Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoed the birther bill which would have required birth certificates, baptismal or circumcision records as proof to be placed on the Arizona presidential ballot. Even Governor Jan Brewer thought it was a bit too much to pass this absurd bill. Meanwhile, there are still 15 other such states that are considering the same type of legislation.
Almost at the same time that Arizona rejected its loony birther bill, Georgia joined the loony immigration bills like Arizona. Georgia, a state known for civil rights activism, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center and home of Dr. King’s Ebenezer Baptist Church now brings us one of the Arizona type stringent immigration laws requiring papers to proove legal status or citizenship. The Georgia legislature has passed an anti-immigration bill similar to Arizona’s stringent SB 1070. Has Georgia politics changed or do they just not consider immigration a civil rights or human rights issue? Regardless, Georgia may be joining the immigration law fight. The governor has yet to determine if the bill will be vetoed. If it does pass and become law, the Georgia legislation will have a legal battle on its hands.
To read more, see ColorLines.com @Georgia Legislature Passes SB 1070 CopyCat Bill
Debbie Hines is a lawyer and legal and political commentator. She is frequently seen in the media speaking on issues affecting women and African Americans. She also writes for the Huffington Post. She holds a Juris Doctorate from George Washington University law School and a BA from the University of PA.