Don't feel like having your civil liberties trampled by a bunch of corrupt Wild West cowboy-wannabes?
Then don't vote for this guy.
I've been wanting to write something on Joe Arpaio since moving to Phoenix and hearing first-hand accounts of his corrupt policies and practices. I've fully intended to post a rap sheet listing the various crimes and abuses of power on the part of Sheriff Joe and his Good Ol' Boy Posse. It seems, thanks to an increasingly powerful grassroots movement on Facebook, that now is the perfect time to do so. While I'm writing (and it might take awhile; the list of abuses is lonnnnnng), you can check out the Facebook movement for yourself:
And here's a very brief summary of the "Arpaio Abuses" complete with links to relevant articles. If I've forgotten any critical points here, I will add them in later posts:
- Arpaio's controversial (see: unconstitutional and nonfactual), so-called "crime suppression" sweeps, targeted predominantly at Hispanic populations, that are actually searches for undocumented immigrants and amount to nothing short of racial profiling (and essentially constitute a campaign of fear);
- The abhorrent conditions within the Maricopa County jail system and "Tent City," which infringe on the basic human rights of both convicted long-term residents and undocumented immigrants (who, though "guilty under the law" [I even have issues with this phrase, touted by many a pro-Arpaio fan, as is implies criminal activity... crossing the border without documents is a civil violation], are still human beings), and inmates being held in the jails awaiting trial (who should be allowed to exercise that little right called presumption of innocence until proven guilty);
- The excessively rough, even brutally abusive, treatment of individuals who are temporarily housed in Arpaio's jails awaiting trial, many held on relatively minor offense charges (punishment = crime?... nope); and even instances of brutality and victimization toward individuals who are disabled or who have potentially life-threatening medical conditions;
- In a similar vein, the horrendous abuse of women's rights within the MC jail system (see: forcing a pregnant woman to give birth while shackled);
- The frequent, systematic targeting of vocal Arpaio critics--public officials, news media, and average citizens--in the form of arrests, "investigations" and threats of filed charges against said critics... blatant attempts at censorship and retaliation that foster fear;
- Overt disregard of federal mandates that limit Arpaio's power to locally enforce federal immigration laws, and blatant refusal to cooperate in the federal investigation of his policies and practices.
Human rights are for EVERYONE. Fear campaigns and persecution have NO place in upholding the law. Stand up to human rights abuse. Spread the word.
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