¡Alto Arizona!

Newt Gingrich Supports the Arizonification of America

By Chris Newman, Legal Director and General Counsel at the National Day Laborer Organizing Network | Source: USNews.com

Newt Gingrich's repugnant position on immigration should not be concealed by his faint use of the word "humane" during last week's GOP primary debate. The mere fact his remarks are deemed compassionate is further proof Republican discourse on immigration continues to dangerously metastasize.

Could Sheriff Joe Arpaio Be the Last Man Standing?

Source: New America Media, News Report, Valeria Fernández, Posted: Nov 23, 2011

PHOENIX -- The recall of Arizona anti-immigrant Republican Sen. Russell Pearce this month has energized both political and immigration activists here to push for the removal of another infamous figure, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. But in the battle to take down immigration hardliners in the state, Arpaio could be the last man standing, unless there is federal action.

Yet, an army of Arpaio’s strongest critics, empowered by Pearce’s recall, thinks the sheriff’s political days are numbered. America’s toughest sheriff is more vulnerable than ever.

“There's nothing like an idea whose time has come, and I think that's the same for Arpaio,” said Chad Snow, chairman of Citizens for a Better Arizona (CBA), the coalition that worked on the Pearce recall.

New Campaign to Bring Sheriff Arpaio to Justice

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carlos Garcia, Puente Arizona

New Campaign to Bring Sheriff Arpaio to Justice
Puente Arizona Announces Isolation Strategy to
Cut Sheriff Off from his Enablers
Launches Pledge page at http://bit.ly/new-az-horizon

Nov. 21, 2011 Phoenix, AZ.

Today Puente Arizona, a non-partisan human rights organization, announces a new campaign to bring Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio to justice.

Carlos Garcia of Puente explains, "In the wake of the Russell Pearce recall, Arizona is ready for a new day. However, one pillar of tolerance remains. Sheriff Joe Arpaio's hate continues to drag the state backwards. To move Arizona forward, Puente is launching a new campaign to cut him off from his enablers. To not take action in the face of Arpaio's injustices is to become complicit in them. It poses a dilemma for us all. Its time we quarantine Arpaio’s terror."

The organization launched a new pledge page where supporters can sign up to "be part of the force that brings Arpaio to justice." http://bit.ly/new-az-horizon

EVENT: ALEC Exposed: A Day of Education and Action

RSVP on FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/263088633728465/

Will you stand on the side of the 99% and fight the corporate takeover of our democracy?

Voices of Arizona Community Event: ALEC EXPOSED

When: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 6:00 PM – 9:00PM

Where: South Mountain Community College, Student Union Room 100, 7050 S. 24th Street Phoenix, AZ 85042

Corporate takeover of our democracy is near at hand, will you stand on the side of the 99%?

Please join us for a community-wide event exposing the truth about the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

Community Activist Receives Threatening Letter after Pearce Ousting

Published : Monday, 28 Nov 2011 | Source: MyFoxPhoenix.com

MESA - A credible death threat against community activist Randy Parraz is under investigation. Parraz led the successful recall effort against Senator Russell Pearce.

The death threat was mailed to Randy Parraz. It specifically mentioned Russell Pearce and blamed Parraz for the recall.

Describing the letter, Parraz said, “[It said] that he [Pearce] was a good person and what I did was not something that was good for Arizona.”

The threatening letter was sent just days after Senator Russell Pearce was ousted from office.

Governor Jan Brewer to Speak on First Day of ALEC Convention

By Stephen Lemons Mon., Nov. 28 2011 at 3:17 PM | Source: PhoenixNewTimes.com

Should anyone be surprised that Governor Jan Brewer will be one of the keynote speakers at the American Legislative Exchange Council's big wingding in Scottsdale this week at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa?

I'm sure not. Even before ALEC posted the announcement to its website and the governor's office noted a November 30 speech by Brewer on her schedule for the week, I could smell that one coming.

The Republican-lobbyist lovefest will also feature former Reagan-era Attorney General Ed Meese (yep, he's still alive) as a speaker, and you can pretty much anticipate that nearly every GOP legislator in Sand Land will be around for at least part of the three-day event.

Group That Recalled Russell Pearce Targets Jan Brewer, Joe Arpaio

Jillian Rayfield November 22, 2011, 1:35 PM | Source: TalkingPointsMemo.com

The group behind the successful recall of Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce is now targeting infamous Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.

Citizens For A Better Arizona is gauging interest among Arizona voters for a recall of Brewer (R), saying they would back a recall effort if they get 5,000 people to sign a volunteer petition in which each person pledges to collect 100 signatures. “If Governor Brewer is recalled, I commit to being one of 5,000 citizens to collect 100 signatures,” the petition says.

For Brewer to be recalled, they would have to collect 432,000 valid signatures. Her term is currently set to end in 2014.

Arizona's Experiment in Democracy Failing... Badly

Column of the Americas
Arizona's Experiment in Democracy Failing... Badly
By Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez

The experiment in Democracy seems to be failing badly in Arizona. Here, government, the state legislature, law enforcement, the educational system, the courts and the media are a testament to this colossal failure. Here, rampant hate and bigotry starts at the top and here, it is government by [ugly] mob rule.

A court proceeding earlier this month in Phoenix – with a decision expected any day now – attests to this experiment gone awry; the court hearing was as absurd as the daily Kangaroo trials in Tucson known as Operation Streamline (70 migrants are charged, tried, convicted and sentenced in one hour). This Phoenix proceeding was part of an appeals process, being held to determine whether Tucson’s Mexican American Studies (MAS) Department is out of compliance with HB 2281, the state’s anti Ethnic Studies or mind control measure. The program graduates nearly 100% of its students and sends over 70% percent of them to college. Yet, these phenomenal accomplishments are of little consequence for those trying to eliminate it.

Russell Pearce Recall Election: Arizona Immigration Law Architect Defeated By Jerry Lewis

By Elise Foley, First Posted: 11/8/11 11:09 PM ET Updated: 11/8/11 11:29 PM ET | Source: Huffington Post

State Sen. Russell Pearce, the controversial architect of Arizona's immigration law, was voted out of office on Tuesday evening in a special recall election. He was defeated by Jerry Lewis, a fellow Republican who does not support the immigration crackdown and has vowed to reject gifts from special interest groups and work to ban gifts for legislators.

Lewis won with roughly 54 percent of the vote, state officials announced on Tuesday evening.

Pearce is the top Republican in the state senate, and a 10-year state legislator. He pioneered S.B. 1070, an immigration law passed in Arizona in 2010 that quickly prompted a lawsuit from the federal government. The law, which would have allowed police to ask for immigration papers at stops if they had "reasonable suspicion" someone was undocumented, was predominantly blocked before it went into effect.

Arizona Immigration Law Faces Lawsuit On Day-Laborer Statute

By JACQUES BILLEAUD   10/31/11 05:18 PM ET | Source: HuffingtonPost.com

PHOENIX — Groups opposing Arizona's immigration enforcement law have asked a federal judge to put a stop to a section of the statute that bans the blocking of traffic when people seek or offer day-labor services on streets.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and other opponents filed a preliminary injunction request on Friday seeking to block enforcement of the provision, saying it unconstitutionally restricts the free speech rights of people who want to express their need for work. The request was filed in an existing lawsuit by the groups.

The state can't justify the statewide ban based on scattered instances of solicitations creating traffic problems in Phoenix, they said, adding that there are already laws on the books to deal with people who block traffic.