Satire Whether Jerry brown was firm or conflicted in his controversial legislative decisions last night was unclear but may be swayed by news he received this morning. Jan brewer, Arizona's governor notorious for her signing of the state's racial profiling bill, SB1070, issued Brown honorary residence in her state. "Anyone... Continue reading

"This is a little embarrassing to admit," began Governor Deal at an official press briefing. "it turns out, contrary to popular belief, the state of Georgia was not founded in 1732. It has been around much longer than that." The governor was speaking among what pundits are calling a political... Continue reading

Today the 9th Circuit Court upheld the preliminary injunction against SB 1070, the anti-immigrant racial profiling bill passed on April 23rd, 2010. The decision runs counter to the request of Arizona’s Governor Brewer and is further vindication for those who have been fighting this anti-immigrant legislation that has tainted the... Continue reading

When the omnibus package of anti-immigration bills proposed by Senate President Russell Pearce failed to pass, commentators suggested that Arizona was ready to take a breath on the immigration debate. Any breathing room that existed however quickly filled with the hot air and dangerous dramatics of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe... Continue reading

"This silencing of dissent should put chills in those who care for our democracy and should be the final straw for the Obama Administration that has been too slow to intervene in the human rights crisis here at home in Arizona." Continue reading

Nominate someone today! The co-founders of the award, Geri Mannion & Taryn Higashi, discuss why they created it. The Freedom From Fear Award was founded by Geri Mannion and Taryn Higashi, co-recipients of the Council on Foundations 2009 Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking. Mannion directs the U.S. Democracy... Continue reading

Last week, the effort to take away the citizenship rights of Arizona's first generation children born of undocumented parents hit a wall. What the out-of-town conservative ringer, Dr. Eastman, could not accomplish in more than an hour and a half of testimony, Katherine Figueroa finished in four words; "We are the future." These children of migrants speaking for themselves, family, and friends are at the crux of complicating the recent nativist attempts to revoke birthright citizenship to those born in the US. Continue reading

On February 10th, 2011. Rep Grijalva and others hosted a Congressional Hearing on Emerging Issues in Ending Violence Against Immigrant Women. Below is a short video excerpt of the testimony. Read more about the hearings at Latina Lista Continue reading

So far in here, I have helped one man win his cancellation of removal and one win his asylum case. At the moment, I am helping two more fellow detainees, one with cancelation and another asylum. This is something I would have never imagined I would do. And all that from a prison cell. I imagine its not unheard of and in fact, I think they call people that do this “jailhouse lawyers” I guess out of necessity and seeing the desperation of others the least I can do is try, but when we were successful its extremely gratifying. Like doing the impossible, taking on an entire system without resources or previous knowledge. Continue reading

Today is my third month of incarceration. I was supposed to be the best man at my friends wedding. I was supposed to go to Vegas to watch a big fight, flight and tickets paid for. I was supposed to compete in my first Judo tournament. I was supposed to be the role model for my godson that I never had. I was a partner in two small businesses, and the breadwinner for my girlfriend and her two boys. From in here, this whole experience seems surreal Continue reading

join us as more than 20 poets lend their energy and language to a group reading in response to Arizona Senate Bill 1070 and in resistance to the atmosphere of national xenophobia under which the bill (and its emerging counterparts) were created. Continue reading

For myself, dealing with uncertainty became a matter of switching my perspective from the reality of my imprisonment to a past life of sports. I began viewing my cellmates as teammates and our incarceration as another “sports camp” I had to endure. The intensity of the gravity of the situation does not dissipate, but for me it became or has become easier to bear. It nevertheless is hard to deal with. Continue reading

“Sure those states will give FAIR new laws, but do they have armed vigilantes in their deserts? I didn’t think so. Can’t get that from some tramp state like Virginia. That’s Arizona from the heart right there…” And almost inaudibly, the state concluded, “hussies.” Continue reading

