Anti-Arpaio march planned for Saturday

by Bob McClay/KTAR (May 1st, 2009 @ 4:59am)

Policy >>

Comments:82

A march is planned in downtown Phoenix Saturday by a group which claims that Sheriff Joe Arpaio's immigration policies are terrorizing citizens.

Up to 2,000 people will walk from the Wells Fargo building to the Tent City Jail, starting at 9 a.m.

The march was organized by a group of Valley religious leaders. Chris Fleischman of the group Puente said they want to shine the spotlight on Arpaio.

"We want to highlight to the country that we are sick and tired of the human rights abuses inside the Tent City and by the very raids that the sheriff does to terrorize the population of immigrants, whether they're documented or not," he said.

Fleischman added, "He is terrorizing people, racially profiling them, just making it difficult for people to conduct their daily lives and for businesses to continue their normal operations. He's hurting our county much more than he's helping it.

National civil rights activist The Rev. Al Sharpton called for Arpaio's resignation last month and said he would lead a protest in Phoenix in May if the sheriff did not step down.

However, Fleischman said he has not talked with Sharpton, who heads the National Action Network.

"I tried to contact National Action Network, but I don't know what their priorities are right now," he said.

The march prompted the sheriff's office to cancel all inmate visits at the Durango Jail facility on Saturday.

Because the protest crowd is expected to be in the thousands, Arpaio said the protestors will make public access to the jail complex "nearly impossible."

To compensate for that, visitation hours were extended to 8:30 p.m. Friday night.

Last 5 Comments

• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Since When???

  Patrick H

  Since when is Upholding our laws hurting our county??? It IS ALL of the LAWBREAKERS who Thumb their Noses at Us, Our Laws, and Our Way Of Life who are the THREAT TO THIS COUNTY & COUNTRY!!! They feel they are above our laws because they don't agree with them. Well, they ARE NOT even Citizens of this Country and they are trying to dictate how we should govern our country. Look at Mexico and all of the crime there!!! Is this what we want here??? Well, it's well on its way to becoming just like Mexico. Laws are changed by the voting Citizens and not a bunch of Illegal Invaders who think they can do whatever they feel like doing. We NEED to show who is running things and support Joe and all who protect our way of life.

  14937
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Toll Free: 1-866-DHS-2-ICE

  AZMomma

  Just in case you want to keep the number handy. They have a homepage....just google ICE. They also give you (in English, 3 places) their contact number. Have fun !

  14933
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Illegals are the same as the religous

  jeremy a

  The attitude of illegal immigrants differs not at all from anybody who feels that they are on their way to some exclusive afterlife. their goals and methods(as far as doing whatever they feel is right) are similar to the extent that I feel it clearly display's the mental rationale everbody clings to.

  14919
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Joe

  wheelchairwhiz

  It doesn't matter how many people march. Joe is stil the sheriff and he will keep getting elected as long as he chooses to run. Dan Saban couldn't beat him as a Republican or a Democrat. This march is a waste of taxpayer money.

  14914
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  GO JOE

  Lisa M

  I think it's a shame that people are so against enforcing the law.

  14913
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