Thread: Arizona immigration law activists hold vigil to back law

Arizona immigration law activists hold vigil to back law


by Kevin Kiley - Jul. 31, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
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A candlelight vigil Friday in support of the state's controversial new immigration law and more arrests from protests against it wrapped up several days of activism and tension surrounding the implementation of the new law.

A federal judge's decision Wednesday to block some provisions in the law meant that its implementation Thursday was muted. But the decision did not please activists, and groups on both sides of the issue showed Friday that they will continue to call for the law's full implementation or rejection.


Friday night's "Stand with Arizona" vigil, organized by "tea party" groups, was held to honor law-enforcement officers who died combating illegal immigration or who had been killed by illegal immigrants.

It drew about 60 people, including Arizona residents and a few activists from neighboring states.

Religious leaders spoke on the lawn outside the Capitol building about honoring sacrifice. After the speakers, state Sen. Russell Pearce, the chief sponsor of Senate Bill 1070, led the group on a procession around Wesley Bolin Plaza.

While speakers did not discuss the law or the recent decision, several of those present, such as Phoenix resident Beth Brocato, said protests in opposition to the law Wednesday and Thursday motivated them to attend the vigil.

"I keep seeing all these marches against the law, and it just makes me angry," she said. "I figured it was time I got out and did something."

Friday's vigil was one of the first organized demonstrations in support of SB 1070 since Wednesday's ruling. Attendees said they were disappointed in the judge's ruling but would continue to support lawmakers in their attempts to curb illegal immigration.

A few hours earlier across town, Maricopa County sheriff's deputies arrested 12 people as they blocked a jail near 35th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road in an attempt to disrupt one of the office's crime-suppression sweeps.

Salvador Reza, the outspoken leader of Puente, a Hispanic activist group, was arrested for the second time in as many days. Puente contends that Reza was not involved in the action at the jail and only observing. A spokesman for the Sheriff's Office said deputies arrested Reza for violating the conditions of his release from jail Thursday. Sheriff's officials did not specify what those terms were.

Those arrests bring the total number arrested for protesting SB 1070 in the past few days to 80, including 45 people arrested by Phoenix police Thursday for various acts of civil disobedience downtown and 23 people arrested by sheriff's deputies as they blocked the entrance to the Fourth Avenue Jail.

In the past few days, various religious, labor and advocacy groups opposing the law have blocked traffic and Sheriff's Office operations, in addition to scaling a 200-foot crane in downtown Phoenix to unfurl an anti-SB 1070 banner.

Opponents of the law said Friday that their work is not done and promised more civil disobedience in the future.

"We're prepared to take actions like the ones that took place yesterday," said Carlos Garcia, a Puente organizer, during a press conference on the steps of the Fourth Avenue Jail.

"These are extreme times," said Peter Morales, president of the Universalist Unitarian Association, who joined out-of-state protesters to show solidarity with Arizona's immigrant community.

"This is in the greatest tradition of America," Morales said of the protests.

Organizers said laws such as SB 1070 and federal programs that authorize local law-enforcement agencies to perform immigration screenings are divisive and damaging to communities.

Friday's "Stand with Arizona" demonstration is the second event organized by tea-party groups since Gov. Jan Brewer signed SB 1070 into law April 23. The last rally, held May 29 in Diablo Stadium in Tempe, drew about 5,000 people from across the country.

Friday's rally was a precursor to an immigration-policy summit Pearce is hosting today with lawmakers from across the U.S. The group plans to hold a rally tonight in Wesley Bolin Plaza.

www.azcentral.com

"Organizers said laws such as SB 1070 and federal programs that authorize local law-enforcement agencies to perform immigration screenings are divisive and damaging to communities."

Illegal immigration is "divisive and damaging to communities."

Sheesh!

Originally Posted by sarum

"Organizers said laws such as SB 1070 and federal programs that authorize local law-enforcement agencies to perform immigration screenings are divisive and damaging to communities."

Illegal immigration is "divisive and damaging to communities."

Sheesh!

Well see you have to look at it from their point of view, immigration enforcement is damaging to the Mexican invader community! That's who they represent.

It is so bitterly disappointing to read about the meager show of support for this much-needed law from the locals. Sixty people!! That reminds me of one rally I attended in Raleigh, NC. I seem to remember there were like 10 of us staring down the illegals working on city projects. They had the audacity to call the police on US alleging WE were harassing THEM!! Why on an issue as important as this, does no one speak up? Everyone, each and every one of the citizens are going to be impacted by this flagrant disregard for our laws, our people, and our way of life! Stand up people, shut off the TV, turn off the computer, and get down to these rallies!! The article says it was a candelight vigil. Surely this was later in the day when people were home! There is no excuse!!

Rally tonight, information for my AZ friends:

Speakers include Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Arizona State Senator and sponsor of SB1070 Russell Pearce, and J. D. Hayworth


When Sat Jul 31 6pm – 8:30pm Mountain Time - Arizona


Where 1700 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-5521--0-0.html

Its going to take a hell of a lot more than our side waving around a buch of candles to get the job done.