SECOND UPDATE: Martin Rossetti just phoned and said he has been released from jail....we are on our way to pick him up. More details about his experience will be available via the "Day Laborers" documentary website and blog listed below. Thanks to everyone for their support, and keep spreading the news about what is going on on the ground in Phoenix!!!
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UPDATE: Because of the need for police at the various protests, Joe Arpaio's raid for "illegals" in a West Phoenix neighborhood has been delayed a few hours!
Not so fast there, Sheriff!
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(original diary below)
In a massive show of opposition to SB 1070, hundreds of people marched on various government and county offices in Phoenix, today. Dozens have been arrested in these protests, including a friend of mine (see below), and are at the moment being held without charge. (UPDATE: New Az Republic article contains specific information about number of arrests, including members of the media).
Article about protests and arrests
Even more heinous, Sheriff Joe Arpaio continues to run roughshod over every known tenet of human decency. He and his charges are launching one of their trademark raids on a west Phoenix neighborhood, harrassing local citizens in a feeble attempt to root out "illegal" immigrants. Note what he says about yesterday's injunction, which said that the portion of SB 1070 which required people to always carry proof of their immigrant status or else face charges was pre-empted by federal law:
"That would have been a nice little extra twist if we could have locked them up instead of handing them over to ICE," Arpaio said Wednesday after Bolton's ruling.
Furthermore, a bullet has shattered a window at the offices of anti SB 1070 Rep. Raul Grijalva.
On the lighter side, people are calling Judge Bolton an "activist judge" even though she is a Republican and was nominated to her current position by none other than Senator Jon Kyl.
One of those arrested within the last two hours is Martin Rossetti, a friend and independent filmmaker and member of the media who was merely present as a member of the press recording the protests. He and his producing partner are making a film about the history of day laborers and have been sleeping on my living room floor for a week, conducting interviews with people on all sides of the debate. We have not heard from Martin in a while and have no idea what he is being charged with.
Information about Martin's film at http://www.daylaborersdoc.com
This is an independently produced documentary and Martin and his crew could use any support, good wishes, and help this community can offer. If you can donate to the project through the fundraising link at IndieGogo.com, we would all be very appreciative. (There are other organizations against SB 1070 that also need your support; I don't mean to suggest that Martin's experience today is a more pressing need than the plight of immigrants who are being harassed and demonized on a daily basis, but we are looking for any help we can get to tell this story).
More on this situation as information becomes available.