In case you haven't noticed, Maricopa County will be coming to a boil this Friday. Not only is it the day of Arpaio's announced anti-immigrant sweep -- his first without 287(g) field authority, but the Rev. Al Sharpton will be back in town for a civil rights forum in downtown Phoenix. And the world still awaits an announcement from the Department of Homeland Security as to whether or not Arpaio will keep his 287(g) agreement in his jails.
Now civil rights activist Salvador Reza has announced a march for Friday, beginning at the Wells Fargo building downtown, and stopping at the federal courthouse and the Fourth Avenue Jail, before heading back. Wonder if he could get Al Sharpton to join him? In any case, here's Reza's statement, sent out this morning. The march is sponsored by Reza's Puente movement, and is set to last from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. "End it, don't amend it," urges Reza of 287(g).
Sheriff Joe Arpaio has decided that he will enforce immigration law with or without 287(g) agreements with Homeland Security. He has also assured his followers publicly that he will "personally" drive any undocumented worker he finds during his sweep to the border if ICE refuses to take them. His 287 (g) Agreements with ICE expire on October 15th thus he has called for a massive anti-immigrant raid disguised as "Crime Suppression Sweep" for the following day, Friday October 16, 2009.
Ya Basta! We call for the repudiation of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and invite you to join us on Friday October 16th in front of Arpaio's Headquarters at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 1st Ave and Washington. We will walk two blocks to the Federal Court House to send a message to the Federal Government, Homeland Security and the President that we will not be deterred. Afterwards we will walk to the Fourth Ave jail and finish back at Wells Fargo. We have protested daily against Arpaio's racial profiling sweeps under the 287 (g) for over one year. We will continue doing so until this social nightmare comes to a halt.
