December 15th, 2011 downtown Phoenix: Mary Rose Wilcox and Phoenix city council person Michael Nowakowski with other public figures spoke in support of the U.S. Dept. Justice report just released today in which Maricopa county sheriff Joe Arpaio was accused of racist conduct. When the press conference was finished one large group of anti-Arpaio, pro-human rights protesters formed to support the U.S. Department's decision to strongly criticize Arpaio's racist behavior. In addition, another report from members of Occupy Phoenix who demanded another seperate and independent investigation by Department of Justice on the recent death of Persian Gulf Veteran Marty Atencio occurred at a city of council meeting with the new mayor Stanton in attendance:
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The protest became contentious when a few pro-Pearce/Arpaio counter-protesters showed up to support Arpaio and say that it was wrong for Arpaio being targeted by the D.O. J. and especially for lax enforcement against what his critics say is lax enforcement against child molesters.
One of the pro-human rights organizers at the press conference says that word is out of Arpaio holding some kind of press conference today at the Wells Fargo bank in Down town Phoenix where his plush headquarters are located. Please stay updated for that press conference today. Leonard Clark reporting from Phoenix.