by Luke Johnson at Huffington Post
Posted: 05/10/2012 4:12 pm
Updated: 05/10/2012 6:32 pm
The Justice Department filed suit Thursday against Maricopa County, Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office for unlawfully discriminating against Latinos, and in turn, disregarding basic constitutional rights.
Arpaio said Wednesday that he’ll fight the charges in court. “And then we’ll find out the real story. They’re telling me how to run my organization,” he said. “I’d like to get this resolved, but I’m not going to give up my authority to the federal government. It’s as simple as that.”
Here are some of the disturbing allegations from the 32-page lawsuit about the conduct of Arpaio and his office. (Read the full lawsuit here, and the story about ithere.)
Maricopa County Employees Call Latinos Derogatory Names
Jail employees frequently refer to Latinos as “wetbacks,” “Mexican bitches,” and “stupid Mexicans,” according to the lawsuit. An email that included a photography of a Chihahua dressed in swimming gear with the caption “A Rare Photo of a Mexican Navy Seal” was widely distributed by sheriff’s office supervisors.
Officers Mistreat Latinos In Routine Traffic Enforcement
The lawsuit recounts how a Latina woman who was five-months pregnant and a U.S. citizen was stopped as she pulled into the driveway. “After she exited her car, the officer then insisted that she sit on the hood of the car. When she refused, the officer grabbed her arms, puled them behind her back, and slammed her, stomach first, into the vehicle three times. He then dragged her to the patrol car and shoved her into the backseat,” reads the complaint.
She was cited for failure to provide identification, which was later changed to failure to provide proof of insurance. The issue was resolved when the woman proved she had insurance to a court.
In yet another case, two officers followed a Latina U.S. citizen a quarter of a mile to her home without flashing their lights. When she arrived home, they insisted that she stay in the car. The reason for the stop was a “non-functioning license plate light.” After she tried to enter her home, officers took her to the ground, kneed her in the back and handcuffed her. She was brought to a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) substation and cited for “disorderly conduct,” which was later dismissed, according to the lawsuit.
Latinos Are Indiscriminately Detained In Immigration Raids
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Related articles
- Arpaio Faces a New Sheriff in Town (thedailybeast.com)
- Sheriff Joe Arpaio: Immigrants’ worst nightmare (africanleader.net)
- Justice Dept. Sues Arizona Sheriff Arpaio for Civil Rights Violations (commondreams.org)
Debbie:
Just to let you know, I CAN back up the things that I say with facts. Can you PROVE that Obama is a fraud? Can you PROVE that Obama’s administration did all the things that you are claiming that they did? If you can, I’d be very interested in seeing that proof.
EO, I’m not having any more of this ‘venting’ on my blog. There is no place for it here. I’ve started limiting the posts of people who insist on doing it. I’m not saying that you are doing it. What I am saying is that you won’t have to tolerate it anymore. Hugs, ~Jean
Unlike what Alex said, I happen to live IN ARIZONA, and I am quite familiar with how bad and/or despicable Joe Arpaio is. This has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with how they do things in Washington D.C. This has to do with a PETTY, INSECURE, RACIST little man who thinks that he can push his weight around. So, Alex, if you think this REALLY has to do with D.C., then I suggest that you come down to Arizona and see how things REALLY are and see just how many Latinos are ready to go down to his office and lynch that man. DO NOT JUDGE BEFORE YOU GET THE FACTS.
Smear campaign.
Someone in DC does not like a revolutionary.
Alex I lived in Arizona for over 12 years and watched Arpaio go….and I KNOW this is a smear campaign to get even with him for digging up the dirt on the Obama fraud…..pink underwear, baloney sandwiches, some name calling (don’t like that but compared to the real police brutality that Alex Jones and David Icke are reporting everyday on the streets of major cities….compared to that Arpaio is a dog with no bite – on one was ever brutalized )…this is typical Chicago thug style mafia retaliation and nothing more…..this is harrassment Team Obama style…..typical of his entire adminstration….hell they couldn’t even let Saturday Night Live run there spoof on his killing of OBL………..which was certainly a joke…………..but Team Obama made them pull it…………….after all the phony killing of OBL is about all he has to run on it….it being as fraudulent as everything else about this POTUS…
Also, just read the Michelle Obama was required to surrender her license to practice law or face being charged with Insurance Fraud………..
FRAUD is all that we have there………the Obamam crime syndicate…..
Debbie:
I live in Arizona NOW, AND NOT IN THE PAST and I know what’s going on NOW. You obviously don’t, because you’re not here anymore. I would highly suggest, as I suggested to Alex that you back up your opinions with facts. Learn what’s going on now, so you know how to accurately express yourself. Slander, with no proof, is never a good thing.
sharen brewer:
It’s coming to an end soon. The threads of this ordeal are beginning to unravel to such an extent that we do not know–nor can we predict–what will happen from one day to the next. Just a year ago, the Cabal championed these people for filling their corporate prison system to the brim with hapless, defenseless unfortunates. Now, they have to destroy the fabric of their own paradigm as it had turned on them and exposed them all for who they really are. This is actually a good sign as it is an indication that the Cabal is out of control and feeding upon itself.
Light and Love,
SaS
What do these cops think they are?They are the kind of people I will be happy to see arrested when the stuff comes down.And they don’t have a clue,whats gona happen to them,they got their head so far far down thier own hole.It makes me sick and I know it happens all the time.