Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibility

Rally gets underway calling for repeal of Alabama immigration law


Facebook Share IconTwitter Share IconEmail Share Icon

Large crowds were rallying in Birmingham's Linn Park Thursday evening, calling for the repeal of Alabama's new immigration law.

Entitled, "Rally for Alabama's Future: Repeal HB56," the rally was planned for the date on which the law was to take effect.{} The law has been suspended from taking effect until a federal judge further reviews various legal concerns surrounding several portions of the law.

Participants held up signs with phrases such as, "Brown is not a crime," and "Is it illegal to have a dream?" and "Education is a human right" and "Mean Home Alabama."{} Some wore shirts that said, "I just look illegal."

The Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice is among agencies calling for the law to be repealed.{} Representatives of other groups were also scheduled to speak at Thursday's rally, including the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama and representatives of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, Miles College, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and more.

Opponents of the law said the state law seeks to do what only the federal government is specifically allowed to do regarding issues of immigration and enforcement.{} Opponents have also expressed concerns about being found in violation of the law for providing basic humanitarian assistance or taking part in ministry efforts for illegal immigrants.

Isabel Rubio of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama said Washington, D.C., needed to address national immigration issues, not Montgomery.

"Ultimately, immigration has got to be reformed at the federal level," Rubio said.{} "It is just not workable to have a 50-state patchwork solution to this problem.{} And for Alabama to try and take this on is just not necessary."

"We need to put this pressure and use this energy toward the federal government to get them to act in this issue," Rubio added.

Supporters of the law have countered that the law is needed to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the country.{} Concerns include undocumented workers taking jobs that could belong to legal citizens.{} Others have voiced frustrations about illegal immigrants consuming benefits provided by taxpayer money.

State Senator Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, sponsored House Bill 56, the immigration law, when it was in the Legislature.{} He spoke in support of the law during a break in last week's federal court hearing concerning the law.

"I think it's very clear to people across this country that the federal government has not enforced their own immigration laws," Beason said.{} "And that has left the states to try to do some things.{} But we are not trying to pre-empt.{} We're just doing what we believe was in our rights to do."

"Ask local law enforcement.{} Ask people at the state level," Beason said.{} "We have tried to work within the state system, and it's not been effective."

Federal Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn listened to arguments on both sides of the law in last week's court hearing.{} The judge is expected to rule on whether the law will take effect later in September.

Loading ...