Human and civil rights groups decry Georgia’s immigration legislation
‘How exactly do you enforce this law without instituting a new state sanctioned form of racial discrimination?’
Human and civil rights groups took to the Capitol steps today and — standing under a statue of one of Georgia’s most famous advocates of white supremacy — declared their opposition to a slew of anti-immigrant bills state lawmakers are considering.
“Georgia is about to pass a bill that encourages police officers to stop, interrogate, and hold residents if an officer suspects they are undocumented,” said Everette Thompson of Amnesty International USA Southern Region. “What kind of things would make somebody ‘suspicious?’ Is it the kind of car we drive? The way we dress? Or, simply the color of our skin? How exactly do you enforce this law without instituting a new state sanctioned form of racial discrimination?”
Thompson was referring to House Bill 87, which has been likened to Arizona’s controversial immigration bill that sparked a national debate about the issue. The bill is currently in committee in the Georgia House. A similar measure has also been proposed in the state Senate.