http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... 14-ON.html

300 rally to protest prosecution of immigrants

Mel Melendez
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 14, 2006 10:20 AM


About 300 men, women and children rallied for about two hours in downtown Phoenix Friday to draw attention to the recent arrests and prosecution of undocumented immigrants by county authorities.

The crowd marched from Patriots Park about a block to the office of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, where Arpaio defended his decisions to arrest undocumented immigrants.

"I have compassion for these people, but they're violating the law," Arpaio told the crowd. "If you don't like the smuggliing law, then change the law.

"I am not locking the undocumented immigrants (who are) out on the street. I'm arresting those smuggling in, who are violating the law."

Afterwards, the protesters walked a few blocks over to the office of County Attorney Andrew Thomas, who has recently prosecuted undocumented immigrants on felony smuggling charges. The participants chanted "Sí, se puede" (yes, it can be done) and sang We Shall Overcome.

"This is an injustice. We're not criminals, so we're here to show them that we have courage and that we're worthy of respect," said Nadia Meza, 30, of Phoenix, a member of the group Immigrants Without Border, which organized the rally.

Some of the participants covered their mouths in blue duct tape to symbolize their voices being silenced by what they viewed as a mean-spirited immigration policy. Several children wore faux black-and-white prison garb to illustrate being considered criminals by the county's interpretation of Arizona's anti-smuggling law