Thread: GA: Fulton Commissioners Oppose Arizona Immigration Law

Fulton Commissioners Oppose Arizona Immigration Law


Would you support an immigration law in Georgia similar to the one that recently passed in Arizona?
Yes
No


Posted: 4:14 pm EDT May 19, 2010
Updated: 6:12 pm EDT May 19, 2010

ATLANTA -- The Fulton County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution Wednesday stating the board of commissioners’ opposition to Arizona’s Anti-Immigration Law.

The new resolution is basically symbolic. It doesn't change any laws or policies for Fulton County. But the commissioners who supported it told Channel 2 Action News investigative reporter Jodie Fleischer they wanted to take a stand.

"We feel very strongly that what's happening in Arizona whether it's 2000 miles away, it's still something that we can say 'this is wrong' in terms of what they're trying to do," said Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves.

Commissioner Emma Darnell said she drafted the new resolution because Fulton County is one of the most diverse communities in the nation. She feels the Arizona law broadening officers' power to detain those suspected of being in the country illegally is unfair.

Darnell said, "In America, you cannot be stopped because of a suspicion of the government. There must be a reason and the reason may not be the color of your skin."

The resolution passed 4-2. But the two who opposed it did not necessarily express support for Arizona's law.

Commissioner Tom Lowe said, "Let's concentrate on Fulton County. Let's don't be voting on anything that has to do with telling the people out in Arizona how to run their business."

Commissioner Lynne Riley agreed. "My personal opinion has no relevance," she said. "When I'm voting on something, I'm voting as a representative of my district. This particular issue isn't a Fulton County District 3 issue."

Commissioner Robb Pitts said he did not vote because he hadn't read the whole Arizona law. But he and the others do support Fulton County's policy prohibiting racial profiling here. The resolution also contained a statement reaffirming that.

To read the full resolution, click here.

http://www.wsbtv.com/download/2010/0519/23610145.pdf

Fulton County has a large black population. Our black citizens and their elected officials continue to equate the illegal invasion with the issue of slavery. Some see Arizona's effort to be a potential "profiling" issue and thus on a par with our black citizens concerns about profiling of the past.

This same population is the one that suffers the greatest impact of the invasion. The young folks in Atlanta (Fulton capital) have an extremely high unemployment rate.

I have, to date, been sympathetic to their problem. Since their elected officials persist in this equation they are taking a stand for illegal immigration. I have decided they are not worth my empathy or my concern. They can self-destruct all they want.