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Perhaps the candlelight vigil held by Citizens In United Discourse Against Discrimination, or CUIDAD, had a spiritual effect?
Or perhaps it was just a way for local citizens to show their solidarity in their belief that no one should be discriminated against, or their civil rights violated.
But many of the over 100 persons who attended the vigil breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday after a federal judge in Phoenix ruled that “There is a substantial likelihood that officers will wrongfully arrest legal resident aliens” if SB1070 is implemented.
And in doing so, Judge Susan Bolton blocked some of the most controversial and race based provisions of the anti immigrant law known as SB1070 from going into effect.
The law was scheduled to take effect on July 29, but the US Justice Department had filed a lawsuit asking the judge to declare the law as unconstitutional. And while Judge Bolton of the Federal District Court in Phoenix did not issue a blanket rejection of the law, her ruling indicates that she believes that immigration enforcement is under the authority of the federal government and laws such as these, at least some of the provisions, are not within a state’s authority.
In anticipation of the law taking effect, CUIDAD organized a candlelight vigil at Higginbotham Park on 19th St. “to witness against discrimination and violation of civil rights in (the) law.”
The event opened with an invocation by Deacon Benny Brito. Daniel Sanchez, founder and President of CUIDAD addressed the group and explained why SB1070 drove him to create the organization.
“It’s more than the issue of immigration”, said Sanchez. “If we let one group lose their identification and be demoralized, who’s the next group?” Sanchez told the crowd that he sees this as hate legislation that’s just aimed at taking away the civil liberties of American citizens disguised as immigration reform.
The group was founded earlier this year by Sanchez and some grassroots citizens who are involved in the community in different ways.
Also addressing the group was Kate Huston of Lubbock’s United Congregational Church and Texas Tech Dr. Miguel Levario. Levario told the group that he sees the bill as enforcing racial profiling in a very forceful manner.
Others also addressed the group, expressing their reasons why they are against the law and encouraging the group to register people to
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