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The number of cities, social and civil rights groups, unions, and professional organizations that have joined the boycott of Arizona has grown steadily since the passing of SB1070. In just under two weeks, cities from Oakland, California, to St. Paul Minnesota, to Boston, Massachusetts have resolved to pull investments, and halt official travel to the state. The governments of Mexico and El Salvador have warned their residents against traveling to Arizona, and the Mexican state of Sonora is pushing for a state wide resolution to boycott. At least 21 conferences and conventions have been canceled by groups ranging from the American Immigration Lawyers Association to Alpha Phi Alpha, the nation’s oldest Black fraternity. Notable opposition to this movement has come from former Supreme Court Judge Sandra Day O’Connor and California senator Diane Fienstein, who endorsed using the legal system over what they call “polarizing” boycotts. Not surprisingly Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is also opposed to a boycott. She wrote in an op-ed on ESPN.com, that “history shows that boycotts backfire and harm innocent people.” However, the boycott method is viewed by many as the most effective show of solidarity with immigrants and protest against the law for non-Arizona residents to engage in.

GUESTS: Dave Zirin, Sports Correspondent for the Nation Magazine

Read Zirin’s article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/apr/27/arizona-immigration-boycott-diamondbacks