Abandoning Arizona

Arizona was dissed by both the Republican Party and Cypress Hill on the same day, but only one said it was because of the new immigration law.

Phoenix will not host the 2012 Republican National Convention, which will be held in Tampa, and will have to wait at least another eight years to land its first prominent national political event.

Local and national RNC officials have told the Phoenix Business Journal on more than one occasion the immigration law did not play into their decision to choose Phoenix, Tampa, or Salt Lake City for its national convention.

In the past month, though, the region has lost at least 23 conventions stemming from the immigrant trespassing bill signed last month by Republican Governor Jan Brewer.

That law was directly cited as the reason hip-hop band Cypress Hill canceled a Tucson, Arizona, concert scheduled for later this month.

“In a show of resistance to the criminalization of immigrant communities and in opposition to SB1070, recently signed into Arizona legislation, Cypress Hill has elected to cancel a performance scheduled in Tucson for May 21, 2010. This decision was made in an effort to show support and solidarity with those, undocumented and otherwise, being directly affected by this unconstitutional “law.” Cypress Hill recognizes those living in the struggle for their basic civil rights. Rise Up!” the band said on its website.

The group is one of the first notable musical acts to cancel a show in protest of Arizona’s immigration law.

Labor unions, Hispanics groups, and more liberal city governments from other states are calling for or pondering tourism and economic boycotts over the law.

Brewer said Tuesday she was troubled by the boycotts, saying the groups advocating them are essentially supporting illegal behavior in wanting immigration laws to not be enforced.