Attorney General Henry McMaster Submits Brief in Favor of Arizona's Racial Profiling Law

ACLU South Carolina National Office Supports Department of Justice Challenge To Law And Seeks To Keep South Carolina From Passing Similar Laws

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2010

CONTACT: Victoria Middleton, (843)720-1424

Learn about the ACLU's campaign "What Happens in Arizona Stops in Arizona and how to get involved >>

CHARLESTON , SC -- On Wednesday, South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster submitted a brief in U.S. District Court in Arizona supporting SB1070, Arizona's discriminatory racial profiling law. The friend-of-the-court brief opposes the Obama administration's lawsuit challenging the law. Other attorneys general on the brief include those from Michigan, Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Virginia .

The American Civil Liberties Union and a coalition of other leading civil rights organizations filed a lawsuit challenging the Arizona racial profiling law on May 17. The coalition charges that the law invites the racial profiling of people of color, violates the First Amendment and interferes with federal law. The federal government's lawsuit against the Arizona law was filed on July 6.

The Arizona legislation makes all Latino residents, including legal residents and citizens, potential criminal suspects in the eyes of the law, as if the constitutional guarantee ensuring equal treatment under the law no longer applied to them. The resulting boycotts, protests and lawsuits have had real economic consequences for Arizona . And law enforcement groups in the state have condemned the law because it endangers public safety by diverting scarce resources in tight financial times.

The following can be attributed to Victoria Middleton, Executive Director, ACLU South Carolina National Office:

"We are disappointed that Attorney General McMaster has filed a brief supporting Arizona's 'show me your papers' law, which invites racial profiling and unconstitutionally usurps federal authority. Laws that encourage discrimination have no place in this country, including in South Carolina , where residents value fairness and equality. We will work to make sure that South Carolina does not follow Arizona's misguided lead."

Additional information about the ACLU can be found online at: www.aclu.org.