|
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2001
|
Contact:
|
Laura Macklem
202-833-0100
|
U.S.ENGLISH Brief Urges Supreme Court To Uphold Alabama Official English Law
WASHINGTON DC--U.S.ENGLISH Chairman/CEO Mauro E. Mujica today explained the
issues that will be at hand when the United States Supreme Court hears Alexander v. Sandoval,
an Alabama case which will either uphold or strike down Alabama's practice of English as
the official language of state government. U.S.ENGLISH filed an Amicus brief urging the
Supreme Court to uphold the will of Alabamians in this case, who voted in favor of
English as the official language of their state.
"Although the legal issues are somewhat technical, the Court will be answering a very
basic question: 'Does a state government agency have the right to do its business in
English, or must it be forced to offer services in over a dozen foreign languages?'
Mujica said. "As an immigrant myself, I know that English is the key to opportunity
in this country. It would be counterproductive for the courts to essentially declare
that English is now merely an option in America, when success in this country often
hinders on a person's ability to communicate in our common language - - English."
The events that set Alexander v. Sandoval into motion began in 1990, when over 90 percent of
Alabama voters passed a constitutional amendment which made English the state's official
language. In an attempt to be faithful to the voter's message, state transportation officials
decided to offer driver's license exams solely in English, a practice similar to many
federal transportation licensing requirements.
In 1997, the Southern Poverty Law Center, a liberal advocacy group, found that the English
language skills of Martha Sandoval, an immigrant living in Alabama, were insufficient to
take the state driver's test. The group helped Sandoval file a federal civil rights suit,
alleging that Alabama has an obligation to provide service to Sandoval in the language she
speaks. Sandoval won in federal district court, and before the Eleventh Circuit Court of
Appeals. Although the Supreme Court has heard a similar case before (Arizonans for Official
English vs. Arizona), the court decided that case on technical grounds, leaving the basic
issue untouched. Twenty-five states have declared English their official language.
"I sympathize with the plight of a Martha Sandoval," Mujica continued.
"As an immigrant whose native language is Spanish, I can relate to her.
But the solution for me, as for previous generations of immigrants, was
to learn the language of this country. I felt that I had an obligation to
learn English. Today, more and more immigrants seem to be demanding that
the government speak their language. I am optimistic that the Supreme Court
will come down on the side of English as our common language. Because in a
nation of 329 languages, a common language makes common sense."
U.S.ENGLISH is the nation's oldest, largest citizens' action group dedicated
to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States.
Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S.ENGLISH now
has more than 1.4 million members nationwide.
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. ENGLISH, Inc.
1747 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 1050
Washington, D.C. 20006
© 2002, U.S. ENGLISH, Inc.
® All rights reserved.
|
Tel: 202-833-0100
Fax: 202-833-0108
info@us-english.org
Technology & Design by Gen-X Strategies | Any citation of the material contained in this website must credit U.S.ENGLISH. No portion of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any way without the express permission of U.S.ENGLISH. Copyright violations will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
|
