Immigrants Against Proposed Arizona-Style Law Hold Vigil, Protest at Florida Capitol

Representatives from Florida's immigrant community, traveling to the capital from throughout the Sunshine State, will conduct a continous three-day vigil, beginning at 4 p.m. Monday and running through Wednesday until 4 p.m. They will ask members of the state Senate to stop Arizona-like immigration bills -- particularly before the Budget Committee votes Wednesday, April 13, on SB 2040.

By mid-afternoon Monday the location of the vigil near the Capitol was still to be determined.

The group is asking Floridians to join them -- not just in the vigil itself, but in prayer, and in helping convince lawmakers that SB 2040 is a draconian expression of hostility for people who contribute to the rich history of the nation.

We dont understand why Florida lawmakers want to continue with this. ... We (could) see an Arizona-like law in less than a month, says Jose Manuel Godinez, student and member of Florida State University-based Advocates for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. We are holding a vigil every day urging senators to hear the voices of immigrant Floridians and do the right thing for our community and our state.

Subhash Kateel, state coordinator for the Miami-based We Are Florida campaign, said she hopes the Senate committee will allow members of the group to speak "as part of the democratic process."