Don't boycott--organize!

[eridani]

http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2010/05/dont-boycott-arizona.html

Activists wanting to take more direction against Senate Bill 1070 should consider making a donation to one or more of the groups that has filed or is preparing to file a lawsuit. Writing to Attorney General Eric Holder and asking the Department of Justice to file its own suit isn't a bad idea either.

But the best thing progressives can do for Arizona is follow the advice of Mother Jones: Don't mourn, organize. Why not send organizers to Arizona to build the movement there? I can think of two organizations that could do a tremendous amount of good with a stronger presence in the Grand Canyon State: Wellstone Action and Progressive Majority.

Wellstone Action actually began a new Native American Leadership Program not long ago. That program should definitely come to Arizona.

And I'm betting Progressive Majority Arizona could build a better farm team for our movement if it only had more resources.

Then there's the New Organizing Institute, which, like Wellstone Action, offers progressive advocacy and campaign training. It operates in two neighboring states (California and Utah). Arizona should be NOI's next frontier.

There's a lot we can do as a movement to tackle the sorry situation in the 48th State. Our response to Senate Bill 1070 should be to organize Arizona, not boycott it. Our brothers and sisters there need our support to secure a better future for their state. It's our responsibility to help them.