USA: Police and protesters stand off in Phoenix as debate over Arizona's tough anti-immigration law take to the streets
Record ID:
588954
USA: Police and protesters stand off in Phoenix as debate over Arizona's tough anti-immigration law take to the streets
- Title: USA: Police and protesters stand off in Phoenix as debate over Arizona's tough anti-immigration law take to the streets
- Date: 30th July 2010
- Summary: PHOENIX, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES (JULY 29) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS BEING DRAGGED INTO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PAN FROM PROTESTERS, POLICE IN RIOT GEAR GROUP OF DEMONSTRATORS WAITING TO BE ARRESTED CROWDS CHANTING SLOGANS POLICE RIOT GEAR WOMAN THAT HAS BEEN ARRESTED A WOMAN SHOWING THE CROWD HER HANDCUFFS VARIOUS OF PROTESTER GETTING HANDCUFFED PROTESTERS BEING LED INTO A VAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHARON LUNGO, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SAYING: "Yesterday's ruling was not a victory. It was a compromise, it does not represent the dignity that people here are representing today by taking to the streets. By putting themselves on the line, by putting themselves at risk to tell the people of this world that we deserve human rights, that all people deserve human rights. That borders are political lines that are drawn by other people." EXTERIOR OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GARAGE DOOR OF THE OFFICE WITH PAN TO PROTESTERS LOCKED TOGETHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) REV. SUSAN FREDERICK-GRAY, ONE OF THE PROTESTERS THAT WAS CHAINED UP, SAYING: "We are out here saying 'Not one more.' Not one more mother gets pulled away from her children. Not one more grandfather gets pulled away from his children and grand children. Not one more student gets denied the opportunity to follow his dreams after his mother and father have sweated in labor for this country." (SOUNDBITE) (English) EARNESTO LOPEZ, ONE OF THE PROTESTERS CHAINED, SAYING: "I am not too happy about County Sheriff Joe Arpaio being out in the community today. Not too happy about Obama sending troops to the border. I don't think reform is going to happen anytime soon. So, we have to do something, too make Obama listen, not just Obama, not just Arpaio, but everyone listen, that laws like 1070 are not just, we don't like them anymore. Not just in Arizona bull all over the country. We're fed up." WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING
- Embargoed: 14th August 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA8DM3Q7TWH0PRM66C8C1268EMK
- Story Text: Protesters take to the street with a series of rallies that shut down parts of downtown Phoenix on Thursday (July 29).
Under a blistering desert sun, the debate over Arizona's tough anti-immigration law took to the streets as police and protesters faced off in a series of rallies and demonstrations in downtown Phoenix on Thursday (July 29), resulting in the arrest of at least 15 people.
Activists pushed ahead with their rallies as Arizona's weakened anti-immigration law took effect on Thursday after a U.S. court blocked its most intrusive provisions earlier.
Delighted by Wednesday's (July 28) last minute ruling, the demonstrations included a "sit-down" protest that shut down parts of several busy streets in the heart of Phoenix's business district.
"Yesterday's ruling was not a victory. It was a compromise, it does not represent the dignity that people here are representing today by taking to the streets," explained Sharon Lungo, a protester who believes the fight for immigration rights is only beginning.
"By putting themselves on the line, by putting themselves at risk to tell the people of this world that we deserve human rights, that all people deserve human rights. That borders are political lines that are drawn by other people."
Police, dressed in full riot gear, formed a wall of blue as protesters armed with drums and bull horns shouted slogans denouncing the law. Police arrested several of those who staged the sit-down in the middle of the street.
At the same time, a more volatile protest was taking place at the County Sheriff's Office down the street. It is the home office Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is known for his tough approach to illegal immigrants in the Phoenix area.
There five activists forced sheriff deputies to cut them loose, after chaining themselves to the to the entrance to the building. All five were arrested and taken into custody.
"We are out here saying 'Not one more.' Not one more mother gets pulled away from her children," said Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, one of the activists who chained themselves to the office
"Not one more grandfather gets pulled away from his children and grandchildren. Not one more student gets denied the opportunity to follow his dreams after his mother and father have sweated in labor for this country."
Several times during the two hour drama, deputies with riot shields moved into the crowd to make space in front of the entrance to Sheriff's office.
Tensions over the law inflamed a national debate over the issue, which has festered for decades and promises to play into the elections in November, when President Barack Obama's Democrats are fighting to retain control of Congress.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer was expected to file an appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco later in the day to reinstate the provisions, heralding a long legal fight that is expected to reach the Supreme Court.
As protesters filled the streets of Phoenix, Arizona, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in Washington DC, voiced their concerns about the controversial immigration law adopted by Arizona on Thursday (July 29).
A U.S. judge blocked the most intrusive parts of the law in a ruling on Wednesday (July 28) on the grounds that immigration matters are the federal government's responsibility.
Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez praised the last minute ruling, saying it upheld the U.S constitution.
"You know the constitution isn't the menu that you can pick at lunch or dinner and decide what it is your going to approve of," Gutierrez told reporters.
Caucus chairwoman Nydia Velazquez vowed to defend the nation's undocumented residents as Republican lawmakers in other states considered similar immigration laws.
"We hope that those states that are considering enacting laws like SB1070, heard judge Bolton's decision loud and clear. The reality is that fifty state policies on immigration would lead to more confusion not less and would not do anything to fix the broken system as we know it."
Polls show the Arizona law is backed by a solid majority of Americans and 65 percent of the state's voters. It is inspiring copycat efforts in at least 20 other states. Tensions over the law inflamed a national debate over immigration, which has festered for decades and promises to play into the elections in November, when President Barack Obama's Democrats are fighting to retain control of Congress.
There are an estimated 10.8 million illegal immigrants in the United States, a country of more than 300 million people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None