambers of commerce know why you're taking the family to New Mexico instead. Similarly, if your business or organization has a convention set for Scottsdale, Phoenix or maybe ASU, cancel it and let those cities’ convention and visitors bureaus know why. Are you thinking of sending your kid to one of our universities? They're good schools but think again, and let them know why. Were you contemplating relocating your company to Arizona? Let the Arizona Department of Commerce know why you’ve scratched our state off your list. Perhaps you're being recruited by a university or company here; turn them down and explain why.

Another option is, we throw it in their face. Now, for some, like undocumenteds and others afraid of being deported for whatever reason, even if they’re here legally, this is real life and they can’t afford to flaunt their disrespect for SB 1070. But for those of us who look, talk, and act like we “belong” in the state (we have the correct shoes), let’s practice a little in-your-face street theater, beginning with T-shirts and bumper stickers. I live near an INS building, where police mill around all the time. So I think I'll go walk by with a few of these T-shirts, feel free to add your own.

She offers a selection of catchy t-shirt slogans and invites you to vote for your favorite. Here's a few of 'em:

Want My Papers? Have a Zig-Zag
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Papers? We Don’t Need No Steenking Papers
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“Fighting Immigration Since 1492” - Hopi Elder
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By The Time I Get To Phoenix I'd Better Be White
...

And just because I can:

Joe Arpaio: Go Fuck Yourself

Heh. You better be Anglo and a little careful where you wear that one.

Much more.