This isn't depressing at all.

Political, civilian and religious leaders demonstrated in Illinois under the slogan "No to hate" after the legislative assembly rejected 10 anti-immigrant bills attempting to duplicate Arizona's controversial law SB1070, a measure seeking to criminalize undocumented migrants.

"Defeating these bills is a great victory for Illinois amid the growing anti-immigrant atmosphere in the United States," Democratic state Rep. Lisa Hernandez said during the event at Chicago Temple.

By rejecting the bills, Illinois acknowledges the "immense contribution" of its immigrants, including the 1.5 million Mexicans living in Greater Chicago.

At her side was state Rep. Greg Harris, chair of the Human Services Committee, who is credited with having stopped the four Republican bills that would have excluded undocumented children from the All Kids health-insurance plan.

"By blocking these hate bills we are affirming that Illinois is home," he said. "We are showing that our state is more welcoming than our neighboring states and is definitely not Arizona."

[HT: Blog for Arizona]