Free Republic

A bill that aims to ban ethnic studies in Arizona schools was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Jan Brewer, cheering critics who called such classes divisive and alarming others who said it's yet another law targeting Latinos in the state. The move comes less than 20 days after Brewer signed a controversial immigration bill that has caused widespread protests against the state. The governor's press office did not return requests for comment Tuesday evening. HB 2281 bans schools from teaching classes that are designed for students of a particular ethnic group, promote resentment or advocate ethnic solidarity over treating...

he furor over Arizona's new law cracking down on illegal immigrants grew Monday as opponents used refried beans to smear swastikas on the state Capitol, civil rights leaders demanded a boycott of the state, and the Obama administration weighed a possible legal challenge. Activists are planning a challenge of their own, hoping to block the law from taking effect by arguing that it encroaches on the federal government's authority to regulate immigration and violates people's constitutional rights by giving police too much power. The measure — set to take effect in late July or early August — would make it...

The Obama administration faced mounting pressure on Sunday to overhaul immigration policy, as prominent Hispanic politicians and street protesters decried a new Arizona law as a violation of civil rights. Immigration reform is a bitterly contested political issue in the United States but a top priority for Hispanics, who are the largest minority in the nation and an important power base for President Barack Obama and his Democratic Party. Their anger flared on Friday when Arizona's Republican Governor Jan Brewer signed into law a bill requiring police to determine whether people are in the country legally and to question them...

Some New Yorkers see their city as the center of the universe. But over the weekend, all eyes were focused on Arizona after the state’s governor signed the country’s most stringent immigration bill into law. On Saturday, New York area politicians and immigrants groups denounced the measure, which allows police to question people on the suspicion that they may be here illegally. As the Daily News reported, Mayor Bloomberg said the new measure could hurt foreign investment. Sen. Chuck Schumer called it “mean-spirited” and Bill DeBlasio, the public advocate, said it was “Un-American.” On Sunday, the Rev. Al Sharpton said...