For Immediate Release: May 6, 2010
ARLINGTON, Va .—Late last night, over a dozen activists visited the Arlington, Va., home of Arizona Senator Jon Kyl. While drumming and chanting, demonstrators scattered the halls with flyers and posters, decrying SB 1070, the militarization of the US – Mexico border, and the recent racist anti-immigrant legislative push.
At approximately 10:45 pm, activists stormed the condominium complex at 1805 Crystal Drive. The group invaded the lobby, leaving it strewn with fliers, while blowing whistles and banging drums, before boarding the elevator and going to Sen. Kyl’s front door. Once on Kyl’s floor, protesters pounded on his door and shoved more fliers underneath.Anti-racist organizers in the DC-area are intent on shaming politicians like Sen. Kyl and disrupting the white racist anti-immigrant movement at every turn.
Senator Kyl supports SB1070, stating: “As long as the federal government has not adequately responded to the challenge of protecting the border, it is little wonder that states decide that they have to take action, especially if you’re the state of Arizona… To the extent that the state wants to step up and deal with the challenge, we’ve said that’s a positive step.”
In addition, Sen. Kyl seeks to put more than 3,000 National Guard troops on the border, and construct a fence along the entire length of the US – Mexico border.
Anti-immigrant fanatacism has resulted in a series of violent attacks against immigrants across the United States. In Shenandoah, Pa., Luis Ramirez was beaten to death by members of the local high school football team. In New York, Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero was killed by a white teenager. On Staten Island, Rodulfo Olmedo, a Mexican immigrant, was viciously beaten by four teenagers who are being charged with hate crimes.
We will not stand by silently during the violent, racist attacks of these bigots, nor the passive attacks of lawmakers. We find racism unacceptable in all its forms. The legislator is as complicit as the Klan, and if they won’t cease, than neither will we.
