Sheriff needs our help, illegal voters protesting. Lets ride . . . .

[PHILIP SCHNEIDER]

Thousands Protest Arizona Sheriff's Immigration Efforts
Saturday, January 16, 2010

AP

Jan. 16: Protesters yell while marching down 35th Avenue in protest against Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

PHOENIX — Ten thousand immigrant rights advocates marched in front of a county jail in Phoenix Saturday in a protest that was aimed at Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's immigration efforts and was marked by a clash between a small group of protesters and police officers.

Organizers say the protest was meant to show officials in Washington that Arpaio shouldn't handle immigration enforcement, and that Congress and the Obama administration need to come up with a way for immigrant workers to come to the country legally.

The three-mile walk that started in a west Phoenix park ended by afternoon at the Durango Jail Complex, a collection of five jails, where officials played music, including a record by singer Linda Ronstadt, to drown out noise made by protesters. Ronstadt took part in Saturday's protest.

Protesters chanted "Joe must go" as they approached the jail complex. One person carried a sign that said "We are human" and bore a picture of a lawman with a wolf's face. A family of five wore T-shirts saying "Who would Jesus deport?"

For his part, Arpaio said he wasn't bothered by the protesters and that they should be directing their frustrations at Congress because it has the power to change America's immigration laws.

"They are zeroing in on the wrong guy," Arpaio said. "They ought to be zeroing in on the president."

The demonstration was peaceful until police say protesters near the end of the procession started throwing water bottles at officers. Phoenix Police Lt. Pat Hofmann said officers used pepper spray as they tried to separate protesters from an officer who was trying to take away the bottles.

People poured water onto the faces of several protesters whose eyes were irritated by the pepper spray.

Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Andy Hill added that one demonstrator struck a police sergeant on the head and chest with a flagpole. And he said an officer on horseback was assaulted as her horse was mobbed, punched and pushed. He didn't say whether any officers were injured.

Phoenix police said Saturday night that five people were arrested during the protest and taken to Maricopa County Jail. Three were booked for aggravated assault on police; another was booked for aggravated assault on police and disorderly conduct. The fifth was booked for disorderly conduct and aggravated assault on police.

Though the scene of the disturbance was cleared within minutes, the aftermath was chaotic. Protesters yelled obscenities at police officers in riot gear. One officer shook his pepper spray canister as he ordered people to keep moving. One protester wore goggles, and several others wrapped bandanas around their mouths.

Critics have accused deputies working in Arpaio's immigration efforts of racial profiling, which the sheriff denies. He says his deputies approach people when they have probable cause to believe they had committed crimes.

Ten months ago, Arpaio learned he was under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department for alleged discrimination and unconstitutional searches. He says the investigation was prompted by his immigration efforts, although federal authorities haven't provided details.

Since early 2008, Arpaio has run 13 immigration and crimes sweeps involving officers who flood a section of a city — in some cases heavily Latino areas — to seek out traffic violators and arrest other violators.

Arpaio's power to make federal immigration arrests was stripped away three months ago by officials in Washington, but he continues his immigration efforts through the enforcement of two state laws.

A federal grand jury also is investigating Arpaio and his office on allegations of abusing his powers.

[Oregon Country Girl]

I agree Kathryn. I understand that life is tough in Mexico, I feel for the hardship the people go through. But, the fact is: millions of Americans are out of work, and can't find jobs. That's why we can't have people just running across the border. The Americans need the jobs. Doesn't millionaire Nancy Pelosi employ cheap labor in her vineyards? I could be wrong, but I thought I heard that. Why would she do that when she's largely responsible for the nearly 40% unemployment rate in the San Jauquin Valley this past summer because she kept blocking the water from being turned back to the farmers. With California bankrupt, it seems like they ought to give the jobs to Californians out of work.

[Kathryn Ball]

"We Are Human".......yes you are, but if you came here illegally you are also a law breaker.
One of the young men who works at the farm I keep my horses at said that he had marched
one "Sinco de Mayo' because 'Americans don't like us". I asked him if anyone at the farm had
made him feel that way and he said "no". I went on to explain that America is a country of
immigrants and that we would always welcome people from other countries. The only condition
is that they knock on the front door and not sneak in through a window.

I have no problem with a 'guest worker' program if done properly. Many of the 'kids' are here
to work and send money home to impoverished families. Many have no desire for citizenship
and hope to earn enough to move back to Mexico one day and to be able to have a decent life
when they do. If they come here legally, pay some sort of tax and don't become a burden on
an already bloated welfare state I really don't have a problem with their presence in my count-
ry.

However, if they break our laws they are out, for good. If they become lazy and demand that we
care for them, give them free everything.....also GONE.

Until our borders are secure the illegals will continue to bleed into this country.....that is step
number one. Until that is accomplished there isn't much that can be done.

"WHO WOULD JESUS DEPORT?".........all who are law breakers, all who enter the U.S. by
sneaking in through a window rather than knocking on the front door.

[ELY]

What part of illegal is it that they don’t understand? Or is it due to the cesspool they are coming from, nothing is legal, which results in having no clue what the word illegal even means? After all, one needs to understand legal, before illegal has meaning. And that goes for all corrupt local governments that turn a blind eye to the illegal problem.

I met Sheriff Joe when he came here to talk, He is not hard to understand, and he just follows the letter of the law, and applies everyday common sense to it. What pisses me off even more then the illegals are the corrupt local governments that push back against Sheriff Joe. And that goes for all sanctuaries and all other corrupt local governments across the country. This country has its priorities backwards! Living in the only sanctuary county in the country, I see the BS everyday.

GO JOE!!