Comparing Arizona to Nazi Germany is wrong, Jewish group tells L.A. politicians

Is Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigration really comparable to Nazi Germany?

The comparison was made by some on the L.A. City Council on Wednesday as the body approved a boycott against Arizona. But one leading Jewish group says its "irresponsible" to liken the Arizona law to Nazi tactics.

“The Wiesenthal Center along with many other Americans expressed our opposition to the language of the Arizona immigration bill but it is inappropriate and irresponsible to link the bill to the actions of Nazi Germany,” Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the center, said in a statement. “In a democracy, there is no need to demonize opponents, even when they are mistaken, to those whose actions led to history's most notorious crime."

On Wednesday, council members compared Arizona’s action to Nazi Germany and the beginning of the Holocaust, as well as to the internment and deportation of Japanese Americans during World War II. A new Arizona law, which will take effect July 23, will require police to determine whether people they stop are in the country illegally, which critics say will lead to racial profiling.

In April, Cardinal Roger Mahony also compared Arizona's law to Nazism. "American people are fair-minded and respectful. I can't imagine Arizonans now reverting to German Nazi and Russian Communist techniques whereby people are required to turn one another in to the authorities on any suspicion of documentation," Mahony wrote on his blog. 

A Wiesenthal Center official did agree with Mahony that the Arizona law is wrong. “This isn’t about immigration, it’s about discrimination,” Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the center, said in a statement. “We should not forget that we’re a nation of immigrants. This law makes no sense -- it guarantees and stigmatizes people of color as second-class citizens and exposes them to intimidation and the use of racial profiling as a weapon of bias."

-- Shelby Grad

Photos: Marvin Hier, Roger Mahony. L.A. Times files.

Comments

[G Wing]

Unbelievable. I'm not a fan one way or the other of AZ's new law... but it seems like it isn't any different than what should be going on already.... anywhere in the US. Everyone throws out these ridiculous scenarios about how they could be deported... yea,just what AZ wants is to bring a million lawsuits on themselves for cracking down on us who are here legally. Last time I checked, I still turn over my license, registration, and proof of insurance when I am pulled over for something. Gee, a real hassle. But you know, I don't break the law too often, I am not worried. Last time I was pulled over was 1989, and I am very "minority looking". And I don't care if it is a Swedish or Japanese family, if they're here illegally, kick them out. I know that would happen to me if I was staying in their country illegally... past my working visa timeframe, etc. I believe it is why we have these laws in the first place.... is it wrong to enforce them?

[marlena]

Wah wah... the law mirrors federal law, get over people, the law passed. Dont like it, dont go to or live in Arizona, I have already been looking at houses, just waiting to see if the law actual goes into effect.

[Sonia]

I agree, it's wrong to compare what's going on in Arizona to Nazi Germany. That is absurd. There are laws that should be and must be upheld. The people that are here in the US illegally know they are wrong. California should know all about it. We are in soo much debt. Why? Because we take care of everyone. If you come here and have a baby. You can get welfare and heath benefits from the State. The taxpayers in turn get to foot the bill. That is soo wrong. I also think it's wrong to boycott Arizona too. Boycotting Arizona is going to hurt the economy. It's going to hurt American citizens who follow the laws who have families

[Herberts]

Is Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigration really comparable to Nazi Germany?
Most history books agree that United States took up arms against the Axis powers, which included Nazi Germany, and at the end of WW2 banned entry and immigration of SS members as undesirable aliens. Mexico however had a love affair with Nazi Germany which continued throughout the war. With an open US border, undesirable aliens, including SS members would of course be permitted across an open border. That is what Mexico wants, an open border so that undesirable aliens are not prevented from entry into the US.
Mexico still plays the polka as the national preferred music and Germany imports Mexican polka bands.

[Mark]

Great law! I guaran-freakin'-tee, crime will go down in AZ as a result of this...

