Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Seņoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc.
est. 1987
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol Olate
public-relations@sigmalambdaupsilon.org
May 5, 2010
Sigma Lambda Upsilon Opposes SB 1070
New York, NY - Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Seņoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. (SLU) joins other national organizations in denouncing the passage of Senate Bill 1070 and subsequent House Bill 2281 in Arizona. The law, also known as Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, will be in effect 90 days after the legislative session ends, July 28, 2010.
SLU is a diverse organization, comprised largely of first-generation Americans. We strongly believe that Senate Bill 1070 and House Bill 2281 counter our mission of
advocating for and promoting the advancement of the Latino community through service, education and cultural awareness. Although our organization does not currently have a chapter in Arizona, we recognize the implications of such laws on Latino communities throughout the country. Senate Bill 1070 promotes racial profiling and discrimination, and threatens the civil liberties of all people of color regardless of their immigration status. Similarly, House Bill 2281, which targets schools or districts that have an Ethnic Studies curriculum, limits opportunities for cultural awareness through education and disparately impacts communities of color by curtailing freedom of speech and expression. Our sisterhood includes current students and alumnae of colleges and universities across the nation that offer Ethnic Studies program, and they value such programs as opportunities to learn about their own cultural history as well as those of other communities of color. Ethnic Studies programs promote an understanding of diverse cultures and nations, and should not be labeled as unpatriotic.
As such, SLU stands united in solidarity with our brothers and sisters across the nation against Arizona Senate Bill 1070 and House Bill 2281. We will be vigilant against the
injustice and ignorance that these laws can engender.
To learn more about SB 1070, log onto
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2...70pshs.doc.htm. If you are interested in taking a stand, visit
www.change.org to sign a petition and contact your Congressional representative and let him/her know that you do not agree with legalizing racial profiling in Arizona.
Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Seņoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. (SLU) was founded on December 1, 1987 at Binghamton University as an organization that would provide
sisterhood and support while also promoting academic achievement, service to the community and cultural enrichment. Today, the sorority's purpose remains to unite
women committed to seeking the political and social advancement of the underrepresented populations.