Pat Dollard

Tweet

Bay Area NBC:

Arizona’s new anti-illegal immigration law is sparking outrage across the country and now, San Francisco’s city attorney is urging policymakers and businesses to take a stand against the controversial legislation and send the state a message.

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera on Monday called for a sweeping boycott of the state of Arizona and Arizona-based businesses.

Herrera, himself the son an immigrant from Latin America, called the law “draconian” and released the following statement upon announcing the push for a boycott:

Just as it did two decades ago when it refused to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Arizona has again chosen to isolate itself from the rest of the nation. Our most appropriate response is to assure that their isolation is tangible rather than merely symbolic. San Francisco should lead the way in adopting and aggressively pursuing a sweeping boycott of Arizona and Arizona-based businesses until this unjust law is repealed or invalidated. My office is fully committed to work with San Francisco city departments and commissions to identify all applicable contracts, and to pursue termination wherever possible. And my office stands ready to assist in any legal challenges in whatever way it can.

Herrera’s comments come the same day San Francisco Supervisor David Campos led a protest at City Hall against the controversial new immigration law.

“I think as a city we have a responsibility to make sure we don’t do business with entities like the state of Arizona that are taking steps that are essentially violating and call for violation of the basic rights of the constitution.” Campos said.

Campos agrees with civil rights advocates who say the law will lead to racial profiling. He is planning to introduce a resolution Tuesday that that essentially condemns the actions of the state of Arizona and calls for a boycott of the state.