The resolution was proposed by Town Meeting member Vladimir Morales, in response to the passage of a new Arizona immigration law.
Earlier this month, Amherst’s Select Board unanimously supported sections of a resolution calling for Amherst to cease engaging in business with the state of Arizona.
The resolution was proposed by Town Meeting member Vladimir Morales, in response to the passage of a new Arizona immigration law that orders immigrants to carry alien registration documents at all times and allows police broad powers to question the citizenship status of suspected illegal immigrants.
Under Amherst’s resolution, the town’s Select Board will direct Town Manager Laurence R. Shaffer to ensure that the town does not knowingly:
- buy goods or services in Arizona,
- allow officials to travel to Arizona on town business,
- engage in business with transportation companies headquartered in Arizona, including US Airways.
The resolution also urges residents to encourage business, professional, academic, fraternal, religious or other organizations to which they belong to cancel meetings, conferences or other gatherings in Arizona and to ask town residents to consider changing plans to travel to or through the state.
What do people who live, work, or own businesses in Amherst think of the boycott? We sent Republican intern Louis Sallerson to Amherst to gather perspectives and reactions.
Interviewed in this video, in order of appearance, are:
- Benson Lieber, Dean of Students, Amherst College
- Chris Casey, Amherst resident
- Mitch Gaslin, Amherst resident
- Martin Carrera, owner of La Veracruzana, a restaurant with locations in Amherst and Northampton. Mr. Carrera was born in Mexico.