Vivian Davis Figures on Immigration

Democratic Senate Challenger; member of State Senate

English-only law are divisive and reek of segregation

Opponents delayed and likely killed two proposals that aimed to require the use of English in driver license exams and other state business, saying the ideas were as divisive as former Gov. George Wallace's 1963 stand in the schoolhouse door.

"They just reek division," said Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile. "They just smell bad. They're awful." She said the bills would hurt residents who don't speak fluent English.

Figures likened the bills' sponsor, Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, t Wallace and his segregation-era effort to stop blacks from attending the University of Alabama. "I think about you standing in the door... just the way Governor Wallace did so many years ago," she said. "We need to be doing things and working together in bringing people together, rather than these emotional issues all the time that just pull people apart."

Beason replied that requiring more official use of English would bind citizens together and avoid division.

Source: Birmingham News, "Delay kills English-only bills" Apr 25, 2008

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Page last updated: Sep 28, 2008