Arizona's Hate Bill sb1070's sponsor, Russell Pearce

Phoenix New Times reports: Recalling Russell Pearce
Consider it a classic pincer move: two separate, ongoing efforts to recall the most powerful, hateful politician in Arizona, state Senate President Russell Pearce. First into battle was the irrepressible DeeDee Blase, founder of Somos Republicans, an organization loathed by wingnut GOPers and mainstream Democrats with almost equal intensity. Somos Republicans' stated intent is to increase the Latino Republican voting bloc. In working toward that goal, the group fervently attacks the nativist right, which is now dominant in the party of the pachyderms. The group supports the DREAM Act and humane immigration reform, has opposed Pearce's breathing-while-brown law, state Senate Bill 1070, and continues to denounce the efforts of wingnut legislators to undermine the birthright citizenship clause of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment.

Indeed, it was on the day that anti-birthright citizenship legislation was getting introduced by Pearce's lackeys in the state House and state Senate that Blase and a libertarian ally, Halina Reed, filed recall paperwork against Pearce at the Secretary of State's Office. The official "grounds" for the recall by Blase's new group, Arizonans for Better Government, specifically cites Pearce's "overt disdain" for the U.S. Constitution, and Blase clearly was motivated by Pearce's attack on birthright citizenship. "This guy is evil," Blase said of Pearce on the day she filed. "I was really bummed out because of the 14th Amendment [bills]. Now I'm so excited."

The recall effort will need to score 7,756 signatures of registered voters from Legislative District 18 by May 27. Once these are obtained and verified as legitimate, Pearce either has to resign or face a recall election on a date set by the Arizona Secretary of State's Office. Voters of all party affiliations can sign the recall petition, and there's a large pool from which to draw: 68,409 registered LD 18 voters, as of last count, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

This means that forcing a recall election on Pearce is doable. So much so that Assistant Secretary of State Jim Drake told me that his office is preparing for the eventuality that both the Blase-skippered recall and one filed days after hers by another group, Citizens for a Better Arizona, might be successful. If this occurs, Drake said his office will seek a judicial order combining the two recall elections into one. Pearce could face High Noon at the ballot box as early as November of this year or spring 2012. It's conceivable that Pearce could lose. In 2008, Pearce bested his Democratic rival for the state Senate by 5,343 votes. In 2010, Pearce exceeded the combined vote totals for both the Libertarian and Democratic candidates by just 4,081. Even if Pearce ultimately prevails, a recall would damage him politically.

See, Pearce longs to seek higher office, anything from governor or congressman to U.S. senator or — perhaps most powerful — Maricopa County Sheriff, should alterkocker lawman Joe Arpaio ever take a powder, get indicted, or just keel over while in office. But if Pearce has to campaign to beat back a recall in his own district, it will distract him from exploring other options, robbing him of time, money, and energy in the process. It also will expose an otherwise un-remarked-upon weakness: Many in his own district and party loathe him.

Indeed, I'm convinced that Pearce could never win a statewide election. Congress or sheriff? Maybe. U.S. senator or governor? No way, Jose. See, Pearce's ham-fisted use of power, his narrow, negative agenda, and his status as an icon of intolerance make him a hero to Tea Baggers, nativists, gun nuts, and the East Valley wackadoodles who dominate the Maricopa County Republican Party. To a broader audience, Pearce simply looks like what he is: a bigoted, far-right extremist.

Sure, many despise Republican Governor Jan Brewer for her policies or for signing SB 1070 into law. Still, as ditzy as she can be, she doesn't come off as an aggro redneck in need of some serious meds, as the Senate president most certainly does. Hell, even Sheriff Arpaio seems like a teddy bear compared to the truculent madman from Mesa....The grounds for CBA's recall are broader than those given for Blase's Arizonans for Better Government. CBA's statement knocks Pearce for "his failure to focus on issues and concerns that affect all Arizonans," demanding better representation on various issues.

"Mesa and Arizona need a leader who will pass laws to create jobs, protect public education, and ensure access to healthcare for our children and those most in need," CBA's petition statement reads, in part. "By signing this petition, we publicly withdraw our support for Russell Pearce and what he represents."

