8.11.2010

have your papers ready: racial profiling just ahead


Heading to Arizona? If you're driving around Phoenix, you might be greeted with this awesome sign. It comes courtesy of the action group Cuentame, whose supporters put together the money to make it happen: Billboard in Arizona Reads: 'Have Your Papers Ready, Racial Profiling Just Ahead.'
Yet, as was the case before, they won't face silent opposition from a resilient Latino community that is not folding its arms any time soon. The supporters of Cuéntame, which boasts a membership of close to 40,000, took it upon themselves to concept, design and fund striking on-the-ground action all via the Facebook page.

The idea was suggested to set-up a billboard in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, that would send a strong message to the governor and those who have consistently supported the law. Immediately hundreds of votes and comments, on everything from the look and feel of the billboard, to the actual slogan and message it would contain, poured in from everywhere in the country.

Cuéntame supporters ended up selecting "Have Your Papers Ready, Racial Profiling Just Ahead" as the slogan -- and went on to the task of raising the funds. Needing 10K, an amount large enough to keep the billboard up for a substantial period of time, Cuéntame supporters chipped-in anywhere from $5 to $500 -- and were able to meet the goal in just a few hours.
That is some amazing mobilization. The billboard went up this past Monday on Camelback and 3rd Street in the heart of Phoenix. As you can imagine, it's created quite a stir on all sides of the immigration debate. More here: New Valley billboard warns of racial profiling.

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