Activists Protest SB 1070, Tent City Jail in Phoenix
Even before a protest against alleged civil rights violations by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office had begun Saturday night, dozens of activists had gathered with signs and loud voices.
Officials with the Unitarian Universalist Association organized the nighttime protest to bring attention to Senate Bill 1070 and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Tent City, which they say, violate human rights.
Monday is the next day the Supreme Court could issue a ruling on the controversial immigration bill signed into law two years ago by Gov. Jan Brewer.
About 1,000 to 4,000 activists were expected at Tent City Jail near 29th Avenue and Durango Road in Phoenix, officials said.
Arpaio said that no matter what the Supreme Court decides about SB 1070, he will continue the practices he has long been practicing.
“We’ve had the Rev. Al Sharpton here protesting and Linda Ronstadt. They wanted us to close Tent City, too. But that will never happen,” Arpaio said.
The sheriff’s office shut down all six of its jails Saturday in anticipation of the protest. Because of the shutdown, family and friends were not allowed to visit inmates at the jails for the day.