With Seattle boycotting Ariz., some locals boycotting Seattle | Politics

As long as Seattle is boycotting the state of Arizona, Don and Bernice Malone are boycotting Seattle.

The Mukilteo couple didn't start the online push to boycott Seattle, but they've joined others in the effort after Seattle city leaders voted to boycott Arizona. Now the Malones refuse to give their dollars to Seattle businesses, or even attend any Mariners' games.

"Just for the same reason that the city council said they're going to boycott Arizona for no good reason, as far as I'm concerned," said Don Malone.

The Malones spend their winters in Arizona, specifically in El Mirage -- a city with a 66 percent Hispanic population, according to the last census count.

The Malones, who say illegal immigrants burden the school system and feed off the economy at the legal citizens' expense, support the Arizona governor's push to crack down on illegal immigrants.

"And she did not say that they were going to be able to go on the street and pick anybody up. In fact, she was very adamant that no one would be able to be stopped unless for some infraction or something they've committed," said Bernice Malone.

Following a vote by the Seattle City Council, the city will not buy Arizona-based goods, send government people to meetings in Arizona, or sign any new contracts with Arizona-based businesses.

The city chose to condemn Arizona for its immigration reform, which some believe legalizes racial profiling. The Arizona law requires local and state law enforcement officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they're in the country illegally.
   
"I hardly think we're racist," said Bernice Malone. "We've lived in Germany, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Some of the best five years of my life were in Saudi Arabia. My dad was an immigrant."

"It's one word: illegal. They're illegal." said Don Malone.

Other cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, have pledged similar boycotts. The Tacoma City Council also passed a bill officially condemning the state of Arizona; however, its measure does not include a boycott.

The city of Phoenix is estimating it could lose $90 million in tourism money over the next five years due to boycotts.