[Dustin Flaming]

This is craziest arguement yet to come from the left. They are not citizens they are breaking a law and are criminals. We as a society require you to report a shoplifter or robber. Well they are robbing our coffers and putting little to nothing back into it i.e. public schools, e.r. visits, etc. Yes we are a society of imigrants but they came over legally. Whether it was easier back then or not doesn't change the fact that we have rules and regulations that must be followed. Just because you don't like a law doesn't mean you don't have to listen to it. Oh and by the way the nazi's did that to jews that were wait for it CITIZEN'S of Germany. These illegals are not and they have no rights that citizens of the best nation ever have. Go back do it the right way and no one will say anything to you.

[J0hn M]

Let's not racial profile anybody. Assume ANYONE that illegally comes into this country is a possible AL QUEDA candidate. Hispanic, White,Asian,black, or any other race. Stop illegal entering of this great country of ours and deport anyone that is not here on the grounds of the safety of our country.

[Abe]

I believe the comparison comes more from the point of view that they are using scapegoats. And I do believe that something needs to be done about illegal immigration but this is the wrong path Arizona took. The law is completely against The International Bill of Human Rights. And as for people saying that millions of people came here legally before why people are not doing it now is because during the Bush administration those paths that many took to come here to live the "American Dream" was completely block, leaving only few open.

[reddragon]

This new law as good as it might seem to a lot of people, will go beyond illegal immigration and has the potential to discrimiate a whole race that include a lot of legal immigrants even citizens. A lot of people may not understand because of obvious frustrations but the solution has to be one that does not target any one race.

[Jack]

It is indeed wrong, and people should be ashamed of themselves for equating the two things. It is not only disrespectful to the 6 million Jewish victims of Hitler, but the 4 million non-Jewish victims as well (Roma, German socialists, liberals, communists, dissenters, the mentally handicapped, and so on). The Nazis openly murdered people left & right, and to compare a democratic State in a democratic Country, which is simply enforcing a law already on the books to such murderous thugs is pathetic, and rather demonstrative of embarrassing & pathetic west-coast whitey guilt.

[Ron]

As usual, the L.A. city officials have no idea what their saying and are shooting off their mouths again.

AZ is just enforcing the laws already on the books set by the federal laws. Since Janice Hahn and all are to too scared to enforce the laws here in Los Angeles, don't start trying to act like a Nazi organization by forcing others not to enforce the law.

[HANK]

Why is it the people with zero or very little knowledge of the law are the ones that have THIS law all wrong. People opposed to this law are NOT supporting illegals. This law is an infringement upon the rights of LEGAL US CITIZENS.

You cannot enforce this law without violating the rights of legal citizens. Comparing this law to Nazi Germany may be a little extreme but this mentality is the seed that can grow into something more sinister. I would think that the jewish people should know better. How did the jews feel when they were forced to wear a star of David on their clothes at all times?

The reason people are angry about this law is the FACT that many people of color are going to have their rights violated simply because a cop THINKS they might be illegal based on their look.

This law is clearly unconstitutional.

FYI- I am a lawyer. I don't specialize in Constitutional law like our president, but I do know that this is clearly wrong on so many levels. This law opens the door to racial profiling and hurts LEGAL citizens.

[Tim]

I'm booking my trip to the Grand Canyon today!

[cga]

The Holocaust did not happen over night. There were a series of laws and statutes that took place over time when the Nazis took control of the government. There were similar laws to those Arizona has now signed into law. They may not be interning Latinos at the moment, but that does not mean they are not on the path to genocide. There are 8 stages of genocide and at any point before extermination, genocide can be stopped. In this case we should learn from history and stop it now. Arizona did not only pass an immigration law, they also passed a law about teachers and their accents and a law that eliminates ethnic study classes in public schools. This is barely veiled racism, discrimination and bigotry. We must see it as such and we should all be very worried. This is not freedom. These laws are not what America should be about.

[Jill Golmant]

The Wiesenthal Center is hypocritical in its recent statements that oppose Arizona's new law because AZ will begin to racially profile. Specifially, Rabbi Marvin Hier is quoted "it guarantees and stigmatizes people of color as second-class citizens and exposes them to intimidation and the use of racial profiling as a weapon of bias.”

