In the face of national outrage over its “Papers Please” act, which effectively requires brown-colored Arizonans to carry their birth certificates with them at all times or face imprisonment, Arizona has decided to — you guessed it — double down.
Gary Pierce, commissioner on the Arizona Corporation Commission, responds to Los Angeles’ boycott of Arizona businesses, in a letter to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa:
I received your message; please receive mine. As a statewide elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission overseeing Arizona’s electric and water utilities, I too am keenly aware of the ‘resources and ties’ we share with the city of Los Angeles.
…
If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation. I am confident that Arizona’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands. If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona’s economy.
As Pierce notes, there’s one thing that Arizona certainly doesn’t lack: the strength of its convictions.
They’re going to fight for their right to harass brown people — even if it brings their economy to its knees.
