Thread: AZ-Day laborers say they had to dodge bullets

Day laborers say they had to dodge bullets
by Daniel González - Apr. 28, 2010 01:49 PM

A group of Latino immigrants soliciting work as day laborers say someone shot at them from a moving vehicle last Friday, just hours after Gov. Jan Brewer signed the state's tough new immigration law that among other things makes asking for work in public a crime.

Glendale and Phoenix police officials confirmed there was a shooting on the west side, near the border of the two cities, that afternoon.


But they say the shooting was a road-rage incident involving passengers in two vehicles shooting at each other in traffic. Bullets struck six vehicles, but no one was injured, police said.

"There is nothing that I have that gives any indication that this has anything to do with the immigration law," said Officer Karen Gerardo, a spokeswoman for the Glendale Police Department.

The shooting occurred about 4 p.m. and started on 57th Avenue and College Drive and continued to 43rd Avenue and Camelback Road, Gerardo said. Camelback Road is the dividing line between Glendale and Phoenix in that area.

The day laborers said they were standing on the sidewalk in front of the Home Depot Store on Camelback Road near 43rd Avenue when a car pulled up and a man started firing a handgun out of a passenger window. The gunman continued firing as the vehicle drove east on Camelback Road, the day laborers said.

The day laborers took cover by diving to the ground or behind a 2-foot high wall next to the sidewalk. They pointed at two holes in the wall where bullets struck.

The day laborers, most of whom would only give first names because they said they are in the country illegally, said they believe they were the targets of the shooting because it happened so soon after Brewer signed the bill.

The new immigration law includes a provision intended to crack down on day laborers, who often congregate in front of Home Depot stores and other locations throughout the Valley. The law makes it a state crime to pick up day laborer or to solicit work as a day laborer in public areas if it impedes traffic.

Pedro Fernandez, 37, a day laborer who was standing in front of the Home Depot on Camelback Road this week but who did not witness the shooting, said he has noticed an increased hostility toward day laborers since the law was passed.

Before, people would drive by and wave and offer them water. "Now they yell (racial) insults," Fernandez said.

Several day laborers said they gave their account of the shooting to police.

But Gerardo of the Glendale police and Luis Samudio, of the Phoenix police said they were not aware of any officers talking to the day laborers.


http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoe ... ility.html

Pedro Fernandez, 37, a day laborer who was standing in front of the Home Depot on Camelback Road this week but who did not witness the shooting, said he has noticed an increased hostility toward day laborers since the law was passed.

Before, people would drive by and wave and offer them water. "Now they yell (racial) insults," Fernandez said.
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wwwaaahhhhh as if you and your fellow illegal aliens dont yell racist remarks at americans who want our laws enforced.

BS