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Sheriff Joe's Inhumane CircusSheriff Joe's one-man circus has made headlines again in Arizona's Maricopa County. His latest taxpayer-financed media stunt involved the "forced march" of undocumented inmates who are serving out their criminal sentences. Sheriff Arpaio closed down the city streets so that everyone could witness their public humiliation as they walked in chain gangs from a "hard" jail to the infamous Tent City, where they will be forced to endure unsafe conditions including summer months with temperatures of upwards of 120 degrees. Not only was this inhumane, but violated international human rights principles — not to mention American values — that require us to treat people who are incarcerated with dignity and respect. But Sheriff Arpaio has absolute contempt for the dignity of the people in his custody and demonstrates this by treating people like circus animals. Though he claims otherwise, Arpaio wasn't motivated by budgetary or security concerns to march shackled immigrants to the Tent City; he was motivated by the opportunity of self-aggrandizement and the promotion his anti-immigrant agenda. For those reasons, and for those reasons alone, he chose to re-route traffic and waste dwindling law enforcement resources. Almost all of the people in the forced march were Latino and their humiliation struck one more blow to fairness and human decency in our community. And although the sheriff blatantly continues with his racial profiling practices in so-called "crime suppression sweeps" in Latino neighborhoods, the absence of significant protest from white officials in Arizona and from any federal agency allows the racial targeting to continue unabated. There was simply no reason for this degrading spectacle other than Arpaio's lust for media attention. If he decided — based on overcrowding and/or security concerns — that these inmates needed to be transferred, then he should have proceeded — as most jail officials do — using buses, without creating a circus and marching these individuals in chain gangs over a distance of one mile. Joe Arpaio is legally and morally obligated to treat people in a humane manner. He should put an end to this one-man circus show and start doing his job of upholding the law, rather than violating people's rights and pandering to the most reactionary and racist elements of the anti-immigrant movement.
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30 Responses to "Sheriff Joe's Inhumane Circus" |
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Feb 5th, 2009 at 2:13pm
Do his job?
If the Obama Justice Department does not move against him, he should be consigned to the Hague and tried for human rights abuses. Why doesn't the executive director of the Arizona ACLU lead that call?
Telling a monster to "start doing his job" is like pleading with Hitler to please ease up on concentration camp inmates.
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/gestapo-usa-govt-funded -vigilante-network-targets-terrorizes-u-s-citizens
OR (if link is corrupted): http://My.NowPublic.com/scrivener
Feb 5th, 2009 at 2:27pm
Way to go Sheriff Joe. You are now officially my new hero.
Listen to the lies and crap that this anti-American group known as the American Criminal Liberties Union spews. The first lie is--Undocumented inmates. Hey morons, how about calling them what they are--ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS from a third world cest pool bring their third world crap to our country.
Also the ACLU says that lawbreakers should be treated with respect and dignity. Are you kidding me? That is bullshit. Liberalism is a mental disorder.
Hey Heriff Joe, give em' hell. Real patriotic Americans stand behind you 100%.
Feb 5th, 2009 at 2:56pm
I bet you won't even post this anyway. But, I wish more law enforcement officers were like Sheriff Joe. Where I am from, if you roll through a stop sign you get a $130 ticket, but if you don't have insurance or a license to drive you get told to get one and that is it. Forgive me for being "politically incorrect" but almost everytime I hear about someone getting hit by a Mexican, it becomes a hit and run. Why is that I wonder? Oh yea, they are ILLEGAL and they don't have any insurance! I am tired of people these days saying prisoners derseve more rights or illegals derserve more. Are you crazy? Seriously, there is something wrong with you. And yes, I said YOU! I wish Sheriff Joe was the Sheriff of my town. I don't want to get hit by a person without any insurance, I want prisoners to be punished for killing people or stealing or fruad- whatever the case may be. I served this country prouldy and I have the right to say all of this just as anyone else does so I would like you to post this. If you would like to see who I am you can look me up on facebook- my name is Doug Kieler. I support Sheriff Joe and what he does.
Feb 5th, 2009 at 4:26pm
http://voice4fact.blogspot.com/ Voice Of Conservative America just visited your blog
Feb 5th, 2009 at 7:27pm
The Way to go Sheriff Joe. Too bad there's not more sheriff's like him.
Feb 5th, 2009 at 7:28pm
prisoners are no better than our soldiers overseas. when a person is convicted of a crime and sentenced, that person gave up his/her rights! and, further more, prisoners on death row should be executed within a resonable length of time; not years.