Arizona has had a rough time lately. The tragic shooting of January 8 is the latest in a long line of challenges the state has faced over the last few years. As Arizona residents, all of us here have felt the stress of these challenges. We empathize with those who have felt the pain of recent events directly. We are here today to state that we are proud to live in Arizona, and to ask our state’s lawmakers to seize the silver lining in these tragic events. Calls for greater civility in politics have gone out across the nation as a result of the tragic shooting in Tucson. President Obama, Governor Brewer, Senator McCain, and others all called for “a more civil and honest public discourse” at the memorial for the fallen just last week. Continue reading

The group is inviting people across the country to uncover the evidence of hate speech and violent rhetoric of actions in their own community. Stories will be collected and displayed at http://altoarizona.com Director of the network, Pablo Alvarado comments, “Our hearts go out to the victims and their families in this horrible tragedy. We mourn alongside them in part because as day laborers, we understand deeply the experience of being targeted by violent hatred and extremism.” Continue reading

Yogi (not his real name) is a 27-year-old college graduate who ran a small construction clean-up company in Arizona until he was stopped by police for a traffic infraction in late summer of 2010. He was arrested and transferred to a detention center because of his lack of proper paperwork. Yogi has lived in the United States since 1990. Deportation Nation is publishing his letters from the Florence Correctional Center, a private detention center owned by the Corrections Corporation of America. Continue reading

Second Amendment Remedies (with pictures) ShareNew 0 by Land of Enchantment Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 10:47:24 AM PST I did some picture research on "tea party darlings" last fall, including the guy who ran against Giffords and came close to unseating her. These are from his campaign site, from... Continue reading

Best viewed in full screen mode. A History of Hate: Political Violence in Arizona on Prezi Continue reading

"The nature of what they were saying was scary," she said, "One wanted to kick me in the uterus until I couldn't have children. Others have all kinds of really lewd and awful threats. There's not even this shared respect for another human being that you may disagree with." Continue reading

"This family wants justice. They're asking that violence stop and that Gov. Brewer and other elected officials take responsibility for this hostile atmosphere they have created" by the immigration law and other legislation, Galindo said. Continue reading

Led by J.T. Ready — a recent member of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement (NSM) — the group, who call themselves Ready’s Rangers, took to the desert armed with semi-automatic rifles and clad in fatigues, military style helmets and Kevlar vests. The “rangers” ended up holding 11 immigrants at gunpoint, according to participant Harry Hughes, NSM’s media spokesman. Continue reading

Details about this situation continue to unfold, but some things are eminently clear. We can continue in this downward spiral of vitriol, fear, and hatred, or we can turn the corner and begin working toward values of community, inclusivity, and equality. On the one hand lies our imminent destruction; on the other our potential salvation. Continue reading

The ambassador refused to directly comment on what specifically motivated the dramatic request, stating, “We cannot interfere in US politics.” However, a representative of the embassy commented “The statue’s inscription says, ‘give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.’ These words would seem more appropriate on the doors of your country’s private prisons than on a symbol of liberty.” Continue reading

Now that the political posturing of the elections are behind us, it’s time for those in office to get to roll up their sleeves and enact policies that will take our country forward. Free of ballot box considerations, the next months will demonstrate to the country where President Obama truly stands. On one hand, President Obama took the politically courageous (if not constitutionally obligatory) step to file suit in Arizona against SB 1070. On other hand, he has massively ramped up the very policies which created the political conditions for 1070’s passage in the first place. Most significantly, he has failed to reign in Joe Arpaio- a Sheriff who now puts the US on the map with human rights offenders from far corners of the world. If Obama doesn't act to reign in the Frankenstein created by 287g in Arizona, and if he doesn't stop the programs which will make other Arpaio's out of sheriffs elsewhere, any gains made among Latino voters will be a castle in the sand. Continue reading

Read the letters for Lady Gaga sent by two members of the LGBTQ community who are on the frontlines of the struggle against SB1070. We are asking that Lady Gaga meet with us so that she can speak out against hate and be a champion of our cause. We hope... Continue reading