THE PRINCIPLES OF THE ARIZONA BOYCOTT COMMITTEE

The boycott against conventions and travel: The Arizona Boycott Committee of Somos is asking that everyone cancel their reservations for conferences, conventions and leisure travel in Arizona until S.B.1070 is repealed. Our policy of cancellation applies to our friends as well. The Boycott Committee has taken a strict stance against special reprieves for anyone.

We welcome however individuals and groups who are coming here to assist in the struggle against S.B.1070. The integrated strategy against S.B.1070 launched by Somos and all its member organizations require volunteers who will assist in fundraising, voter registration, citizenship, civic engagement, organizing demonstrations and civil disobedience and many other supporting activities. We are grateful to the thousands of individuals and groups who have responded to our call for assistance.

The boycott against Arizona based companies: The boycott committee has identified companies who do business in Arizona that have particularly egregious records of contributing to the climate of hate in Arizona. They have done so primarily by their financial contributions to candidates and organizations that are espousing and implementing S.B.1070 and similar anti-immigrant measures.

The intent of the business boycott is not to punish companies by asking our supporters to not purchase their products. It is to get Arizona business to realize that their support of these individuals for even “strictly business” purposes is creating conditions of hate, fear, and violence against Latinos and immigrants in Arizona. It has to stop.

Business can get off the boycott list if they publicly and emphatically announce through the media to all who would listen their opposition to S.B.1070 and to similar anti-immigrant measures. They must also publicly announce that they will not support financially or in any other way any elected official or organization that has voted for or supported such measures. They must do so with maximum media coverage. Businesses are also expected to demonstrate their good will by financially supporting candidates who will actively work for repeal of S.B.1070. Business is also expected to significantly involve themselves in the civic engagement activities currently underway by the member organization of Somos.

The boycott against concerts and performing artists: A major concert is the equivalent of a major convention with today’s elaborate productions. The boycott committee extends its boycott to all performing artists and concerts that come to Arizona for commercial purposes. Those artists who are coming to Arizona to further the struggle against S.B.1070 are welcome. They are welcome by Arizona’s activists to come here to speak directly to elected officials, as did Shakira or to raise funds for the cause as has Jenni Rivera, Benjamin and Peter Bratt, Zack de la Rocha, Marissa Ronstadt and Monte Carlo and many many others.