Immigration billboard infuriates sheriff and El Salvador consul
Posted: Sep 23, 2010 8:44 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 24, 2010 6:33 PM CDT
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Billboard on Oracle has several upset, including El Salvador's Govt.


ORACLE, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) – El Salvador's Consul General for Arizona said Friday that he will ask for an official investigation of a controversial billboard in Oracle. However, it's unlikely that investigation, if it even occurs, would get very far.

The small billboard that sparked the big flap features a simple quote, a simple image and a simple message. But it's a message that's arguably deceptive. The sign has added another strange twist to Arizona's already inflamed immigration debate.

The billboard is located in Oracle on private property along American avenue. On the left is a picture of an Hispanic family of four. On the right is a quote from Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, who is an outspoken advocate for Arizona's immigration crackdown. The quote reads, "This is our most serious public safety issue and national security threat to America."

In context, it appears that Babeu is referring directly to the harmless-looking family, labeling them as a criminal or even terrorist threat.

But the quote is presented out of context. Babeu originally gave the quote earlier this summer in a statement reacting to a federal judge's temporary injunction against SB 1070. That ruling barred immediate enforcement of the most important provisions of the state's controversial crackdown on illegal immigration.

Babeu is furious. On Thursday his office issued a press release blasting the owners of the billboard. The press release quotes the sheriff as saying, "I find this billboard offensive and misleading. This message is not truthful and takes away from the great work our law enforcement members do on a daily basis to protect our Pinal County families."

The sheriff used the incident as a springboard to continue the attacks he has been making on the Obama administration. The press release states, "This billboard represents the same misleading and misguided message that President Obama made when he gave the example of how law enforcement would target a father walking down the street eating ice cream with his daughter if SB1070 passed."

Sheriff Babeu continued those remarks in an interview with KGUN9's Steve Nuñez Thursday afternoon, pointing out that he does not know the family depicted in the billboard and that his calls for immigration reform and better border security are not directed at any one person, family or group of people.

Nuñez asked the sheriff whether it would be fair to say that families such as the one depicted on the billboard could get deported if his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration succeed.

In response, Babeu pointed out that the reforms he's backed prohibit racial profiling. "SB1070, in fact, is far more stringent than existing law at the federal government and actually prohibits any law enforcement officer from having contact with somebody regarding this law based on race color or national origin."

Still, the sheriff wants the billboard taken down. But he has no obvious way of making that happen on his own. The sign sits on private property. And so far, the owners aren't budging.

Owners Frank Pierson and Mary Ellen Kazda defend their sign as "message art" even though the sign clearly sends a political statement against SB 1070. In an interview with Nuñez, Kazda denied that its message accuses anyone of racism. Instead, she proclaims the message is designed to be "provocative in a friendly way and not in a hurtful way."

Kazda also says the sign is an exercise in democracy. By that measure, it's working. It has plenty of people, including local residents, talking.

But even residents are divided on whether it should stay up or go down. Bill Hemden said, "I think it's a slanted side of the issue personally. I don't think that's a serious threat."

Kathy Valenzuela said, "Oracle is an art community and obviously he felt so strongly about it he wanted to expose this."

Babeu told Nuñez that he felt the sign violates campaign ad laws because it fails to identify a political action committee. Nuñez checked on that point with an elections expert, attorney William Risner. He disagreed with the sheriff that the sign is illegal, but did agree that it could be misleading and implies Babeu is racist. "That would be the reasonable intention of whoever put up that sign," Risner said.

Kazda told Nuñez that the flap has taken her by surprise. She said the board has been up for four weeks, and got attention on Thursday only because Sheriff Babeu sent out press releases.

Gotten attention it has. Enrique Melendez, El Salvador's honorary consul for Arizona, is outraged. He points out that the family depicted in the sign is wearing the emblems of El Salvador, and one is wearing a shirt bearing a picture of El Salvador's president.

"It's an insult to our nation," Melendez told KGUN9 News. Melendez insists that El Salvador respects American sovereignty and immigration law, and does not send illegal immigrants to the U.S.

Melendez told KGUN9 News he hopes to convince the owners to take the sign down. But added that while El Salvador's foreign minister is aware of the situation, it's too early to be talking about filing an official protest with the U.S. State Department.

El Salvador's Consul General for Arizona, José JoaquÃ*n Chacón, echoed Melendez' words Friday afternoon. He told KGUN9 News that the sign is offensive. Chacón said he will send a letter to Sheriff Babeu protesting the sign and asking for an investigation.

As for the owners, they tell KGUN9 News they are open to dialogue. But in the meantime, the sign stays up.


http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=13209375