Thread: Pruitt's, foe leading protest agree to talk with Gordon

Pruitt's, foe leading protest agree to talk with Gordon
Casey Newton
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 10, 2007 12:00 AM

A furniture-store owner and the immigrant-rights advocate leading protests against the store agreed in principle over the weekend to work with Mayor Phil Gordon to settle their long-running dispute.

Michael Sensing, a co-owner of M.D. Pruitt's Home Furnishings in east Phoenix, and Salvador Reza, who has led weekly demonstrations in front of the store for two months, said in separate interviews that they were willing to talk to Gordon.

A previous truce negotiated through the Mayor's Office last year fell apart in October. Sensing said any new deal should be written to ensure all sides follow up on promises. Last year, Sensing agreed to stop hiring off-duty police to patrol Pruitt's parking lot as long as Reza worked to establish a day-labor center nearby. advertisement


"I would want some commitment from him that they're gonna make sure it happens this time," he said.

Reza urged a boycott of Pruitt's after its owners asked Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies to patrol the parking lot and surrounding area for laborers who were trespassing. Reza said that action and the subsequent hiring of deputies to patrol during protests were discriminatory.

"I'll talk to anybody," he said on Saturday, amid about 100 supporters.

Pruitt's has been taunting the mayor with banners hung outside the store, bearing slogans like: "If we hire an off-duty mayor, will we get better results?"

Gordon offered Friday to intervene, saying "enough is enough."

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Sunday that he supports the mayor's attempts to solve the problem, but he will continue to enforce the state's immigration laws. Arpaio said his deputies arrested 16 immigrants Saturday on suspicion of being in the country illegally.

www.azcentral.com

Reza urged a boycott of Pruitt's after its owners asked Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies to patrol the parking lot and surrounding area for laborers who were trespassing. Reza said that action and the subsequent hiring of deputies to patrol during protests were discriminatory.







What in the hell is Reza talking about?

Where is it discriminatory for a business owner to hire security to protect his property, his employees, and customers from any person(s) presenting a threat to same?

I suppose it's "dscriminatory" because it involves Latinos....even moreso because it involves Latinos with no right to be in this country let alone any right to destroy a business an American citizen has worked very hard at? Would Reza be out there protesting and flinging accusations of discrimination if this involved a group of American senior citizens protesting late delivery of a sofa or wing chair? Why do I suspect the answer is a big NO!!!


I have to hand it to Mr. Sensing. Mr. Reza should thank his lucky stars that instead of organizing protests to drive an innocent man out of business, he isn't spending his time meeting with lawyers defending him against one huge lawsuit and, quite frankly, that's something I wouldn't mind seeing happen.

People like Reza won't be so quick to do what they are doing when they begin getting locked up and/or being held financially responsible for the harm they are causing.