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Anti-immigrant measure goes to ballot

The San Bernardino City Council today rejected an anti-immigrant measure put forth by the radical racist group Save Our State, putting the measure before voters in the coming months, likely in a special election.

More than 200 people gathered at City Hall to give input on the measure, which qualified for the ballot with only 2,200 signatures. The majority of those who turned out for the meeting were opposed to the measure, and community members said those who were in support were largely from outside of San Bernardino.

As the first wave of media coverage indicates, this promises to be one nasty, ugly battle:

David Nelson of San Bernardino spoke in favor of the measure.

"I am an American. I speak English ... therefore if you wish to become a part of this society learn English. The one great right of this society is the right to leave."

San Bernardino is a microcosm of what is happening nationwide around immigration. The immediacy of this ballot measure, which will most likely be decided in a special election between now and November, will bring all the conflict front and center, and force this community, the state and the country, to deal with some intensely difficult issues.

It is now time for every leader in this state, including those running for Governor, to speak out strongly against this measure. Immigration reform is complicated, sure. But this measure is not about immigration reform. It is about racism and xenophobia, and to not get involved in this fight is to compromise basic human dignity. No matter how bad things get, I refuse to accept that we live in a country that would deny working people rental housing, or criminalize people who are only trying to feed their families.

I hope our state's leaders can find the political courage to say the same.

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