| barriozona |
| HISTORY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE Grassroots Journalism |
| Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues |
From Phoenix, Arizona to the World Wide Web
African-American Top Gun Sharpton
Meets Unmovable County Sheriff Arpaio
Meets Unmovable County Sheriff Arpaio
The polemic activities continues to prove that at the local level, hat Maricopa County sheriff is a
hard nut to crack at the local level.
hard nut to crack at the local level.
Text by Eduardo Barraza
Multimedia by and Caleb Alvarado, Angelica Medina, and E. Barraza
Multimedia by and Caleb Alvarado, Angelica Medina, and E. Barraza
Phoenix, Arizona, June 19, 2009 - Phoenix - First it was a rapper; this time it was a preacher.
Maricopa County –boiling over the immigration debate– borrowing out-of-state, prominent talent to
gang up on a relentless sheriff who seems to grow stronger and more defiant with each of his
opponent’s attempts to bring him down.
Reverend Alfred Sharpton, one of the African-American community’s top guns, landed in Phoenix to
take on a long awaited showdown between him and the man who has placed Maricopa County in
both the hall of fame and shame of the United States – depending on what side of the polarizing
issue you choose to be on. But Al Sharpton, in a perfectly delivered speech at the Pilgrim Rest
Baptist Church, near downtown Phoenix, said his visit was not about him and Joe throwing blows
at each other, but about Jóse –meaning to advocate for the average undocumented immigrant
worker.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was called upon many times to come to aid African-American communities
in several states. This is not to say that Sharpton carries the same weight and respect that King
did, but rather to acknowledge that the concept of bringing in outside help is valid and important.
Protests and marches organized at the local level, as well as visits from prominent personalities
have successfully created awareness in other states about what’s going on in Maricopa County.
This has definitely spread the word about Sheriff Arpaio’s enforcement of immigration laws, alleged
racial profiling practices, and volatile verbal arguments at the street level between foes and
supporters of the sheriff.
Prior to November of 2008, no amount of protests prevented, however, Arpaio from being elected
for the fifth time as the sheriff of Maricopa. That was the main setback for the attempts to stop
Arpaio from continuing with the same line of enforcement of immigration laws. And instead of
backing off after his reelection, Arpaio has continued to aggressively enforce his delegated
authority to combat illegal immigration. Protest after protest he has made it very clear that he is
not stopping or changing his tactics, and rather has told those who oppose him that they need to
change the law.
The snowballing effect that protesting against Sheriff Arpaio has had in many states of the nation,
in terms of exposing his enforcement practices, has created a bigger awareness against him, but at
the same time has generated more support for him in places where he was either unknown or
relatively known. After this June 19 meeting with Reverend Sharpton, he said to local television that
“the bottom line, and he (Sharpton) understands, is that I’m not going to change anything…”
On the other hand, during his speech at Pilgrim Rest, Sharpton presented an idea nothing new to
local organizers and activists, by saying “what we need to do is start some freedom rides through
this county, where we all start coming here riding in these cars and filming to turn over to the
federal government...” Perhaps Sharpton is not aware that federal government agencies are
already investigating Sheriff Arpaio, and that videos of alleged violations have already been turned
over to authorities in Washington.
But even when the Maricopa County Sheriff Department (MCSO) is being investigated, Arpaio has
more chances of walking away unpunished than the opposite, as in the Department of Justice’s
letter to the sheriff nothing indicates that he will be prosecuted for racial profiling and
discrimination, but rather reward his department with assistance. “If, on the other hand, we
conclude there are such violations, -states that letter- we will inform you of the findings and
attempt to work with the MCSO to remedy any such violations. In addition, we will identify any
financial, technical, or other assistance the United States may be able to provide to assist the
MCSO in correcting the identified deficiencies.”
Sharpton’s visit to the Valley, as the visits of singer Zack de la Rocha to support immigration reform
marches a few months ago, continues to prove that, locally, Arpaio is a very hard nut to crack. And
whether a popular singer-activist of Mexican descent marching on the streets of Phoenix or a
preacher-activist giving an inspiring speech behind an improvised pulpit in a church’s gym, Arpaio
still has Arizona laws and immigration laws -like the contentious 287 (g)- to back him up. Sadly,
when dude de la Rocha and brother Sharpton leave, the Josés of Maricopa County will continue to
be handcuffed and put in the county jails to face bad food and a sure deportation.
Maricopa County –boiling over the immigration debate– borrowing out-of-state, prominent talent to
gang up on a relentless sheriff who seems to grow stronger and more defiant with each of his
opponent’s attempts to bring him down.
