Group Ends Arizona Boycott

The National Coun­cil of La Raza, one of the country's largest Hispanic advocacy groups, has called off its 16-month boycott of Arizona, initiated to protest the state's controversial SB1070 immigration law.

La Raza announced the decision last month in a letter to the Real Arizona Coalition, a collection of businesses, interfaith groups and community leadership organizations; the coalition had asked for the boycott to be lifted.

In the letter, La Raza stated: "We are aware of the hardship [the boycott] has imposed on many of the workers, businesses and organizations whose interests we seek to advance. We hope that the more respectful and civil tone that many have worked so hard to establish in recent months will continue."

"The fact that the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy group is no longer discouraging conventions or meetings from coming to Arizona is welcome news," said Kevin Ka­menzind, CMP, chief marketing officer for the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Key parts of the law still are not in effect, having been blocked by an appeals court in April. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn that ruling.