LPGA Says Learn English or No Golf

That’s right, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has implemented a new rule that all of it’s golfers competing must speak English or they don't get to play. Apparently to the LPGA, being superb at playing golf isn’t enough. To them you aren’t considered a good golfer unless you can speak English. Many disagree with the new rule saying it could open up the LPGA to a discrimination lawsuit.

LPGA could be bringing on a discrimination lawsuit
BY PATRICK WHITTLE
NEWSDAY

Civil rights and Asian-American groups said yesterday an LPGA decision to require golfers to speak English is insulting and possibly illegal.

Several national news outlets reported that the reaction in the pro golf community was more mixed, with some questioning the language policy and others saying foreign-born players would benefit from learning English.

But Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said the LPGA could open itself up to a discrimination lawsuit if it bars golfers from participating because of their national origin. read on>>

Read more »

Veteran Police Official Urges Legislature to Reject Driver's License Plan

Yesterday, Ron Louie, a veteran Oregon law enforcement official with over 33 years of experience, responded to new driver's license restrictions requiring proof of citizenship and/or legal residency to obtain an Oregon driver's license. In his OP-ED, which appeared in The Oregonian, Mr. Louie highlighted the impact the new rules will have on the treatment of immigrants and public safety, and calls on the Oregon Legislature to reject such a plan.

Halt the driver's license plan

By Ron Louie

As a police official with over 33 years of law enforcement experience, 20 of those years leading the Astoria and Hillsboro police departments as chief of police, I feel compelled to add my perspectives to the current debate over requiring proof of citizenship and/or legal residency to obtain an Oregon driver's license.

Each of the communities I served as chief valued my outreach to and interactions with community residents of every ethnicity and status. As police chief, it was my mandate to ensure public safety which was accomplished by establishing the policies and goals that lead the crime-fighting, peace-keeping and problem-resolution efforts of the officers. Many times government officials have a tendency to seek policies that on the surface seem either politically expedient or a simple solution to a greater, more complex problem. But once implemented, these policies produce adverse and unintended impacts that may almost negate what we were trying to accomplish.

Mandating proof of citizenship or residency status before issuing a driver's license will have the unintended consequence of increasing unlicensed and uninsured drivers. More and more people will be on Oregon roadways without any benefit of a skills driving test. The most profound consequences will be seen in the Latino community, encouraging otherwise law-abiding aliens to commit serious traffic offenses. People who will be required to drive in connection with their livelihood, in the course of good parenting or attending worship may become involved in accidents. They may then be cited for driving without a license they cannot obtain, face suspensions of their right to apply for a license, and ultimately may be jailed. This represents treatment of immigrants never imagined by our forefathers. Therefore, this mandate would not benefit the public or the undocumented resident of Oregon. >>read on

Read more »

Immigrant Rights Groups Denounce Governor Kulongoski’s Executive Order

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2007

Contact:
Erik Sorensen, Communications, CAUSA (503) 789-8213
Aeryca Steinbauer, Coordinator, CAUSA (503) 984-6816

Immigrant Rights Groups Denounce Governor Kulongoski’s Executive Order

Immigrants and allies urge Governor to abandon Executive Order that will harm public safety and erode community trust
Salem, OR— CAUSA, Oregon’s statewide immigrant rights coalition, denounces Governor Ted Kulongoski’s Executive Order #07-22 that would bar Oregon's undocumented immigrants from accessing a driver's license. Under the Governor's proposed order that he plans to issue today, DMV would limit the documents accepted to get a driver's license, eliminating documents commonly available to immigrants such as the Matricula card and foreign birth certificates. Presently under Oregon law, all residents of Oregon regardless of legal status can obtain a driver's license, an important public safety policy.

Currently, there are over 120,000 undocumented immigrants in Oregon, many of whom drive on Oregon's roads to get to work, buy groceries, and take their kids to school. As a result of the Governor’s proposed executive order, these drivers would not be allow to take drivers classes or pass driving tests, will not be able to get insurance, and will be more likely to be involved in a potentially fatal accident. Studies show that licensing drivers prevents accidents and insurance losses as drivers are tested, registered and photographed. Likewise, licensing and law enforcement agencies are better able to track unsafe drivers.

Restricting driver's license access also erodes community trust. Rather than increasing security, driver's license restrictions would result in a situation where immigrants fear discrimination and being reported to ICE. They therefore would avoid contact with law enforcement and are less likely to report crimes and assist local law enforcement fight criminal and terrorist activity. This decreases community trust and infringes upon efforts to fight crime and save lives.

“Denying licenses to immigrants is bad for public safety resulting in unsafe roads, high insurance rates and overwhelmed court systems.” said Aeryca Steinbauer, Coordinator of CAUSA. “Rather than increasing security, immigrants who fear discrimination and deportation will avoid contact with law enforcement and will be less likely to report crimes and assist local law enforcement in fighting criminal and terrorist activity. We urge the governor to rescind his order.”

Upon hearing the news of Governor Kulongoski’s action to deny licenses to immigrants on Wednesday, CAUSA and allies generated thousands of contacts urging the Governor to reconsider.


###

Read more »