| Bilingual Community Expression Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues |
| BARRIOZONA |
| Fifty Out-of-state Organizers to Document MCSO's Abuses in Maricopa |
| Individuals from across the nation began arriving in Phoenix to gather testimonies from alleged victims of the sheriff's office. Data will be delivered to Washington D.C. |
Phoenix, Arizona. September 15, 2008. Puente, the local human
rights group leading the current protests to attempt evicting the
MCSO from the downtown Phoenix Wells Fargo building announced
the arrival this week of 50 organizers from across the nation to
document alleged abuses from the sheriff office.
Coordinated by the National Day Labor Organizing Network
(NDLON,) the group of organizers will participate in a door-to-door
survey to gather information in the neighborhoods where the
MCSO has conducted operations posed as “crime suppression.” In
reality, the sheriff department’s actions have been immigration
sweeps conducted in areas of a predominantly Latino/Hispanic
population. The highly controversial raids have lead to numerous
accusations of human and civil right violations, some of which have
already prompted law suits against the sheriff.
Puente informed that evidence collected by the out-of-sate
organizers will be made available to the Justice Department and
Congress, as well as presented to both presidential candidates in
order to create awareness of the consequences the 287(g)
agreements between ICE and local police entities are having.
rights group leading the current protests to attempt evicting the
MCSO from the downtown Phoenix Wells Fargo building announced
the arrival this week of 50 organizers from across the nation to
document alleged abuses from the sheriff office.
Coordinated by the National Day Labor Organizing Network
(NDLON,) the group of organizers will participate in a door-to-door
survey to gather information in the neighborhoods where the
MCSO has conducted operations posed as “crime suppression.” In
reality, the sheriff department’s actions have been immigration
sweeps conducted in areas of a predominantly Latino/Hispanic
population. The highly controversial raids have lead to numerous
accusations of human and civil right violations, some of which have
already prompted law suits against the sheriff.
Puente informed that evidence collected by the out-of-sate
organizers will be made available to the Justice Department and
Congress, as well as presented to both presidential candidates in
order to create awareness of the consequences the 287(g)
agreements between ICE and local police entities are having.
| Text and Photograph by Eduardo Barraza |
DOWNTOWN PHOENIX: Since September 2, 30 to
50 protesters gathered at Washington and First
Avenue.
50 protesters gathered at Washington and First
Avenue.
According to a press release sent by members of Puente today, organizers will be talking to local residents to obtain
testimonies and document human rights violations—such as racial profiling— as well as recording it with audiovisual
equipment. After what is being announced as a public forum, organizers will then proceed by taking the data
gathered back to their home states.
The action is part of the national movement prompted by the daily two-hour demonstrations that began on
September 2 in front of the Wells Fargo corporate building in downtown Phoenix. A similar protest took place in
Chicago, Illinois, where members of the Immigration Defense Committee (IDC) distributed water bottles with a flyer
attached, asking Wells Fargo to end MCSO’s lease in the Phoenix building. IDC groups more than 20 grassroots
organizations in the Chicago area.
“We hope to obtain testimonies from individuals who have been affected and abused by the sheriff. We will then
begin a campaign in Washington D.C. to force politicians there to look at what Arpaio is doing here in Arizona,”
informed Salvador Reza, coordinator of the Macehualli Day Labor Center in North Phoenix, where the public forum
will take place this Friday, September 19.
Reza told BARRIOZONA in a phone interview that after two weeks of daily protests they have not received coverage
from the local media. “Even though we have had about 30 to 50 people every day, it seems that the local media is
protecting the interests of Wells Fargo bank. With the exception of the Spanish and alternative media, the English-
language media hasn’t covered the demonstrations. In spite of this, and in terms of our strategy, the sit-ins have
been very effective.”
This Thursday, September 18, several Bay Area community organizations in San Francisco, California, will picket at
the national Wells Fargo Corporate Headquarters, to demand that the financial institution stop housing and profiting
from the Maricopa County sheriff's terrorizing of migrant communities, in an act of solidarity with Arizona
demonstrators.
testimonies and document human rights violations—such as racial profiling— as well as recording it with audiovisual
equipment. After what is being announced as a public forum, organizers will then proceed by taking the data
gathered back to their home states.
The action is part of the national movement prompted by the daily two-hour demonstrations that began on
September 2 in front of the Wells Fargo corporate building in downtown Phoenix. A similar protest took place in
Chicago, Illinois, where members of the Immigration Defense Committee (IDC) distributed water bottles with a flyer
attached, asking Wells Fargo to end MCSO’s lease in the Phoenix building. IDC groups more than 20 grassroots
organizations in the Chicago area.
“We hope to obtain testimonies from individuals who have been affected and abused by the sheriff. We will then
begin a campaign in Washington D.C. to force politicians there to look at what Arpaio is doing here in Arizona,”
informed Salvador Reza, coordinator of the Macehualli Day Labor Center in North Phoenix, where the public forum
will take place this Friday, September 19.
Reza told BARRIOZONA in a phone interview that after two weeks of daily protests they have not received coverage
from the local media. “Even though we have had about 30 to 50 people every day, it seems that the local media is
protecting the interests of Wells Fargo bank. With the exception of the Spanish and alternative media, the English-
language media hasn’t covered the demonstrations. In spite of this, and in terms of our strategy, the sit-ins have
been very effective.”
This Thursday, September 18, several Bay Area community organizations in San Francisco, California, will picket at
the national Wells Fargo Corporate Headquarters, to demand that the financial institution stop housing and profiting
from the Maricopa County sheriff's terrorizing of migrant communities, in an act of solidarity with Arizona
demonstrators.