By Saniya Ghanoui -- July 6, 2010
Immigration activists are planning a rally in Boston this weekend to protest Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer as she attends the annual meeting of the National Governor's Association.
In April, Brewer signed legislation which allows police to question immigrants they believe might be in the state illegally.
The rally is sponsored by the Washington D.C. based group "Act Now to Stop War and End Racism" (ANSWER). The group is passing out pamphlets and flyers, sending out emails and making preparations in order to have people travel by bus to Boston for the protest.
ANSWER National Organizer Sarah Sloan said the protestors want "to send a clear message" to other governors that similar bills will not be tolerated.
"The law may become a model for other states," said Sloan. "We don't want to see any further action that would legalize racial profiling anywhere else."
The Arizona law, which is scheduled to go into effect July 29, has resulted in protests across the country calling the legislation racist.
Tuesday the federal government filed a lawsuit against Arizona calling the law unconstitutional saying it would usurp the federal authority regarding immigration.
The Boston protest is planned for Saturday at Copley Square followed by a walk to the Sheraton Hotel, where the 102nd annual meeting will take place.
There will also be several other protests this weekend in addition to ANSWER's rally. For example, law enforcement officers will protest Gov. Deval Patrick's new policy to use civilian flaggers instead of police details at state highway work sites.
(Photo courtesy: AP Images)
