This is incredible!
Thousands of opponents of Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s illegal-immigration policies held their “March to Stop the Hate” in downtown Phoenix on this morning.
As of 1:30 p.m., the speeches were still being made at the march’s destination, the federal building. According to initial reports, the march was peaceful, with no major incidents as of early Saturday afternoon.
Crowd estimates from organizers and law enforcement were not immediately available, but at least one estimate put it at about 3,000.
Along the march route, between 100 and 200 Arpaio supporters gathered at the Wells Fargo Tower. Many carried “We Support Sheriff Joe” signs, among others. Most were from the anti immigrant group RidersUSA a group endorsed and acknowledged by other anti immigrant nativists such as Willy Gheen’s ALIPAC.us
The event was being led by the National Day Laborers Organizing Network and El Puente Arizona, and feature Zach de la Rocha, former lead singer of Rage Against the Machine. De la Rocha arrived at about 10:30 a.m., just before the march began at Steele Indian School Park.
Organizers marched south on Central Avenue past the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building. The route also passed Wells Fargo Tower – where Arpaio has his headquarters – and ended at the federal building on Washington Street.
3,000 or more protesters against the racist inhumane policies of Joe Arpaio and the opposition could only scrounge up perhaps 200? That throws water on the argument that Phoenix residents love and support their Sheriff.
Perhaps this showing will help convince Attorney General Eric Holder to respond to the petitions to investigate Arpaio and put his ass out to pasture.
We certainly hope so!
Photo Source: Arizona Republic