As most folks out there probably know by now Arizona recently passed SB 1070, an immigration law that requires police officers to detain individuals whom they have “reasonable suspicion” are not legal residents of the United States. Many fear, including myself, that this law will basically legalize racial profiling in Arizona, despite Gov. Jan Brewer’s insistance to the contrary. For those of us in New York City looking for a way to stand against this dispicable piece of legislation, there are several demonstrations tomorrow, Saturday May 1:

Rally in Union Square, starts at Noon, sponsored by the May 1 coalition

Rally and March in Foley Square (near City Hall), starts at 11 am, sponsored by the New York Immigration Coalition, The Alliance for Labor & Immigrant Rights & Jobs for All

And for those of you who can’t make it to these rallies or aren’t in NYC, please write to Gov. Jan Brewer here to express your opposition to SB 1070.

Since this law was passed I have read a number of moving blog posts, but one I would most highly recommend is over at the INCITE!blog, entitled “Confonting Citizenship in Sexual Assault.” (They have posted a trigger warning,  so keep that in mind before clicking the link.) As someone whose professional work focuses on sexual violence and intimate partner violence, my mind immediately went to the detrimental effect this policy will have upon immigrant people who are harmed by intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence. This post really highlights for me one of the numerous ways that immigration issues and feminism are linked.