Feb 6th, 2009 at 3:46am
Please help the hard working women of Lafayette College. Six women have come forth to stop sexual harassment at the college. The pervert responsible for sexually harassing these women was sentenced to 18 months probation in a plea bargain. How could such a plea bargain be available this scares me. The man accused of the harassment is basically walking away untouched. He got his rocks off for years at these women’s expense. This man was put in a position to protect the college, its employees, and its students. Below are the local newspapers links to the articles. Please help these women return to there jobs. These women were scared to come forth because the man responsible carried a gun and must have had some kind of connection with college considering he worked there for 20 years. Lafayette is trying to sweep this under the rug and its working. I hope the ACLU can help these women and make it known that these type of actions will not just be swept under the table.
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b4_3lafayette.676928 1feb04,0,2728419.story
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/i ndex.ssf/2009/02/sixth_woman_files_civil_lawsui.html
Feb 6th, 2009 at 2:05pm
Doug - The person with whom you had an automobile accident mayor may not have been an illegal immigrant. You have no way to know. Perhaps s/he was scared or could not afford insurance. All that aside, what happened is not about giving prisoners more rights. It is about enforcing laws and court decisions that set out their rights. If a person's rights are void upon conviction, I think we could make a lot of money by organizing hunting parties with felons as prey.
As for quick execution, look at the number of people who have been released from Death Row after their innocence was proven. Not released on a technicality, but proven innocent.
Feb 6th, 2009 at 2:15pm
sorry. I mixed two, similar posts. The last part of the previous post was a comment to unknown.
To finish my comment to Doug...If you have read the ACLU blogs, you will see that they believe in freedom of speech and do not appear to censor beyond the rules they give at the beginning. Your opinion is just as valuable as anyone else's. I just disagree with you. A wonderful country we have that we can disagree.
Feb 6th, 2009 at 3:56pm
All of you who support Sheriff Joe:
Isn't it interesting that the ACLU you hate so much allows you to freely express your opinions...
...while there is strong evidence that the onging warrantless surveillance programs initiated by the former president and vice president censor and exercise prior restraint on political speech on the internet?
Call it "fusion centers gone rogue."
For your consideration:
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/political-blogger s-beware-more-signs-big-brother-censorship
OR (if link is corrupted):
http://My.NowPublic.com/scrivener
Feb 8th, 2009 at 8:58pm
Sheriff Joe is a hero. Thank God we are still a sovereign nation.
The Hague is illegal and without legitimacy. No American should ever have to worry about being subject to some international kangaroo court. How could you compare Hitler to Sheriff Joe?
Feb 10th, 2009 at 2:52pm
Joe for President! Go to hell ACLU and illegal scumbag law breakers (just leave some Tacos, I like Tacos haha).
Feb 11th, 2009 at 9:54pm
I love my country, but I am disgusted by the examples of blatant racism and abuses of human rights like this.
Sheriff Joe is an embarrassment.
Feb 18th, 2009 at 5:27pm
Wow. that's all I can say. the comments left by many here are proof that there are still racists/bigots/idiots out there who pander to the big white government and the heaertless/thoughtless selfish code of morals set forth by many leaders. thanks for creating more hate, and more lies. you are "truly great Americans' as Hannity would say. you suck.
Feb 26th, 2009 at 10:10pm
Sheriff Joe, You're the man! You rock. Hey liberals, once someone is convicted and sent to prison, they lose their rights. I remember this from some history course somewhere in my youth. Otherwise, what's the point of prison? "Freedom has to be earned"....
Mar 5th, 2009 at 4:54pm
Ok Duh,
Who is being racists/bigots/idiots now? Those who pander to the big white government? Come on. Please do not ever forget it was those heartless/thoughtless selfish code of morals set forth by our founding fathers that gives you your voice today. I dare you to stop calling the kettle black and take a good look in the mirror. Not all is right in America but statements like that does not make your point better it just makes you look worse. Come on you can do better than that!
Mar 5th, 2009 at 8:39pm
This rascism and bigotry mentioned on this board is due to the disgusting behavior of all corporate shills representing Americans (this means you McCain/Bush). This is what happens after Americans are repeatedly sold out by their representatives from BOTH parties. They have crossed the border illegally. Their criminal status is UNKNOWN, their mental problems are UNKOWN, their intent, be it hard working family supporter, or child pervert, is unknown. This Sheriff is a response to the Congresses swindling American labor in their qwest for the allmighty corporate dollar.
Mar 13th, 2009 at 3:28pm
I would feel safe at night knowing someone like Sheriff Joe was looking out for me. Ever been robbed? Assaulted? Raped? Whatever the crime, the last thing a criminal ever thinks about is how they violate MY civil rights. Our country is overwrought with too many people who think they are entitled to what other people have and don't care what they have to do to get it. Sexual predators and child molesters are the worst form of humanity and once they cross the line, they LOSE their civil rights.
I support Sheriff Joe all the way.