John Quinones Hosts Fantastic Episode Highlighting Arizona's Racial Profiling Bill sb1070

I saw John Quinones' "What Would You Do" tonight on ABC. What an amazing show. This program is a modern day "Candid Camera" with a twist. His hidden cameras capture the reactions of every day people as they witness a scenario from today's headlines. In this evening's episode, John's cameras captured the reaction of people, in Arizona, witnessing an sb1070 Racial Profiling incident.
The results were very heart-warming and proved to me that there are Humanitarians in Arizona. They hate this law and they do not want it. They care about their fellow man and realize America, our True America, is a Land of Immigrants where ALL PEOPLE are Created Equal! What a Great Program! Thank you John, for providing us all a glimpse of the truth in Arizona! Not EVERYONE THERE is a Russell Pearce or Jan Brewer.
John Quinones Goes Undercover for Racial Profiling Scenario
Hidden Cameras Reveal Diners' Reactions
In 2010, the simmering debate about U.S. immigration reform exploded when Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 was signed into law. A portion of the bill requires police, during the enforcement of a law, to ask for someone's identification if that person is thought to be in the country illegally. Supporters say the law is a way to control Arizona's borders, and make the state a safer place. But critics say the law allows for widespread racial profiling. The legislation states that during the enforcement of a law -- even a small infraction such as broken headlight -- law enforcement officers are required to ask for identification from someone they think might be in the U.S. illegally. The fear is that the only ones being stopped and questioned by police would be people who look or sound Latino. Even though the law triggered a wave of protests, polls showed that over 50 percent of Arizona voters supported the bill. The law went into effect in July of 2010, but the more controversial parts of it were suspended by a federal judge and are currently being disputed in the courts.

"What Would You Do?" decided to travel to Arizona. We installed our hidden cameras at BK Carne Asada and Hotdogs, a popular restaurant in Tucson, and hired actors to portray an off-duty security guard and a Latino customer. Later, host John Quinones, who is Hispanic, went undercover to see how restaurant patrons would react when he was the one facing racial profiling. In our first scenario, the security guard approaches the actor playing the Latino customer moments after he enters the restaurant.
"You got any ID on you? Documentation? Papers?" he asks. "Are you visiting? Do you understand a little English?"
At first, people who seem to notice what's going on just stare nervously at the two men. But within a few minutes, a man charges up and confronts the security guard.
"Excuse me, who are you? Do you work here?" asks the man.
"No, I'm a security guard, I just stopped in to get some food," replies the guard. "I'm just trying to be a good American."
"I wouldn't say you're a good American. I'd say you're an ass!" yells the man.
What our actor playing the security guard was doing -- racial profiling -- was exactly what some argue would happen under the new immigration law. We wondered what would happen if the security guard challenges not just one Latino man, but an entire family.
"… I noticed you guys walk in, so I just wanted to make sure you're legal. … Just show me your ID," says our security guard to three actors portraying a Latino family.
"Are you flipping kidding me?" yells Rebecca Russ, a restaurant patron who gets in the guard's face. "You want to ask them if they belong here? Do you belong here?"
"Don't you guys want to know if they have ID?" the security guard asks.
"It's nobody's [expletive] business, get out!" yells Russ. "Oh my God, I want to punch him! ... They have a daughter!"
Possible Racial Profiling
All day, whites and Latinos alike give comfort to our Mexican-American actors. One woman, Candice Coker, approaches the actress playing the Latino mother and offers words of support after the guard leaves the scene. Later, Coker tells Quinones that she's never given a thought to the consequences of the anti-immigration law. But seeing the impact racial profiling has on a family made her think twice about the legislation.
In another scene, the sad face of Bella, our actress playing the little girl, causes a man named Manny Aparicio to spring into action.
"There's a time and a place, that ain't it. When you got a kid, you don't play that game," says Aparicio to the security guard.
When we decide to tell Aparicio that he is on "What Would You Do?" he tells Quinones, "When you are profiling people because of how they look -- that's not what this country is about, you know?"
He also points out that Quinones himself is Hispanic and could face profiling, which makes us wonder, what would happen if Quinones went undercover?
We decide to find out. Quinones dons a baseball cap and sunglasses, and goes into the restaurant along with our other actor, David Pinon, playing victims of the security guard's harassment.
"Speak English at all? You guys from Mexico?" the guard asks Quinones and Pinon. "You have some papers or anything like that?"
Upon hearing the guard's remarks, customer Neil Gago launches out of his seat. With quiet authority, he points to the door and says to the guard, "Go. Go. Go!"
Our actor obliges and leaves, but lingers outside the restaurant and pretends to call Border Patrol. Inside the restaurant, a young woman watches the guard warily and then gives him the finger. After a few minutes, she leaves to confront him, and is followed by another woman named Mayra Penunuri. The two women fearlessly confront the security guard outside, telling him to go home. Penunuri stamps her foot in anger and fires off a few cuss words in Spanish before going back inside to finish her dinner.
When Quinones reveals himself to Penunuri, she laughs heartily and tells him that among other things, she called the guard a "Gringo." She also said that it wasn't important that she didn't know Quinones -- she just thought it was important to defend him.
One after another, people step up and chase the guard out of the restaurant. Our most amazing intervention occurs when one woman decides she needs to do more than just yell at the guard -- she needs to act. She devises a plan to help Quinones and Pinon flee the restaurant to avoid possible deportation.
Over two days of filming, we were amazed to see dozens of people stepping up when witnessing racial profiling in action. All kinds of people intervened -- in fact, the majority were non-Hispanic. Despite the fact that the anti-immigration law seems popular in Arizona, we didn't see any evidence of it in this Tucson restaurant.

