At a time when many in the nation are struggling through an economic recession, legislative leaders in Alabama are depleting state coffers through a costly attack on immigrants and Latinos. It's a self-defeating strategy that is reducing Alabama's workforce and costing the state roughly $11 billion.
The anti-immigrant, anti-people of color House Bill 56 has stirred outrage from community leaders and businesses are complaining. The law legitimizes racial profiling, has terrorized persons of color regardless of legal status, frightened children, entrapped foreigners including business managers, and harmed the state's economy.
That is why labor and civil and human rights groups are coming together to demand repeal of the economically harmful law House Bill 56. Anything short of repeal is unacceptable. Anything short of repeal is an economic death sentence for the state.
Our coalition has reached out to the three top foreign automobile manufacturers in Alabama - Daimler AG which owns Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Hyundai - and asked them to meet with us and to help lead the effort to repeal HB 56.
We also are writing to other foreign investors who have invested at least $50 million in the state, urging them to take a stand against HB 56.
Our initial focus is on the auto industry because it was at the forefront of rebuilding Alabama's economy after a concerted effort by the state to diminish its history of civil rights strife. They are significant corporations who understand the significant harm that HB 56 can bring to the state and its workers.
Unless people of conscience quickly unite and challenge legislative leaders to put an end to bigotry, intolerance and intimidation, Alabama's economy will continue to nosedive as local and foreign investors pursue other, more enlightened options.
Rather than using immigrants as convenient scapegoats, legislators should focus on spurring innovation and positioning Alabama to better compete in a global and more competitive world. The short-sighted thinking that led to the creation - and passage - of House Bill 56 is to the detriment of all citizens - not just people with brown and black skin.
Unless there is immediate action, Alabama's motto will need to change from "We Dare to Maintain Our Rights" to "We Dare to Suppress Your Rights".
It's not too late to change the storyline. To do so, we need action, and action NOW.
You can read the letters that civil rights groups have sent to automakers here.
This is a list of current foreign investors in Alabama.
UPDATE: You can listen to the clip from the campaign announcement here.
