June 01, 2010 --One week after the City Council approved a near boycott of Arizona due to the recent passage of an anti-illegal immigration law, the Santa Monica College (SMC) Board of Trustees will consider a similar policy. The proposed SMC plan is also a protest against another recent Arizona law, HB 2281, that puts an end to “ethnic studies” classes in public schools

According to the proposed resolution, the SMC District would “refrain from conducting business with the State of Arizona, including participating in any conventions or other business that requires District resources” unless both laws are rescinded.

The illegal immigration law, SB 1070, makes it a crime to be in the country illegally and requires law enforcement officers to ask for proof of citizenship if there is a “reasonable suspicion” the person is an illegal immigrant. This inquiry can only be made if the person is being stopped for another illegal matter such as a traffic violation.

The proposed SMC resolution states that SB 1070 “encourages racial profiling and violates Fourteenth Amendment guarantees of due process and equal protection for U.S. citizens, legal residents and visitors who are detained for suspicion of being in the country unlawfully.”

It continues, “SB 1070 seriously undermines the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the exclusive power over immigration matters …an economic boycott will strongly convey that the Santa Monica Community College District disagrees with the provisions of SB 1070.”

The passage of HB 2281, the resolution states, “further condones ethnic bigotry and discrimination in the administration of Arizona's laws.”

Last week’s ban by the City Council ended City government travel to Arizona as well as purchasing items from the state. Contracts with entities in Arizona will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

City Manager Rod Gould said he would provide information on whether not adopting a contract with a company would create a “deleterious effect on the community or require extensive additional costs.” It would then be up to the council members to weight this information against its moral reasoning for a boycott.

The council will get its first crack at putting the boycott into action next week when the agenda is expected to include a contract with the international firm Trapeze Group, which has an office in Arizona, for the second phase of a Big Blue Bus timing system project.

Council member Kevin McKeown and Mayor Bobby Shriver said at last week’s meeting they preferred an outright boycott rather than the plan that was approved, although they voted for the council resolution.

“Sending people a message is a very important thing here so that this company (Trapeze), when they hear from Mr. Gould that their contract is in jeopardy, they may call their state legislature and say ‘fellas or ladies, we got a problem, we’re about to lose $2 million worth of business up here.’”

SB 1070 has many vocal opponents who say it will lead to racial profiling. However, they appear to be the minority in this country. Recent scientific polls have shown support for the measure to be as high as 64 percent. A poll by the Los Angeles Times and USC showed support in this state is at 50 percent.