Hundreds of New Yorker marched in protest of Arizona's controversial new immigration law, which went into effect today -- at least partly.
Crowds gathered this Thursday morning in Brooklyn Thursday and marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to Foley Square, to rally in Foley Square before the United States Courthouse.
The march, entitled "We Are All Arizona," was organized by several New York City organizations including the New Sanctuary Coalition, Churches United to Save and Heal, Families for Freedom, DRUM, and VAMOS Unidos.
The "We Are All Arizona" organizers outlined their platform as: "A call for an end to the use of racial profiling" and "a demand for just and humane immigration reform that upholds family unity and human rights over increased enforcement" according to a press release.
New York opponents of the measure joined hundreds of others across the country who breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after a judge blocked several key components of Arizona's new immigration law at the last minute.
On Wednesday, Federal judge Susan Bolton ruled that people in Arizona can't be compelled to carry proof of citizenship or green cards, and police can't be made to check the immigration status of people they stop. These parts of the law are widely supported in the state.
Arizona governor Jan Brewer has promised a swift appeal, saying "obviously it's a little bump in the road."
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For now, the judge's injunction is in place. Unless Brewer's appeal is successful, here is a brief overview of what actually went into effect at midnight Arizona time: being a day laborer, or picking one up, is illegal if it impedes traffic; harboring and transporting illegal immigrants is a misdemeanor crime; there will be stricter enforcement of all federal immigration laws.