Breaking News: Arizona Lawmakers Introduce ANTI Latino Racist Hate Bills Attacking Citizen Babies!

Breaking News: THEY DID IT!!! (Yes they Did!)
Tucson Citizen.com reports: Arizona Lawmakers (AGAIN) Introduce ANTI Latino Racist Hate Bills Attacking Citizen Babies!
Arizona lawmakers on Thursday filed four bills for consideration that they hope will change how the U.S. recognizes US CITIZEN children of UNDOCUMENTED immigrants.
First, two bills that attempt to change the Constitution and Jus Soli
1. House Bill 2561 and
2. Senate Bill 1309 defines an Arizona citizen (notice they say Arizona citizen) as someone “lawfully domiciled” in Arizona who is born in the U.S. and is “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” It defines individuals who are subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. as children who have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national or a legal permanent U.S. resident.
3. House Bill 2562 and 4. Senate Bill 1308 would require Arizona to create separate birth certificates (Separate??) for children who are deemed to be "Arizona citizens" (by Arizona) under House Bill 2561 and those who are not. It also seeks permission from Congress to form compacts with other states doing the same thing.

This morning, opposition groups gathered at the state Capitol waving signs and speaking out against the effort. Democratic lawmakers and immigrant rights groups held news conferences throughout the day. Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, and Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, are the primary bill sponsors. Twenty-seven Republican lawmakers have signed on support, but others commented that the Legislature should be focusing on the budget, jobs or border security instead.

(Racist) Senate President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, who along with Kavanagh led the effort to get Senate Bill 1070 passed last year, has been working on this issue for years. Kansas attorney Kris Kobach (from Racist HATE Group F.A.I.R.), who helped draft SB 1070 and in November was elected Kansas Secretary of State, also helped with this legislation.

Unlike with SB 1070, Arizona won’t be alone in this effort. (Yes! FAIR is promoting other states introduce this Hate Filled, Racist Legislation) -- (Racist) Lawmakers from about a dozen states have united under (the Hate Group) "State Legislators for Legal Immigration" and are expected to consider identical birthright citizenship legislation in their states this year. However, Arizona seems to be the first state so far to actually introduce the bills. (They are saying that ) states have oversight over birth certificates and, to an extent, over who can receive state services, HOWEVER THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT citizenship is a Federal Issue. And Creating different birth certificates, or giving people different levels of access to state services based on information on birth certificates, OPENS the state to federal lawsuits.

(RACISTS) Kavanagh, Pearce and the other lawmakers say that’s exactly what they want: to force these lawsuits so the federal courts will consider whether the 14th Amendment truly grants citizenship to children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants. “The court needs to rule on this so we can figure out how to treat these kids,” Gould said.

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Those who favor reform say illegal immigrants aren’t “subject to the jurisdiction” of the U.S, so their children can’t qualify for birthright citizenship. “The parents broke the law,” Pearce said. “There are consequences of breaking laws.”