The WC did exactly that to me about twenty years ago. I was working as a temp-to-hire in the accounting department there and discovered a file folder on Rabbi Abraham Cooper's desk with my name on it. It contained all sorts of geneology information on my ancesters with notes next to some that said "not a Nazi" or "unknown Nazi." This is in the days before the internet and gathering this information took much effort. I am Aryan. Rabbi Cooper was obviously racially profiling my ancestors based on my race.

This overt racism towards Aryans contributed to my decision to not work there anymore. Additional bigotry in regards to the (then new) Museum of Tolerance ignoring the estimated 2 million persons killed for non-Jew reasons in the holocaust and only talking about the 6 million Jews also contributed.

The Center does not walk the talk.

[Mike]

L.A. City Council are clowns!!

[Ellis]

Excuse me, but where was the Rabbi when the teabaggers were calling Obama a Nazi for trying to make health insurance more affordable? Has the Rabbi criticized Glenn Beck, who calls everyone he doesn't agree with a Nazi? I hate it people start throwing the Hitler/Nazi epithet around, no matter what side they are on, but the fact is that throwing people in jail because they don't have their papers is MUCH closer to Nazi Germany than trying to increase insurance coverage, especially when this law is going to disproportionally affect a vulnerable minority.

Being against illegal immigration does not make you a racist. Wanting to do something about it does not make you a racist. Supporting SB1070 which mandates racial profiling DOES make you a racist. When you become willing to give up another man's freedoms, eventually a man will come along that is willing to give up yours.

[Red L.]

So, what's next in Arizona? Are they also going to pass a law that every citizen in Arizona to have the "mark 666" in their forehead?

[Nancy Evans]

Laura Chavez writes: "the Nazis' early tactics are similar to what is happening now to immigrants". Two points, Laura. Did you know that the NAZIS BOYCOTTED JEWISH BUSINESSES?
(Look it up.)
Did you know that the jews were German citizens?
(Look it up.)

The L.A. City Council, besides being complete a complete tool, is acting more like Nazis than Arizona.

[CARLTONDAN]

ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR, THE LAKERS SHOULD BOYCOT ARIZONA

[jack byron]

to my jewish friends show some intelligents please...apples to oranges. you don't have to kiss butt to want people to like you..

[revcat]

The whole country has gone insane with the Nazi type accusations. Everybody is a Nazi. If you like the health care bill, Nazi. If you want to enforce the country's immigration laws, Nazi.

I have my own personal opinions regarding both health care and immigration, but no matter which side I'm on I will supposedly be in bed with Nazis. Balderdash!

Diatribe does not equal dialogue. Americans are becoming propagandists along the lines of talk radio shock jocks. Cooler heads cannot prevail because the extremists squash them one by one. Things will heat up considerably if and when Congress tackles immigration.

[San Diegan]

I applaud the Wiesenthal Center's opposition to the Arizona law. This debate (and anonymity of the Internet) has brought out a lot of the ugliness and callousness of Americans... people who automatically assume illegals are "terrorists", "drug dealers"... that family and supporters of these human beings are unpatriotic. This did happen in the first days of Nazis' rise to power, against a group of immigrants, at an economically depressed time (and election year).

Yeah, being "illegal" is not a race. But will the Arizona police ask a Canadian illegal immigrant about her immigration papers if she is caught speeding? Lots of Canadians with expired visas here. Unequal application of the law is discrimination. Having a state support inequality and its citizens supporting discrimination is a sign of fascism.

[sell]

All Arizona illegals will be moving to the open arms of the city of LA/state of California.

Enjoy.

[Daniel]

Let's see, is this the same Cardinal Roger Mahony who protected all those priests who were engaged in having sex with kids?? Wow, and he wants us to now believe that the AZ law is improper?? Give Me a Break!!!

The reason why all those who against the law is because it will now be enforced backed by the FEDERAL LAW!