Mar 14th, 2009 at 3:36pm
Go Sheriff Joe wish we had someone like you here in Scotland to kick all the pakis oot
Jun 5th, 2009 at 10:15am
The ACLU is controlled by COLLECTIVISTS. That is why there is never any help for victims of "gangstalking". It's all being controlled by COLLECTIVISTS. Until they're removed....NOTHING is EVER going to change for us.
Jul 30th, 2009 at 11:08am
This man is doing a job nobody is willing to do. He's getting attacked for doing what's right! Where are the voices for our troops overseas? They are actually doing good for our county and not getting any sympathy for their living arrangements. Yet, some even feel justified in condemning our troops and sticking up for those being treated as criminals, that they are. They are people, yes, but criminals. There should always be consequences. Without consequences, criminals would forget too easily why they shouldn't break the laws once again. Its undeniable how our blurred views are on this issue has hurt our county, all citizens included. I fear for our next generation, who is expected to lead this country, who are being raised with no consequences for bad choices and are being instantly gratified. There is no respect and no responsibility for actions. We are teaching our children that someone's feelings (moral or not) are more dependable than truth. This man is one in few doing something dramatic for our country. It's obvious that more people agree with him. He gets about 87% of the votes! Go Sheriff. Keep standing up for what's right and thank you for not allowing the "feelers" to sway you.
Aug 21st, 2009 at 5:37am
I think we should give the poor "undocumented visitors" a nice soft bed to sleep in and super soft pillows and they shoud be in air conditioned cells during the summer months with good healthy nutritous food to eat. Maybe they should be given back rubs and massages to ease their sore backs from all the hard labor they do for us undesireable and cruel Americans.
No wait, maybe all of us ugly Americans should move up to... say, Montana, and let the undocumented visitors have all these other states, so they can live all by themselves. Then all the states like, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado will become joined to Mexico and it will be one big Mexico... just like the Mexico they have now, just bigger.
Yeah, that's right, like the freaked out stinking third world dump they call a country now!!!
Yeah right. ACLU should be happy as hell we Americans have fought, died and struggled throughout the years for this country so they can f*** it all up!!!
Aug 21st, 2009 at 5:53am
Joe was saving fuel and protecting the environment, and he didn't pollute the air with dangerous CO2 emmisions when he marched those undocumented visitors to tent city. He should be commended, he's trying to save the world. Give the guy a break.
Aug 21st, 2009 at 9:38am
You know, while I agree with what Joe is doing, he is going about it in the wrong way. Look at the number of people arrested as illegal, and some of that number is actual citizens and LEGAL immigrants on visas and work permits.
Oh, the muggers, robbers and such is why I own and train with weapons of various sorts, including the martial arts, so that I can fulfill my duty as a man to defend my family, friends and others.
Aug 28th, 2009 at 9:03am
My daughter broke the law and was in tent city for thanksgiving and christmas. It is such a shame the way we treat people who are in the system. If there is a hell, there will be a special place for sheriff joe and his cronies. Until you have first hand knowledge of what actually goes on in tent city, you should hold your praises of him. It is criminal what he does to inmates there. I am getting on in years but hope to see the day he gets his just due. And for those who support him you will change your mind if you ever find yourself in his custody.
Oct 14th, 2009 at 3:37am
Now nail this bastard under the Eighth Amendment for Degradation and inhuman treatment, for Chain-gangs Pink clothing rotten food, living conditions. The way to do this is take as many degrading pictures, and videos you can of his operations, and then let the pictures speak for themselves before a grand Jury, and or before the court. Them let him be sued, by everyone he violated. This arrogant bastard, needs to be retired, and the state of Arizona needs to be sued to allow this Violation of our bill or rights. Remember pictures Don't lie! The ACLU should do their Damm Job!
Oct 15th, 2009 at 5:22am
Did you all forget these are convicted criminals? They broke the law. They deserve their punishment as ordered by the court. If the punishment fits the crime they will be deterred from doing it again. If we go soft on criminals and give them all the creature comforts of home they truly aren't being punished.
If you want to cry human rights abuse why don't you spend more of your energy on places like China and North Korea? Or female genital mutilation in Africa? That's real torture.
Oct 15th, 2009 at 5:25am
If they didn't break the law they wouldn't have to worry about the punishment. If the punishment actually fits the crime they will be less likely to break the law again. I applaude Sheriff Joe for making jail uncomfortable for once.
You all need to focus your energy on places that actually torture people and violate their human rights like China and North Korea, or genital mutilation in Africa. That's real torture, not having to wear pink pajamas.
Nov 28th, 2009 at 11:40am
I support Sheriff Joe fully! He is a great lawman who does his job- which is to follow the laws of our land. ACLU has gone so far down the tubes, to bad! they could good. Arizona needs more men like him!
Mar 25th, 2011 at 10:26pm
The ACLU is a club of commie pukes. Asswipes ClUb of American!