LA City Council Says August is “Immigrant Pride Month”
LA City Clerk, August 4, 2011
WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles is home to at least 1.6 million immigrants or 40%
of the total City population; and
WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles is a “global city” that is a center of numerous
cultures and languages; and
WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles has adopted a boycott on commerce with the State
of Arizona as well as Arizona-based companies due to enactment of anti-immigrant
State laws; and
WHEREAS, anti-immigrant legislation like SB 1070 in Arizona and other
“copy-cat” measures now circulating across the nation inherently cause racial profiling and
discrimination against certain ethno-racial groups that “look/ sound” like immigrant populations;
and
WHEREAS, numerous pro-immigrant advocates are engaged in legal and
CIVIC efforts to repeal Arizona’s anti-immigrant laws, as well as prevent anti-immigrant
legislation from passing at the state level in various states and at the federal level; and
WHEREAS, while federal legislation to enact the DREAM Act failed in late 2010, in
2011 important efforts are unfolding in California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts and other
states to enact pro-immigrant policies, as well as withdraw from ineffective and/or heavy-handed
federal enforcement polices like Secure Communities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles should call on local public institutions; the business
community; trade unions; professional sports teams; media organizations; faith-based entities;
and community groups to observe “Immigrant Pride Month” by conducting educational
programs, advocacy, and other activities celebrating and/or recognizing the contributions of
immigrants to the City and County of Los Angeles, the State of California, and the USA in
general, as well as in favor of pro-immigrant local, state, and federal policy proposals;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of
Los Angeles hereby declares the month of August, 2011 as “Immigrant Pride Month” as a
positive counter example to the current anti-immigrant policies in many states like Arizona,
Georgia, and Alabama.