Los Angeles labor applauds Obama Administration´s lawsuit against Arizona´s SB 1070

Maria Elena Durazo announces L.A. labor will move forward with political and solidarity actions in Arizona on July 29.

Los Angeles - The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO applauded the Obama Administration for filing a lawsuit in federal court today challenging the constitutionality of Arizona´s SB 1070. The L.A. County Federation of Labor took an official position condemning SB 1070 as an affront to American values of fairness and respect for our constitution, but also an impractical, unenforceable and wasteful approach to fixing our nation´s broken immigration system.

Though the people of Arizona and across the country are rightfully frustrated by the lack of federal action on the issue of immigration reform, the solution for Arizona and the entire country is to solve the immigration problem through a comprehensive solution on the federal level that reflects our nation´s values and works for everyone, not through a state-by-state piecemeal approach (LA County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Resolution Condemning SB 1070).

In order for this to happen, SB 1070 must be fought on two fronts: in the courtrooms and in the voting booths. The L.A. County Federation of Labor will stand with Arizona in its efforts to fight back against the politics of SB 1070 and the politicians who supported it.

"I am thrilled to be in Phoenix today when the federal lawsuit was filed. I am meeting with Arizona´s labor, community, and elected leaders to begin to lay the groundwork for a long-term relationship between the Latino and working people of Los Angeles and the Latino and working people of Arizona. I look forward to returning to Arizona on July 29 with more than 500 L.A. union members, and faith and community leaders who are energetic and ready to lend their solidarity and assistance to our brothers and sisters who will change the face of Arizona politics," says Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.

On July 29, more than 500 members from the L.A. labor movement and faith communities will travel to Arizona to forge new political alliances with Arizona. They leave Dodger Stadium at 5am, stop in Blythe, CA, and arrive in Phoenix by 1pm. Among other political and solidarity events, L.A. labor will participate in a forum with Arizona organizations and elected officials that are leading Latino voter registration and turnout programs in Arizona around SB 1070 for this November´s elections.