Rep. Richard Miranda, D-Tolleson, said the Legislature should be working to strengthen Arizona’s economy, not bringing the state more “ridicule and anger.” “We must act together to move Arizona forward and not act as individuals who seek to be celebrities,” he said.

Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, compared the idea of two birth certificates to the days of “separate but equal.” “This takes us back to the time when we had separate drinking fountains … swimming pools … public education, one for Black and one for White,” he said. Rep. Catherine Miranda, D-Phoenix, compared the bill’s agenda to that of Nazi Germany. “Today in Arizona, thousands of Arizona mothers go to work not knowing if they will return to their families or end up in deportation centers,” she said. “Who can doubt that we are experiencing a holocaust in Arizona.”

Rep. Albert Hale, D-Window Rock, a Navajo, said that under these bills he would be considered an “anchor baby” because Native Americans were not granted citizenship until 1924. “My grandfather was not a citizen. My mother, born in 1919, was not a citizen,” he said. “So I am a child of a non-citizen and therefore illegal. Am I to be deported? And If I am, where are you going to deport me to?” He warned that passing these bills would create a crisis of children “who are stateless and without a country.” “This will create a class of people who are not welcome in the country where they are born,” he said. “This is not the Arizona I know. This is not the Arizona I want.”

Attorney Steve Montoya, who was involved with the lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of SB 1070, called the bill a “complete waste of time.” “When we’re having to close schools because we’re bankrupt, these jokers are pushing laws that will only push the state further into debt,” he said. “This law reflects the ignorance of the people who wrote it.” He said the bills are so blatantly unconstitutional that it’s unlikely the Supreme Court would even consider them. “The state of Arizona cannot overturn the 14th Amendment,” he said.

Arizona Racism Exposed!

Guest Voz - Immigration Clearinghouse reports: Arizona Racism over sb1070 EXPOSED!
These three spout violence, shooting "Blow you MF'ers away!" "Buy Guns!" "Blow Head Off!" "If you are Brown, wear shitty ass clothes, then it's your fault you get questioned." "If you don't like it, Kiss our Axx!"

Carly Fiorina No Es Mi Amiga: California Voters - Don't Vote For Fiorina

California Friends,
We Don't Want Carly to bring racial profiling to California! Through Carly Fiorina's fierce support of SB 1070 and racial profiling in Arizona one thing is clear, Carly is no friend of Latinos in California and Latinos everywhere. Help spread the word about Carly Fiorina's REAL views on Immigration and together we can stop the potential spread of racial profiling to California.

Gov Jan "La Bruja" Brewer Cries Crocodile Tears Because her Racial Profiling Bill is on International Report

HP Reports:
Gov. Jan "La Bruja" Brewer stomped her foot Friday saying a reference to the state's controversial racial profiling sb10708 law be removed from a State Department report to the United Nations' human rights commissioner. The U.S. included its legal challenge to the law on a list of ways the federal government is protecting human rights.

In a cry-baby letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Brewer wailed it is "downright offensive" that her (and Arpaio's) rampant racial profiling law would be included in the report, which was drafted as part of a UN review of human rights in all member nations every four years. "The idea that our own AZ Racial Profiling law being submitted to 'review' by the United Nations is internationalism run amok and unconstitutional," Brewer wrote.

Arizona's law generally requires police, like arpaio and his masked goons, go to latino neighborhoods to supposedly enforce other laws during their suppression sweeps of latino neighborhoods to investigate the immigration status of people they suspect are illegal immigrants.

Arpaio routinely targets Latino neighborhoods during his suppression sweeps of Latino neighborhoods. Raicst and extremist supporters of sb1070, including Brewer, say the law prohibits racial profiling and other human rights abuses.

The U.S. Justice Department sued to block the measure, arguing federal law trumps the state's authority to enforce immigration laws. A federal judge in July sided with the Justice Department and blocked enforcement of the law's most controversial provisions a day before it was scheduled to take effect.

