Attorney General Troy King Submits Brief In Favor Of Arizona's Racial Profiling Law

ACLU Of Alabama Supports Obama Administration’s Challenge To Law And Vows To Keep Alabama From Passing Similar Laws

DATE: July 15, 2010

Montgomery, AL - Attorney General Troy King submitted a brief in U.S. District Court in Arizona Wednesday 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, Florida, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, 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 following can be attributed to Olivia Turner, Executive Director, ACLU of Alabama:

“We are deeply disappointed that Attorney General Troy King has filed an amicus brief defending Arizona’s extreme ‘show me your papers’ law. The Obama administration took a courageous and principled stand by challenging this legislation which encourages racial profiling and unconstitutionally usurps federal authority. Laws that invite discrimination have no place in the United States, including in Alabama, where residents value fairness and equality. We will work to make sure that Alabama does not follow Arizona’s shameful lead.”

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