Seattle City Council Approves Anti-Arizona Measure

The Seattle City Council has voted unanimously, 7-0, to adopt a resolution that denounces Arizona State Senate Bill 1070.

The resolution urges city departments to refrain from sending city employees to Arizona and refrain from getting into new contracts with businesses headquartered there. Existing contracts with businesses in the state will continue.

City officials are also being asked to avoid Arizona events.

Council member Sally Clark sponsored the resolution and said it’s mainly symbolic support for immigration reform and civil rights because it may not have much financial impact on Arizona.

WATCH IT: Seattle City Council Votes To Boycott Arizona

Seattle spends about $2 million on Arizona services each year.

“We would strongly refrain from doing any further business with the state of Arizona until this law changes,” Clark said.

“By this action, Seattle’s Council supports those in Arizona who want real immigration reform through Congress, and not through placing a burden on local police to enforce a law that invites discrimination,” said Councilmember Nick Licata. “Our nation must rise up to this challenge without dividing our communities by creating an atmosphere of suspicion and fear.”

Council members Burgess and Conlin were absent.

Seattle has now joined other U.S. cities who have also placed restrictions on travel or purchasing to Arizona, including Oakland, Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and Washington, DC.

The immigration law allows Arizona police to ask suspects for proof of their immigration status whenever there is “reasonable suspicion” that the person is unlawfully present.

Tacoma City Council will consider a boycott of Arizona on Tuesday.

National polls show that more Americans support the Arizona immigration reform than not.