Update: Turns out La Bruja's foot stomping was just a media stunt. Here is the statement she was supposedly so upset about: "A recent Arizona law, S.B. 1070, has generated significant attention and debate at home and around the world. The issue is being addressed in a court action that argues that the federal government has the authority to set and enforce immigration law. That action is ongoing; parts of the law are currently enjoined." Looks like La Bruja was just trying to get attention and sympathy for her cause.. over nothing!

sb1070: Portions NOT Blocked! Arpaio Pledges to Go Wild!

These are two big portions of sb1070 that were upheld:

- it still allows a separate crime charge for "harboring or transporting"
- it creates crime charge for "stopping a motor vehicle to pick up day laborers and for day laborers to get in a motor vehicle if it impedes the normal movement of traffic"

The ruling today was a good start, but there is still a lot left in the law that gives zealots like Arpaio & his masked goons as well as Looney Sheriff Babeu a wider net.

I will be tracking all actions of these two madmen and report their antics in my blog.

Arpaio and masked goons are planning a massive suppression sweep in Latino neighborhoods tomorrow. He has cleared several tents in a new section of tent city (in 120 degree heat) to house those he arrests. He plans to arrest hundreds tomorrow, if they don't have their papers on them as well as the two scenarios not blocked.

Civil Disobedience Planned if sb1070 is Enacted

Rumor has it the Judge will make a ruling on the enactment of sb1070 within the next 24 hours. Sheriff Arpaio and his masked volunteer goons are ready for enactment of this racial profiling law. Arpaio has already announced the opening of a new tent prison facility for new detainees as a result of massive "suppression sweeps" he is planning in Latino neighborhoods. Imagine the Tent Prisons in 120 degree heat this summer. Arpaio is LAUGHING ABOUT IT!

Those opposed to the bill are also ready. Beyond the boycott of the state of Arizona, humanitarian groups across the nation are planning massive civil disobedience protests - similar to the 60's Civil Rights demonstrations against the Jim Crow laws - to test the bill. Rev. Al Sharpton's activists have promised to bring people to Arizona to protest "in the spirit of the Freedom Riders from the civil rights movement." Now Cesar Chavez' United Farm Workers of America (UFW) is pledging to do the same if this evil, racist law is enacted.
The Californian reports:
UFW prepares protest against Arizona law
Members of the United Farm Workers of America union in Salinas say they're preparing to travel to Phoenix — without identification — to test how police are enforcing that state's new immigration law. Efren Barajas, UFW vice president, said President Arturo Rodriguez will lead UFW chapters from Salinas, San Joaquin Valley, Oakland, Napa and Los Angeles when they arrive in Phoenix on Thursday. Maria Machuca, union communications director, said about 15 UFW members and staff are paying for their own traveling expenses. They will meet in Los Angeles at 4:30 a.m. Thursday, then leave for Phoenix. With the exception of a few drivers, the travelers, including Rodriguez, will leave all identification documents behind. "Having the president travel to Arizona and represent the union is meaningful," Barajas said.

Arizona's controversial immigration law, which goes into effect Thursday unless a federal judge says otherwise, would require police officers to question the immigration status of suspects stopped for another offense if there's a "reasonable suspicion" (= Arpaio's "suppression sweeps" = racial profiling) they are in the country illegally. Salinas union organizers plan to protest the new law. "We are participating in demonstrations to show support for those who oppose the law in Arizona," said Machuca. Officials said the UFW members do not plan to break any traffic laws or dress differently to attract the attention of police. However, Rodriguez plans on engaging in an act of civil disobedience if Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 becomes law.

SB 1070 appeared to strike Washington and the rest of the country like a thunderbolt when Gov. Jan Brewer signed it on April 23. But in Arizona, it was years in the making, just the latest manifestation of an increasing political antagonism toward illegal immigration. It was spurred by a perception that the federal government wasn't taking action on the issue.

A U.S. District Judge is considering some of the seven lawsuits filed to halt SB1070. The new law has stirred a national outcry over fears of widespread racial profiling. It has led to economic boycotts of Arizona as well as an outpouring of support and expressions of solidarity from supporters in other states. Machuca said the UFW members plan to join other groups in Phoenix such as the Los Angeles County Federation to participate in the St. Matthew's Parish Rally and the Downtown Civil Disobedience Action. "We need to end the fear and help improve the lives of the immigrant farm workers whose sweat and sacrifice bring the rich bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables to our tables," Machuca said.