Sheriff Joe Arpaio to Speak at the Rancho Bernardo Country Club 8/10
By Chris Nava
Sheriff Arpaio
The news of Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s incursion into North County as a guest of a Rancho Bernardo conservative group spread rapidly among anti Arizona SB 1070 actvist groups who see his appearance as an audacious intrusion into southern California to spread his brand of extreme anti-immigrant messages.
Maricopa County’s Sheriff Arpaio has gained notoriety in the last years because of his tactics and his basic disregard for basic constitution protections. According to the Phoenix New Times, “…Arpaio has fostered horrendous jail conditions, reckless police operations, and carried out personal vendettas against political rivals and members of the press.” And in the same article the PNT points out that “foremost, he (Arpaio) and his deputies have violated the Constitutional rights of brown-skinned U.S. citizens and have committed outright cruelty again the undocumented.”
Sheriff Arpaio’s extreme immigration enforcement practices have been under scrutiny by the Department of Justice since 2009. He has stubbornly refused to cooperate with the DOJ, and at present is threatened with a lawsuit unless he turns over certain documents by August 17th.
Sheriff Arpaio’s blatant disregard for the law was dramatically highlighted recently when he launched an immigration sweep timed for the day SB 1070 was to take effect. His message was clear: The court ruling doesn’t matter.
The very idea that Sheriff Arpaio is being offered a platform to further his extreme and unlawful views of law enforcement is very troubling and should be met with an outcry from those who are concerned about preserving the constitutional rights of all, whether citizens or undocumented.
A coalition of activist organizations – Border Angels, May First Coalition, El Grupo, Si Se Puede, Gente Unida, and others — will join in a press conference rally on Tuesday, August 10th at 11:00 A.M. at the Rancho Bernardo Country Club, 12280 Greens East Rd., where Sheriff Arpaio is scheduled to speak between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Those interested in participating should contact Enrique Morones at (619) 269- 7865.
Read more:
Arizona sheriff launches 17th immigration sweep
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says he timed it for the day SB 1070 takes effect to send a message: that nothing is changing despite a court ruling on the law.
Los Angeles Times, July 30, 2010
Justice gives AZ sheriff deadline in rights case
Associated Press, August 3, 2010
DOJ Threatens to Sue Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Washington Independent, August 3, 2010
Feds to Arpaio: Cooperate in Civil Rights Case or We’ll Sue
The San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium
Investigating Sheriff Joe Arpaio
The Phoenix New Times