'Dream Act' Opponents Corral Signatures From 'Black Friday' Shoppers
SAN BERNARDINO (CBS) — A grassroots effort to repeal a controversial law that makes undocumented students in California eligible for financial aid headed to the Inland Empire on Friday.
Opponents of AB 131 — more popularly known as the California Dream Act — collected signatures at the Black Friday "Park N Sign" at the Upland Colonies Crossroads shopping center.
The event is just one of several scheduled statewide through January as local anti-illegal immigration advocates seek to gather the minimum 505,000 signatures needed to file their petition with the state.
Groups such as We the People California's Crusader and Stop AB 131 are getting support from public officials like Republican Rep. Tim Donnelly of Hesperia and even radio shock jocks John Kobylt and Kenneth Chiampou of the "John and Ken Show".
Donnelly told the San Bernardino Sun he expects the group to amass over 800,000 signatures before the Jan. 6 deadline.
Despite growing opposition to the bill, officials in the local labor movement have expressed their support for a bill that critics allege rewards illegal behavior.
"We stand with the young people to be able to have a right to higher education regardless of their immigration status," said Maria Elena Durazo of the L.A. County Labor Federation.
