APABA's Mission: How Can You Help? DO YOU KNOW? The Florida Constitution has We recognize our special responsibility Vote for Amendment No. 11 on to help under-represented segments of obsolete discriminatory the community; to improve legal access to November 6, 2018. VOTE YES language authorizing the the courts; and to serve as a legal Learn about Amendment No. 11 and prohibition of land bridge between our ethnic communities the Alien Land Law. Download the and the South Florida region. ON FLORIDA toolkit at www.apabasfla.org. purchase and ownership by The mission of the Asian Pacific Help us spread the word! CONSTITUTION Asian Americans. This American Bar Association of South provision is known as the Florida (APABA) is to: Sign up to volunteer at www.apabasfla.org. AMENDMENT Alien Land Law. • Represent and advocate the interests of the Asian community of the South Contact your elected officials and ask NO. 11 Florida region them to support Amendment No. 11. • Encourage and promote the Florida Senate professional growth of the members of Sen. Lauren Book, Dist 32 Sen. Bobby Powell, Dist. 30 APABA 202 Senate Office Bldg. 214 Senate Office Bldg (850) 487-5032 (850) 487-5030 • Serve as a legal bridge between our Sen. Oscar Braynon II, Dist 35 Sen. Kevin Rader, Dist. 29 many and diverse Asian and Asian 200 Senate Office Bldg. 222 Senate Office Building THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION American communities and the South (850) 487-5035 (850) 487-5029 Florida region Sen. Daphne Campbell, Dist 38 Jose Javier Rodriguez, Dist. 37 ARTICLE 1 SECTION 2 218 Senate Office Bldg. 220 Senate Office Bldg. • Act as an information resource for all. (850) 487-5038 (850) 487-5037 Basic rights.—All natural persons, female • Combat discrimination against all Sen. Gary M. Farmer, Jr., Dist. 34 Sen. Annette Taddeo, Dist. 40 and male alike, are equal before the law minorities and to promote diversity in 216 Senate Office Bldg. (850) 224 Senate Office Bldg. 487-5034 (850) 487-5040 and have inalienable rights, among which the legal profession. Anitere Flores, Dist. 39 Sen. Perry E. Thurston, Jr., Dist. 33 404 Senate Office Bldg. 208 Senate Office Bldg. are the right to enjoy and defend life and (850) 487-5039 (850) 487-5033 liberty, to pursue happiness, to be rewarded for Rene Garcia, Dist. 36 310 Senate Office Bldg. Florida House of Representatives industry, and to acquire, possess and protect (850) 487-5036 Rep. George Moraitio, District 93 property; except that the ownership, 317 The Capitol (850) 717-5093 inheritance, disposition and possession of Asian Pacific American Bar Association Rep. Jared Moskowitz, District 97 212 The Capitol real property by aliens ineligible for of South Florida 850-717-5097 www.APABASFLA.org Rep. Richard Stark, District 104 citizenship may be regulated or prohibited by 405 House Office Building (850) 717-5103 law. No person shall be deprived of any right Rep. Carlos Trujillo, District 105 418 The Capitol because of race, religion, national origin, or (850) 717-5105 physical disability. Special thanks to the Greater Orlando Asian Rep. Nicholas Duran, District 112 American Bar Association (GOAABA) for 1102 The Capitol History.—Am. S.J.R. 917, 1974; adopted 1974; Am. proposed by creating this brochure and allowing us to (850) 717 5112 adapt and update. Rep. Holly Merrill Raschein, District 120 Constitution Revision Commission, Revision No. 9, 1998, filed 209 House Office Building with the Secretary of State May 5, 1998; adopted 1998. (850) 717 5120 WHAT IS THE ALIEN LAND LAW? Reasons to Remove lorida’s Constitution carries on its face Florida’s Alien Land Law passed in 1926, likely Obsolete Language from the legacy of racial discrimination. out of fear that Asian immigrants driven from the Florida Constitution: F property ownership in the western United States Specifically, Article I, Section 2 contains a would migrate to Florida. 1. It’s embarrassing and antiquated: so-called “Alien Land Law,” which authorizes the legal prohibition against In 2018, Florida remains the last state in the Florida is the last state in the nation to have aliens owning real property: “all natural nation that still has an Alien Land Law, with the this Jim Crow era law still in its persons, female and male alike, last remaining states’ laws constitution. are equal before the law and repealed over ten years ago-- 2. It’s unenforceable: Across our have inalienable rights, among Wyoming in 2001, Kansas in nation, various state supreme courts and which are the right to enjoy and 2002, and New Mexico 2006. In the federal courts have ruled that "Alien defend life and liberty, to 2008, Florida’s legislature passed Land Laws" are unconstitutional because a resolution in attempts to join pursue happiness, to be they target a racial class and violate equal rewarded for industry, and the rest of the United States and protection & due process. The Florida to acquire, possess and eliminate this language from the Support the removal of Legislature has never enacted legislation protect property; except that Florida Constitution. A proposed obsolete discriminatory to carry it out. the ownership, inheritance, amendment was included on a disposition and possession statewide ballot for voters; language from the 3. It’s un-American: Floridians and of real property by aliens however, this attempt failed to Florida Constitution. all Americans have long valued a sense of ineligible for citizenship may be achieve the necessary majority of 60% in the fair play and equal economic opportunity regulated or prohibited by law. No November 2008 election, likely due to voter if you work hard. The "Alien Land Law' person shall be deprived of any confusion that the language relates to runs against this tradition. right because of race, religion, national undocumented immigrants. origin or physical disability.” 4. It has nothing to do with the Beginning with California in 1913, NOV. 6, 2018 BALLOT: AMENDMENT No. 11 “aliens” or “illegal immigration”: many states passed Alien Land Laws Proposed Amendment to the Florida Constitution Don’t let the name fool you - the “Alien throughout the 1910s and 20s, with the Article I, Section 2 Land Law” was passed in the early 20th specific aim to restrict Chinese and Article X, Sections 9, 19 Century to stop new immigrants from Japanese immigrants from owning PROPERTY RIGHTS; REMOVAL OF OBSOLETE owning property. It has nothing to do land. In the 1920s, US citizenship PROVISION; CRIMINAL STATUTES.—Removes with immigration. by naturalization was restricted to discriminatory language related to real property rights. Removes obsolete language repealed by 5. It has no supporters or defenders! free white persons and persons of voters. Deletes provision that amendment of a (Yes, it’s that bad.) African nativity or descent, and “aliens criminal statute will not affect prosecution or ineligible for citizenship” acted as a penalties for a crime committed before the 6. It is simply the right thing to do! euphemism to target Asian immigrants. amendment; retains current provision allowing prosecution of a crime committed before the repeal of a criminal statute.