NCLR Board of Directors Unanimously Condemns Texas Racial Profiling Bill SB4

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At their June 2017 meeting in Phoenix, AZ,  the NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution opposing Texas Senate Bill 4.  The text of the resolution follows:

We, the Board of Directors of the National Council of La Raza, consent and agree to the following resolution, adopted June 3, 2017 in Phoenix Arizona, at NCLR’s Summer Board of Directors meeting:

Whereas, the National Council of La Raza is the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., and that we are an American institution committed to strengthening this great nation by promoting the advancement of Latino families, NCLR has determined that this moment in time requires that we must protect and defend America’s Latino community and uphold the core values of this nation against bigotry and intolerance.

Whereas, Texas Senate Bill 4, now signed into law in 2017, opposed by police chiefs from all over Texas, calls on law enforcement to inquire about immigration status in traffic stops and other interactions, allows police officers to question children about immigration status, and mandates fines and jail time for elected officials and law enforcement who fail to comply with the discriminatory law, even though it may make them complicit in violating constitutional safeguards.

Whereas, S.B.4, would make more than 10. 5 million Hispanics in Texas, 40% of the state’s population, a target for racial profiling while undermining the public safety of all Texans.

Whereas, S.B.4 is the spiritual descendant of similar bills that were passed in Arizona, Alabama and other states over the last decade, all of which were overturned in the courts.  As we gather in Arizona on this day, we note the lessons learned that such divisive laws do harm to a state socially and economically. And that as a result, individuals, organizations, businesses, law enforcement officials, elected officials, and ultimately voters come to feel the burden of bigotry directly and elect to change direction.

Resolve that:
NCLR will continue to raise our voices in opposition to SB.4, support work to network and organize communities in Texas against the law, and work with national partners to engage in collective action that holds elected officials in Texas accountable for any violations of basic rights that stem from this law.