Activists protesting an Arizona-style immigration law becoming a reality in Georgia will hand-deliver petitions with some 10,000 signatures to Gov. Nathan Deal on Monday, April 11.

Protesters are planning to meet at the Gold Dome (facing Washington Street) at 9:30 a.m. to hold a mock funeral for “all that Georgia would lose” should Deal sign into law immigration legislation. According to organizers, the mock funeral will feature tombstones with messages such as “R.I.P. Tourism,” “R.I.P. Conventions,” and “R.I.P Southern Hospitality.” They will then deliver the petitions to Gov. Deal, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston.

Yesterday, we reported on early calls from national gay groups planning to boycott the state if the legislation is signed into law. The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Southerners on New Ground and the National Day Laborers Organizing Network have announced plans to boycott the state.

“A boycott will undoubtedly hurt the state of Georgia as it did the state of Arizona and our governor will be squarely to blame if he does not do the right thing and commit to vetoing these anti-immigrant bills," said Paulina Hernandez, co-director of Southerners on New Ground, and who identifies as queer.

Gov. Deal, however, is expected to sign the legislation.

Top photo: Several thousand protesters held a rally at the Gold Dome to protest Arizona-style immigration becoming law in Georgia (by Dyana Bagby)