Arizona immigration law protesters unfurl banner from Phoenix crane

by Glen Creno - Jul. 28, 2010 07:36 PM
The Arizona Republic

Four protesters scaled a construction crane at the downtown CityScape project Wednesday evening amid a crowd of onlookers, unfurling a large banner opposing Senate Bill 1070.

The scene at the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Jefferson Street was quickly enveloped by police and firefighters concerned not only for the climbers, but for those watching below.

The protesters climbed the crane's ladders to the top and walked out onto its work arm. Two then rappelled down below that arm on rope lines, unfurling the banner while dangling on the lines. Their partners stood atop the crane's arm to be sure the lines held secure.

The banner had a huge stop sign on it, below which were printed the words "Stop Hate." At the banner's bottom edge were universal stop symbols painted over the numerals 1070, Arizona's new immigration law, and 287G, a section of the federal code under which illegal immigrants can be detained.

The dangerous operation took place as a Phoenix Police Department helicopter circled the crane, its loud speaker blaring this warning: "This is the Phoenix Police Department. You are trespassing on the crane. You need to come down immediately."

The protesters disregarded the warning. As of 7:30 p.m., police officers were waiting for them to descend so they could be arrested.

Phoenix Vice Mayor Michael Nowakowski said the protesters likely would be charged with trespassing.

"I think we're going to experience all kinds of people from outside Arizona - not stakeholders - coming here trying to prove a point," the councilman said.

A woman on the ground communicating with the protesters via a two-way radio told authorities the protesters were experienced climbers.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoe ... e-brk.html