(CNN) — As the voice of opposition to Arizona’s controversial immigration law gets louder, the state’s reputation can expect to take a hit.
Critics of the law are calling for economic boycotts of Arizona, urging corporations and organizations to refrain from holding conventions in the state.
They’re also pressuring Major League Baseball to take its 2011 All-Star Game elsewhere, much like the National Football League did in 1993 when Arizona refused to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday.
While Arizona can ride out the backlash in the short term, the impact could hit hard later on, said Brayden King, assistant professor of management and organizations at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
“The reputational consequences will have long-term economic consequences if it’s not resolved,” King said.
Critics have said the law, which allows police to ask anyone for proof of legal U.S. residency, will lead to racial profiling. Supporters argue it will crack down on illegal immigration.
Via: CNN.com
