Shut up! Those two words are so abrasive and childish. Yet those are the words Maricopa County Deputies chose during a press conference last week to send a message to Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. At the heart of the matter was the 287(g) program which allows local law enforcement to investigate and enforce federal immigration laws. A congressional hearing convened in Washington to investigate allegations of racial profiling and unconstitutional searches and seizures by MCSO deputies.
Julio Mora, 19, of Avondale traveled to Capitol Hill to testify about his recent tangle with MCSO Deps. You see Mora is an American citizen who happened to be taking his Dad to work one morning. At the same time, MCSO was serving a search warrant on the senior Mora's employer, HMI. When the men pulled into the HMI parking lot, Deputies pulled them from their truck, zip-tied their hands and detained them for hours. When Mora's father asked to use the restroom, he was told no five times. The senior Mora, a diabetic, was finally allowed to pee by the side of a truck. When he asked for assistance because his hands were zip-tied, he was ridiculed and teased. Same for Julio Mora- he pee'd down the side of his pants. Remember, Julio Mora is an American citizen. He was detained because he unknowingly walked into an MCSO raid....and his skin was brown so he fit the profile.
So back to this press conference called by MCSO. Their press release stated it was in response to the Capitol Hill hearing. So the media high-tailed it downtown, cameras and mic's ready to hear some kind of rebuttal to what was happening in Washington. Instead, they said those two words "Shut up!" Really? Shut up? That's how you choose to respond to a congressional inquiry? I'd expect to hear those words from children fighting on a playground, not professional adults addressing a serious issue in our community. Yet those are the exact words Lt. Joe Sousa of MCSO's Human Smuggling Detail used to criticize Mayor Gordon during a press conference. He shouted those words with such venom and hatred- he practically spit all over himself! Now Sheriff Joe isn't exactly known for his tact and eloquence, however you would think his chosen mouthpiece would be a little more articulate when addressing the media on such a serious and controversial topic.
Makes me wonder...if MCSO Deputies use this language to address the public during a press conference, what kind of language do you think they use when rounding up suspected illegal immigrants here in Maricopa County? Kind of validates Julio Mora's account of what happened that day in an HMI parking lot.
http://www.azfamily.com/video/?z=y&nvid=348302
Saturday, April 11, 2009
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I was certainly surprised to see uniformed deputies hold what appeared to be a news conference telling the world they were "pissed off" at Mayor Gordon for his accusations of racism on the part of the Sheriff's office.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for freedom of speech, and I think groups, such as police unions, can express opinions.
But I was appalled that that group would put people in uniform to make such political statements. It appeared as though the speaker had lost control--certianly lost his tempor and professional attitude. It certainly gave many the impression that the mayor was right.
This issue is getting out of hand because Sheriff Arpaio's handlers aren't realizing the big picture--only his name in the media.
I think Arizona is turning into a state that embraces racism. The sheriff and the county attorney have fed ignorant minds with a message of intolerance. It's sad really(as an immigrant myself)to be viewed in such a negative light.
ReplyDeleteThe general feeling in the hispanic community(legal and illegal) is that we must take the high road. No negative response and hopefully the terms of these two public officials.
Great blog.
Sometime racial profiling is only practical. The alternative in this instance is not detain nobody but to DETAIN EVERYBODY regardless of whether they happen to fit the ethnic profile of an illegal immigrant. So to be fair to the legal immigrants & legal hispanic citizens we have to detain everybody in our effort to enforce the law? Seems pretty stupid.
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