A bill passed by the state legislature would harm immigrants and their families and take the state in a hateful direction. Locals should encourage the governor to veto this legislation

Above: A small group of locals rally Oct. 5 to encourage a veto of HB 318. Photo from COLA

Earlier this week, a small group of locals gathered at the Vance Monument to call for Gov. Pat McCrory to veto HB 318, a state law they claim will harm immigrants and their families. Here was a statement from one of the organizing groups, Coalicion de Organizaciones Latino-Americanas (COLA)

On Oct. 5, community members gathered at Vance Monument to demand Governor Pat McCrory to veto House Bill 318 (Protect North Carolina Workers Act), an anti-immigrant bill, that not only targets the immigrant community but also poor families in North Carolina. This bill has been sitting at the Governor’s desk since last Monday, if approved this bill would:

• Dismantles the authority and autonomy of locally elected officials to run their towns and cities as “Sanctuary Zones” free of hyper-enforcement of often unconstitutional laws that criminalize immigrants for carrying out day to day activities like driving and working.
• It limit the forms of identification that immigrant and undocumented communities can show to government officials, police, and sheriffs, and it has the potential to criminalize anyone without a state-issued ID.
• Solidifies and strengthens the role of sheriffs and police as ambassadors of harm instead of stewards of public safety.

It seems that this is a direct effect by national attacks from Presidential candidates against the immigrant community. It’s shameful that after such a powerful visit from Pope Francis and his moving words towards a more inclusive society in the country, North Carolina’s legislation passes such an anti-immigrant bill while the community was sleeping.

It is unfortunate that the North Carolina legislation is taking the direction of hate and exclusion, instead of unification and seeing the contributions that the immigrant community brings into the state.

So today we join others from North Carolina, who at the same time will be in front of the Governor’s Mansion in Raleigh demanding the same message. And that message is clear, Governor McCrory, don’t let hate trump North Carolina. HB 318 is divisive; discriminatory and it will harm public safety.

We all want the hate and racism out of North Carolina and are saying enough with this nativist and blatantly hateful bill, Governor McCrory has a special responsibility to do the right thing.

At this point the only way for this bill to not move forward is for Gov. Pat McCrory to veto it.

What can you do to help?

Call or tweet North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and tell him to veto HB318

•   @PatMcCroryNC
•    919-814-2000
•   Sign the petition

COLA is a local group that aims to connect, strengthen and organize communities to take action for immigrants rights in Western North Carolina.

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