Campaign for Community Change

Tucson, Arizona (November 8, 2006) The Campaign for Community Change says anti-immigrant vigilantes from the Border Guardians, some wearing side arms, were attempting to intimidate Hispanic voters on Election day at the Iglesia Bautista Church in Tucson's 49th precinct by approaching them with English only surveys.

The Campaign alleges that the vigilantes were racially profiling people of color who were trying to vote. Two staff members from "Neighbors Working for Immigrant Dignity" witnessed the intimidation and have photographic evidence.

Ramon Garcia, the Campaign's Get Out the Vote Coordinator says the "actions taken yesterday by these vigilantes is abysmal. Attempts by groups like this who claim to be defending the Constitution are actually interrupting the Democratic process they claim to defend." The Campaign also believes possible low voter turnout in predominantly Hispanic precincts was sadly predictable given the current anti-immigrant environment in Arizona and potential for vigilantism.

According to the Campaign's Rich Stolz, the defeat of politicians like Randy Graf and J.D. Hayworth, who campaigned on anti-immigrant themes, has national and statewide implications for the immigration debate. Stolz says the message is that "anti-immigrant candidates don't win in this type of environment even when voter frustration with immigration issues leads to passage of mean-spirited propositions."

Despite the passage of four anti-immigrant propositions yesterday, the grassroots "Neighbors Working for Immigrant Dignity" believes its efforts to educate voters about immigration reform will pay off in the long run. Garcia says that though his group's effort "was not large enough to fight back against the cynical language of these ballot measures, we made a difference by reaching out and explaining to voters one at a time the challenges facing immigrants."

In just one month, the Campaign's canvassers knocked on over 3,000 doors, called 22,000 people and mailed out thousands of informational pieces to registered voters in Southern Arizona.

The Campaign for Community Change is a not for profit organization working to elevate the profile of issues that matter to low-income and immigrant communities and communities of color. The Campaign works to educate and empower these communities-person by person-to influence the public policies that affect their lives.

The CCC headquarters is located at 4101 E. 1st Street, Tucson. For more information or to book interviews please call 520-495-5841 or go to www.campaignforcommunities.org.