Arizona Boycott Goes Viral As State's Tourism Industry Tries to Fight Back

[niceypoo]

The Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association set up its own Facebook page, called http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dont-Boycott-AZ-Tourism-Dont-punish-200k-tourism-employees-for-politics/112213582152019?ref=search&sid=1603968.3594406067..1">“Don’t Boycott AZ Tourism” most likely to battle the three other “Boycott Arizona” Facebook pages already in use, a petition site and a general Arizona-bashing. The Facebook page, which has the sub-headline of “Don’t punish 200k tourism employees for politics,” so far has 802 followers. The primary Boycott Arizona page has more than 11,000. That’s what the Arizona hospitality industry is up against — a very aggressive and antagonistic social media campaign oppposed to Arizona’s controversial new anti-immigrant laws.

So far it’s working. The American Immigration Lawyers Association notified JW Marriott in Scottsdale that it will cancel a 300-plus person event, saying, “We didn’t feel it was appropriate to have a meeting in (the) state.”

At the Arizona Inn in Tucson, 12 customers canceled reservations or said they wouldn’t come to the state because of the recent law.

http://industry.bnet.com/travel/10005845/arizona-boycott-goes-viral-tourism-tries-to-fight-back/

[denbot]

1. They don't let you comment on that page.. go figure

What is the link to the primary boycott page?

[KansDem]

2. I was thinking of driving out to southern California next year...

I usually take I-40, but in light of the recent legislation, I might consider going via I-70 to I-15 (goes through just a teeny-tiny part of NW Arizona).

I don't have an argument with Arizonians, per se, I just don't want any run-ins with the law (And I don't think I can find my "papers" anyway).

[Juneboarder]

18. I-70 to I-15 is beautiful

Especially when driving through the Rockies. Utah is beautiful as well, but the state and myself have a love/hate relationship. If you do go this route, make sure you stop through Zion; you will not be disappointed! Also, if you don't want to go through that blip of AZ, there are side roads that go from St. George, UT to Mesquite, NV while bypassing AZ altogether. However, if you do this, then you'd miss the lovely drive through the Virgin River Gorge...

[Tansy_Gold]

3. then those 200,000 hospitality employees need to call their

state legislators and get them to overturn the "law."

A boycott isn't about "punishing" the workers; it's about applying economic pressure to those who made the stupid racist law in the first place.

The people who really are "hurting" Arizona are Jan Brewer and Russell Pearce and their xenophobic, white supremacist friends.




Tansy Gold

[Mojeoux]

7. Exactly right

As I read this post to not boycott, I thought the same thing.

And if we don't boycott, what if we are brown skinned?

[ChazInAz]

13. May I interject a comment?

I've lived in Tucson for over thirty years, and have more than a passing familiarity with "hospitality employers". The poor schlubs who work for them are already being punished by their employers. It's the normal state of affairs in a so-called "Right To Work State". Those hotels and restaurants need a good smack upside the head to teach them a little compassion for the people who have made them rich. Maybe this will be it.

[Tansy_Gold]

19. Exactly.

The point is, by maintaining "business as usual," the hoteliers, the restaurateurs, the other corporations and fat cats will continue to rake in the dough and continue to support the politicians who want to keep the status quo.

Yes, the little guys will be hurt. I and a lot of others who get at least part of our income from tourism will be hurt.

But just like the people who boycotted the Montgomery bus system had to find other ways to get to work, we who "depend" on tourism will have to do our part, as well, to bring an end to this apartheid. And in doing so, we can hope that on the other side, things will be BETTER for those who have had it so rough for so long.

Business as usual won't get you anything but business as usual.



Tansy Gold

[indepat]

16. One would think each of the 200,000 should have reached this conclusion on their own

:P

[cascadiance]

4. As an Iowa fan, I was earlier planning to go to Iowa vs. Arizona game this fall in Tucson...

Sounds like I'm going to boycott it instead, even if it means not getting to see some friends in Phoenix I hadn't seen in a while.

I don't relish the thought of us being hassled for "papers" by disgruntled cops after Iowa beats the Wildcats again this year.

[Downtown Hound]

11. If you have the time, please call the Arizona tourism office and let them know this

A boycott doesn't work if those being boycotted don't know how much business they're losing.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. We were going to go for our 30th later this year. No longer.

[classysassy]

6. We live in Cochise county

a flaming red neck section of az.We were thinking of inviting our daughter to visit and we were going to take her to the Grand Canyon,but after brewer signed that racist law,we have decided to visit New Mexico.

[cap]

8. the hotel industry is one of the big employers of illegal aliens

hmmm

[Missy Vixen]

15. So's the restaurant industry

There's a right-wing wacko radio personality in Seattle now agitating for the same law.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Dori Monson.

http://mynw.com/?nid=91

Don't call his PD or anything. Really.

[niceypoo]

20. Every industry is one of the big employers of illegal aliens

[cbdo2007]

9. It's getting closer and closer to the summer heat - who wants to go to AZ anyways??

Nah, I can think of a hundred places I'd rather visit in the US, even before the immigration thing.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. Tip of the iceberg.

Watch how this ill-conceived bill plays out.

[tsuki]

12. Question - since they also passed a law that all candidates for president must

submit a valid birth certificate proving that they are American, will they accept the Hawaiian birth certificate as proof of citizenship.

The birther bill seems targeted at Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate, at least in my :tinfoilhat: world.

[slackmaster]

14. I'm working in Arizona right now

:shrug:

[ShortnFiery]

21. Hey, I don't blame the people of Arizona. I love the state.

This is NOT a simple situation. I only wish people would only get AS INCENSED by the President authorizing executions of USA Citizens, Secret Detainees in Bahrain, Drone Executions of suspects and renewal of the Patriot Act as they are with ARIZONA Lawmakers?

So the government can read your mail and listen in on your phone calls with impunity, but you are more angry at the notion of an Arizona Cop asking for someone's license? Before I get jumped on, yes! = this codification can easily be abused.

However, it just goes to prove when DISCRIMINATION comes HOME, it means more to people.

I only wish we could get as fired-up about making our leaders END these immoral occupations.

[DevonRex]

17. Excellent news. And fuck those assholes who say it's just "politics." nt