Senator Leland Yee Denounces Tea Party's "Repulsive, Extremist" California Ballot Initiative

Senator Leland Yee (Democrat-San Francisco/San Mateo/Pacifica) issued the following statement in response to a Belmont man’s proposed ballot initiative to enact a California law similar to Arizona’s controversial immigration statute. Yee’s Senate District includes Belmont:
 
“Once again, local tea party activists want to push a xenophobic initiative on our community that would devastate California. Unfortunately, this is not the first time they have turned to the obscene use of race-baiting as a means to promote their cause. Last year, they employed anti-Semitic posters for their events and now they are going down a similar path in an attempt to strike fear within immigrant communities. In order to advance their repulsive and extremist objectives, the sponsors are trying to leverage our current economic situation to foment resentment against undocumented immigrants. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, it is important that these incendiary acts do not go unchallenged. If this initiative qualifies for the ballot, we will fight to ensure that the people of California vote it down and send a very clear message that such bigoted policies are unacceptable in our state.”