Reverend Alfred Sharpton, one of the African-American community’s top guns, landed in Phoenix to
take on a long awaited showdown between him and the man who has placed Maricopa County in
both the hall of fame and shame of the United States – depending on what side of the polarizing
issue you choose to be on. But Al Sharpton, in a perfectly delivered speech at the Pilgrim Rest
Baptist Church, near downtown Phoenix, said his visit was not about him and Joe throwing blows
at each other, but about Jóse –meaning to advocate for the average undocumented immigrant
worker.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was called upon many times to come to aid African-American communities
in several states. This is not to say that Sharpton carries the same weight and respect that King
did, but rather to acknowledge that the concept of bringing in outside help is valid and important.
Protests and marches organized at the local level, as well as visits from prominent personalities
have successfully created awareness in other states about what’s going on in Maricopa County.
This has definitely spread the word about Sheriff Arpaio’s enforcement of immigration laws, alleged
racial profiling practices, and volatile verbal arguments at the street level between foes and
supporters of the sheriff.
Prior to November of 2008, no amount of protests prevented, however, Arpaio from being elected
for the fifth time as the sheriff of Maricopa. That was the main setback for the attempts to stop
Arpaio from continuing with the same line of enforcement of immigration laws. And instead of
backing off after his reelection, Arpaio has continued to aggressively enforce his delegated
authority to combat illegal immigration. Protest after protest he has made it very clear that he is
not stopping or changing his tactics, and rather has told those who oppose him that they need to
change the law.
The snowballing effect that protesting against Sheriff Arpaio has had in many states of the nation,
in terms of exposing his enforcement practices, has created a bigger awareness against him, but at
the same time has generated more support for him in places where he was either unknown or
relatively known. After this June 19 meeting with Reverend Sharpton, he said to local television that
“the bottom line, and he (Sharpton) understands, is that I’m not going to change anything…”
On the other hand, during his speech at Pilgrim Rest, Sharpton presented an idea nothing new to
local organizers and activists, by saying “what we need to do is start some freedom rides through
this county, where we all start coming here riding in these cars and filming to turn over to the
federal government...” Perhaps Sharpton is not aware that federal government agencies are
already investigating Sheriff Arpaio, and that videos of alleged violations have already been turned
over to authorities in Washington.
But even when the Maricopa County Sheriff Department (MCSO) is being investigated, Arpaio has
more chances of walking away unpunished than the opposite, as in the Department of Justice’s
letter to the sheriff nothing indicates that he will be prosecuted for racial profiling and
discrimination, but rather reward his department with assistance. “If, on the other hand, we
conclude there are such violations, -states that letter- we will inform you of the findings and
attempt to work with the MCSO to remedy any such violations. In addition, we will identify any
financial, technical, or other assistance the United States may be able to provide to assist the
MCSO in correcting the identified deficiencies.”
Sharpton’s visit to the Valley, as the visits of singer Zack de la Rocha to support immigration reform
marches a few months ago, continues to prove that, locally, Arpaio is a very hard nut to crack. And
whether a popular singer-activist of Mexican descent marching on the streets of Phoenix or a
preacher-activist giving an inspiring speech behind an improvised pulpit in a church’s gym, Arpaio
still has Arizona laws and immigration laws -like the contentious 287 (g)- to back him up. Sadly,
when dude de la Rocha and brother Sharpton leave, the Josés of Maricopa County will continue to
be handcuffed and put in the county jails to face bad food and a sure deportation.
| Operation Immigration Arrests, Protests, and Turmoil in Maricopa County |
| A raw-footage documentary of the highly controversial immigration sweeps conducted by the Maricopa County Sheriff Office, in the heart of Arizona. A revealing visual testimony of a Sheriff determined to fight undocumented immigration, and the struggle of human rights advocates and people decided to stop him. This DVD shows an unquestionable evidence of the crude and volatile social atmosphere prevailing in one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. |
| Price: $20.00 +s/h $3.80 Total $23.80 Lenght: 45 minutes EAN: 978-0-9797814-6-9 |
| Send mail orders to: HISI PO Box 50553 Mesa, Arizona 85208-0028 Include check or Money Order payable to HISI in the amount of $23.80 |
| Another great product by the Arizona-based Hispanic Institute of Social Issues |
| Hispanic Institute of Social Issues © 2006-2009 All rights reserved. webmaster@hisi.org |
Eduardo Barraza is a journalist and writer,
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
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