Thread: Austin's AZ boycott spawns backlash

Austin's AZ boycott spawns backlash

AZ immigration law supporters plan rally in Austin

Updated: Monday, 17 May 2010, 11:00 AM MDT
Published : Monday, 17 May 2010, 10:31 AM MDT
Erin Cargile

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Thousands of people are swearing off spending money in Austin after the City Council passed a resolution to ban city travel to Arizona based on their new immigration law.

Mixed reactions flooded into Austin City Councilman Bill Spelman's e-mail inbox after the council's unanimous vote Thursday.

"One guy I never met said, 'I just moved here from Los Angeles, and I'm really proud to have moved to Austin, Texas,'" said Spelman. "This is the sort of thing I want my city to be doing."

That is not the message long-time resident Bob Green would have sent.

"They [City Council] have better things to do than make resolutions about boycotting of another state," said Green, who supports Arizona's immigration law.

He has joined the Facebook page titled "Texans For Arizona's New Immigration Law." It was more than 900 fans strong as of Friday at 10 p.m.

"We're a nation of laws," said Green. "They need to be enforced, and if the federal government won't do it, the states have got to. They're going to step up because they're the ones who are having to pay for it."

Spelman said the City of Austin wants to respect civil liberties and federal law at the same time.

"I think what we're doing in Austin, Texas right now is exactly right," said Spelman, who stands behind the resolution he helped sponsor to boycott city travel to Arizona.

It was the possible impact a similar immigration law in Texas would have on local law enforcement that Spelman said helped make up his mind.

"A lot of people who are legal residents - who are citizens of the United States - are going to stop cooperating with the police department, stop providing information, stop reporting crimes if they believe they're going to be harassed," said Spelman.

More websites have popped up with the passing of the bill that encourage people to buy products from Arizona-based companies. Discount Tire has already benefitted from Green's $200 purchase Thursday.

"Just to show my protest to the protest of the Austin City Council, I went and purchased a couple of tires from them," said Green, who went out of his way to search through a list of Arizona businesses online.

He is encouraging others to do the same, not only to send a message but to offset the money the state could lose from cities like Austin.

"Doesn't make any difference at all on my stance," said Spelman in regard to the anti-Austin movement.

A rally is scheduled for Saturday, June 12, at 11th Street and Congress Avenue in Austin at the south steps of the Capitol.


http://www.krqe.com/dpps/news/us/south/ ... h-_3362939

Let me guess. Austin is a sanctuary city.

DOLT POLITICIANS DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO GIVE AWAY AMERICA! IT WAS WON AND BLOOD AND MUST BE PRESERVED CAREFULLY FOR SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS.

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

Let me guess. Austin is a sanctuary city.

Very good guess and you would be 100 percent correct