Thread: AZ: Minutemen join protest at Pruitt's furniture

Minutemen join protest at Pruitt's furniture
05:36 PM Mountain Standard Time on Saturday, November 24, 2007
By Rebecca Taylor / 3TV
• 3TV PHOTOS: Images from today's protest

PHOENIX - Business is bad for one Phoenix furniture store, ever since immigration advocates began protesting there.

Today, the Minutemen set-up camp outside Pruitt's, to combat what they call economic terrorism.

Minutemen hold anti-protest After four weeks of watching human rights activists picket the store, the opposite voice on immigration countered.

Their demonstration stretched two blocks along Thomas Road.

American flags waving, anti-illegal immigration protesters lined the street outside Pruitt's furniture store.

“I have no sympathy for people who come here illegally,â€

Minutemen Join Pruitt's Squabble
POSTED: 5:08 pm MST November 24, 2007
UPDATED: 6:47 pm MST November 24, 2007

PHOENIX -- The crowd outside Pruitt's Home Furnishings at 34th Street and Thomas Road on Saturday represented a different side of the immigration debate.

This weekend it was those opposed to illegal immigration that supported the store's prohibition of day laborers from its property.

READ: 11/17/07 - Immigration Protesters Barred From Pruitt's Walkway

"What we want is the local community to feel safe coming to Pruitt's," said Stacey O’Connell of Patriots' Border Alliance.

Immigrant rights activists have been protesting the store after the owner called the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office to arrest day laborers.

"I feel very strongly that we need to enforce the laws of our country," said Anna Gaines who was protesting illegal immigration. "This is my country. I originated in Mexico and came here the legal way. I am a citizen, and I'm very patriotic when it comes to defending my country."

More than two dozen suspected illegal immigrants have been arrested since the feud began last month. In their place immigration supporters have been protesting the store, until now.

Dozens of illegal immigration opponents from the Minutemen and others marched to the local Home Depot, where a handful of day laborers were waiting for work.

Their representative charged the protesters with disrupting business.

"They're stereotyping individuals and harassing working people," said Martin Manteca, a day laborers' spokesman.

The Minutemen said they'll be back next Saturday, hoping to encourage shoppers to support Pruitt's and to discourage illegal immigrant supporters.
http://www.kpho.com/news/14683341/detail.html