School Board Unanimously Condemns Ariz. Law
EMILY ALPERT
Voice of San Diego
May 11, 2010
The San Diego Unified school board unanimously approved a resolution tonight condemning a controversial Arizona immigration law, saying it allows police to engage in racial profiling.
The resolution also states that San Diego Unified will develop a policy to restrict school district employees' travel and conference participation in Arizona. It calls the law "an irrational and irresponsible response to our broken immigration system."
Critics said it was inappropriate for the school board to offer its opinion on Arizona immigration law, which falls far outside its purview. That worry was shared by school board member Katherine Nakamura, who voted for the resolution anyway. She said she couldn't abstain or vote against the resolution now that it was before her. Some critics booed when the vote was taken.
But backers said it was a civil rights issue that demanded that the school board take a stand.
"We have to make it our business," said school board member Shelia Jackson. She added, "If no one speaks up, then this law will spread."
The resolution was originally proposed by board President Richard Barrera and later altered by school board member John Lee Evans, who eliminated an earlier warning to families not to travel to Arizona, saying that they could make that choice themselves, and added restrictions on travel and conferences. It echoes a similar resolution passed by the San Diego City Council last week.
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