Lubbock Left

Citizens in United Discourse Against Discrimination (CIUDAD) had a successful event Tuesday night (FOX coverage), bringing out 50-60 citizens opposed to the new Arizona law about to go into effect. There were two counter-protesters off to the side. All were peaceful.

Daniel, the President of the CIUDAD group, invited anyone who wanted to speak to say a few words. When my turn came, I invited everyone to check out the summary of the United States’ lawsuit against the State of Arizona and Governor Jan Brewer (pdf). I extend that same invitation to my readers here: the introductory summary makes a very clear case why the new AZ SB1070 is unconstitutional. (I also found some useful commentary on the federal suit.) I now believe that the case against AZ SB1070 is so clear-cut that future history textbooks will use it as an example of an enumerated powers Federal smackdown of epic proportions.

Some of the spontaneous stories from around the circle of vigil-goers really affected me on an emotional level. One elderly couple spoke of being profiled and harassed by police. One recent high school graduate from Lubbock who was planning to attend Arizona State University has canceled her enrollment there and will attend Texas Tech instead because of the Arizona law. One older woman spoke of overhearing two Hispanic children talking to each other: “If this law passes, you’re a goner!” while pointing at their brown skin.

I also want to applaud the organizers for the choice of a candlelight vigil, which is what the group concluded with. The thing about a candlelight vigil that’s so special is that a few people will light their candles with matches or lighters that they brought, and then others will light their own candles from those first lit candles, then more will light their candles from the second people, and so forth. This is a living metaphor for what grassroots organizing is. A few people get the spark, and then a few more people get the light from them, and on and on.

And it’s never to late to join in.