Thread: Arizona immigration law protesters block Phoenix street

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An impromptu group of roughly 200 protesters gathered between Fourth and Fifth avenues on Madison Street late Thursday afternoon, blocking traffic and prompting yet another warning to disperse from Phoenix police.

The crowd gathered at about 4:30 p.m. when a flatbed truck full of electronic speakers pulled up and began playing music. Soon, rappers were atop the truck singing along with the crowd, which included numerous children.


Aside from the occasional insult tossed at police standing by, the crowd was not disorderly, though some protesters defied orders to clear the street.

Finally, at about 6:40 p.m., Phoenix police officials met with a group of the organizers and told them that because their request for a permit to hold the music festival had been rejected, they could not be lawfully assembled at the site. Police gave the crowd until 7 p.m. to disperse, or arrests would be made.

Hundreds of activists marched on downtown Phoenix in protest of Senate Bill 1070 Thursday, participating in mass acts of civil disobedience, prayer vigils and other rallies.

Dozens were arrested at various locations, and some members of the media who were covering the event were also detained.

The protests were peaceful but extremely disruptive in areas. Opponents of the immigration law blocked Washington Street near Phoenix City Hall for nearly an hour Thursday morning, snarling traffic and light-rail service.

At least two dozen were arrested at that location, after linking arms and lying down in the street, said Sgt. Tommy Thompson, a spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department.

They were charged with obstructing a public thoroughfare, which is a misdemeanor, Thompson said. By early afternoon, most of the activity was centered on the Fourth Avenue Jail, a primary booking location for felony arrests in Maricopa County.

Several hundred people had converged on that location, and six people were arrested after chaining themselves to the building; about 10 others were taken into custody by deputies dressed in riot gear after they blocked the jail's driveway and refused to move.

In total, 23 people were arrested for blocking a public thoroughfare, Sheriff Joe Arpaio said at a press conference Thursday afternoon. Among those arrested was Salvador Reza, the leader of Puente, a pro-immigrant-rights group.

Those detained included some members of the media.

Law enforcement officials said the members of the media were given the same warning as the activists before being taken into custody.

Protesters at the jail blocked the entrance at Third Avenue and Madison, chanting, "No Justice, no peace, no racist police," and "Arrest Arpaio, not the people."

At least one squad car from Goodyear was turned away and had to find a different entrance.

"We're not trying to get arrested, we are trying to make a point," said Ruben Lucio, 21, of Phoenix.

The Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Phoenix said she came to the jail because "I am standing for human rights. Not one more person, not one more mother, not one more grandfather will be taken from their family."

Even though a federal judge on Wednesday blocked key provisions of the state's tough new immigration law, rallies, protests, prayer vigils and acts of civil disobedience were held throughout the morning; other events were scheduled throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

The provisions of the law that were not blocked took effect at 12:01 a.m.; Gov. Jan Brewer's legal team filed an expedited appeal of the judge's order early Thursday afternoon.

Thursday morning's protests started quietly with an early morning prayer vigil and march from the state Capitol to the Trinity Cathedral in downtown Phoenix. Only about 100 people attended that demonstration, but the protesters have steadily picked up steam since then.

About 400 people attended the service at the Trinity Cathedral, and then demonstrators marched toward the federal courthouse.

Three people, including former state legislator and activist Alfredo Gutierrez were arrested there around 8:30 a.m.

The other individuals who were taken into custody identified themselves as Dan O'Neal and Doris Perez. "The injunction did not go far enough," O'Neal moments before getting arrested. "This movement is about more than 1070."

After that, several activist groups converged on Arpaio's offices near the Wells Fargo building in downtown Phoenix.

Arpaio, who planned one of his immigration sweeps Thursday, was one of the primary targets of demonstrators' ire.

The groups that joined up outside his offices eventually led to the multiple arrests on Washington Street. From there, the activists moved on to the 4th Avenue Jail, where the scene grew increasingly rowdy and intense before organizers started calming protesters down and moving them away.

One protester chained himself to what appeared to be an emergency exit, saying Wednesday's court ruling didn't go far enough.

"It's a small victory," said Devin Fleenor, of Phoenix. "We need to have a lot more change, than just a temporary injunction on SB 1070."

At about 12:30 p.m., Arpaio re-deployed a dozen deputies armed in riot gear to the location.

The deputies were supposed to be part of a crime sweep operation planned for early afternoon. The sweep has now been postponed until at least 4 p.m.

At his afternoon press conference, Arpaio vowed that the protesters would not prevent him from launching his sweep later in the day.

"I've got news for them: we're going to hit the streets," Arpaio said. "Their little plan isn't going to work. They're not going to hold this sheriff and this jail hostage."

He said everyone arrested would be subject to an immigration status check.

At the jail, the Sheriff has canceled public visitation and put all inmates on a 24-hour lockdown, beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday.

"These irresponsible individuals (who) plan to create so much congestion around the jail that we cannot accept prisoners will end up prisoners themselves," said Arpaio, who has beefed up security measures for himself and his staff.

Things began temporarily quieting down at the jail around 2 p.m., but a concert is scheduled there at 4 p.m., and crowds are expected to once again swell in the late afternoon, early evening.

Meanwhile, other groups of peaceful protesters gathered on the lawn of the Capitol and at Cesar Chavez Plaza near Washington Street and Third Avenue. Crowds near the plaza numbered in the range of 400 or 500 around 3 p.m.

Demonstrators were chanting but were peaceful and no longer blocking the street.

About 250 people were at the Capitol, and like all of the other demonstrations held Thursday, the crowds were almost comprised entirely of those who are against at SB 1070.

One of the few exceptions was David Ollis of Phoenix, who got into a verbal sparring match with demonstrators.

"All I want is for you guys to respect our laws, just like we respect Mexican law," Ollis said, as about 30 protesters gathered around him.

In addition to the protesters outside, more than 300 people from a broad range of organizations including religious groups and labor unions packed the church on 20th Avenue and Van Buren Street for what was billed as a peaceful protest against SB 1070.

Most of the participants arrived on 11 buses from Southern California and were holding a rally and prayer service before marching to the Capitol for another prayer service.

Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox took the opportunity to denounce Arpaio's immigration enforcement policies, and remind them of a 2008 raid in Guadalupe.

"Brothers and sisters, no one was doing anything," Wilcox said of the public's response. "Everyone was scared."

The participants in the march came to send a message — one of peace, education and solidarity — said Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski, contrasting this group with those who scaled a 200-foot crane and unfurled an anti-1070 banner Wednesday night.

"These are the types of people we need. That's a whole different group," he said. "That's what's wrong with this bill, its bringing the nuts from both sides."

The number of protesters is only expected to grow throughout the day, as they are bolstered by supporters from other states.

Gustavo Ramirez, director of the activist group Phoenix Rising, said Thursday that 13 buses filled with protesters left Los Angeles Thursday morning en route to Phoenix. They will be joining with demonstrators this afternoon, he said.

At least one positive event is scheduled for Thursday. About 50 people will become citizens in a program organized by the Phoenix Public Library Teen Council and conducted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The new U.S. citizens range in age from 20 to 73 and come from 24 countries.

Staff writers Glen Creno, Brittany Williams, Derek Quizon, JJ Hensley and Kevin Kiley contributed to this report.