Tonight Sheriff Joe Arpaio joined the nativists and unrepentant bigots of Rusty Childress' United for a Sovereign America, speaking before a group that accepts racists like Buffalo Rick Galeener into its fold, as well as neo-Nazis like J.T. Ready. It's also an organization that praises old guard neo-Nazis such as Elton Hall. This is at least the second time Arpaio's spoken to the most radical anti-immigrant hate group in the Valley. The last time was last year, while Childress still held the meetings at his Kia dealership on Camelback, which he's since sold. Tonight Arpaio spoke at VFW Post 9400 at 804 E. Purdue, in the Sunnyslope area of Phoenix, where U.S.A. currently holds its Thursday night meetings.
Members of United for a Sovereign America have been exposed as nativist nimrods by the Southern Poverty Law Center in the recent issue of its Intelligence Report magazine. Member Rick Galeener allegedly exposed himself to a mother and her two-year-old kid a couple of weeks ago up at the Macehualli Work Center where U.S.A. has a semi-permanent encampment. U.S.A.'s footsoldiers are mostly obnoxious white trash, hurling insults at anyone who enters the Work Center or who disagrees with them. They are armed and long for a violent conflict, either with the jornaleros waiting for day jobs at Macehualli or with those who live in the neighborhood and don't want them there.
By speaking at such meetings, Arpaio revives the memories of the days when Southern sheriffs sided with the Ku Klux Klan, attended their cross-burnings, and allowed them to wail on civil rights workers with impunity. Indeed, the ideological gap between Childress' U.S.A. and the KKK is about as wide as frog's hair. The Sheriff should be vigorously denounced and excoriated for attending such a blatantly racist get-together, and giving its members the impression that they pursue their un-American activities under the color of law.
The MCSO has also announced that it will be doing posse-enhanced sweeps on Good Friday of all days near 32nd Street and Thomas Road again, and in an unnamed area of Phoenix -- likely North Phoenix. He'll be setting up shop in the same parking lot he set up in back in January. You can read his press release, here. Below is the response issued by Salvador Reza, operator of the Macehualli Work Camp.
Talk about an Evil Friday. Does Arpaio worship Satan, or what?
Subject: Citizens to monitor Sheriff Arpaio's Immigration Raids
PRESS RELEASE Contact: Salvador Reza, (602) 446-9928 March 20, 2008 Sylvia Herrera, (602) 575-8829
SHERIFF ARPAIO CONTINUES TO TERRORIZE AND CRIMINALIZE COMMUNITIES ALONG 36TH AND THOMAS AND IN NORTH PHOENIX (BELL RD AND CAVE CREEK) THIS TIME HE CHOSE GOOD FRIDAY TO CELEBRATE THE PERSECUTION AND CRUXIFICTION OF CHRIST TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITIES.
ARPAIO ANNOUCED THAT ON FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2008, HE WILL CONTINUE HIS PRACTICE OF RACIAL PROFILING AND DEPORTATION OF MIGRANT FAMILIES LIVING IN AREAS WITH HIGH PROFILE OF DAY LABORERS. SPECIFIC TARGETS AREAS INCLUDE THE CORRIDOR ALONG 36TH AND THOMAS NEIGHBORHOODS AND NOW INCLUDE THE NORTH CORRIDOR OF BELL RD AND CAVE CREEK.
IN PREVIOUS ROUND-UPS ARPAIO’S DEPUTIES HAVE ARRESTED AND DETAINED US CITIZENS AND NOW HAVE SEVERAL LAWSUITS PENDING ON OBVIOUS CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
THIS IS A DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE 287(G) AGREEMENT WHERE DEPUTIES TRAINED AS ICE AGENTS WERE TO GO AFTER KNOWN CRIMINALS. SHERIFF JOE CONTINUES TO WASTE TAXPAYERS MONEY ON HARD WORKING FAMILIES THAT HAVE SUSTAINED THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
THESE RAIDS ARE IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHT AGREEMENTS TO WHICH THE UNITED STATES IS A SIGNATOR. HUMAN RIGHT ORGANIZATIONS WITH CAMERA IN HAND WILL BE RECORDING THE ACTIONS OF THE SHERIFF AND THEIR POSSEE.
