Do the Immigrants' rights activists have the right to intimidate Pruitts trying to destroy a private business

Question

Immigrants' rights activists plan to march in central Phoenix this morning to protest plans to change the city's police policy on dealing with illegal immigrants.

The leader of the activists, Salvatore Reza, said he expects about 100 people to march the six miles from Pruitt's Furniture, at 36th Street and Thomas, to City Hall downtown, beginning at 9 a.m. A group favoring a crackdown on illegal immigrants said it would send about 20 people to City Hall.

Pruitt's has become the lightning rod for a battle over immigrants' rights since the owner asked the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office earlier this year to disperse day laborers who gather in the area. Reza has led protests outside the furniture store every Saturday.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio assigned deputies to today's march.

``We'll have our SWAT team standing by because of this march, and we'll have a bigger force out there than we usually do." Arpaio said. ``We're not going out there and arrest the protesters unless they violate the law. We're going out there to enforce the law, to protect businesses in that neighborhood, especially Pruitts that has been intimidated and has a rought time because of all these demonstrations and this immigration situation."

He said the immigrants' rights activists are not accomplishing anything.

``They're not going to get anything done. What have they proven? They've been in front of Pruitts trying to destroy a private business. All they've done is agitate people."

Arpaio said Reza has said the protesters will hang around until the sheriff leaves the Pruitts area.

``Well, the sheriff is not going, he's not going to tell me how to enforce the law," Arpaio said.

Today's march is not expected to affect traffic. Marchers told police they plan to stick to the sidewalk. Police said they will be on hand to make sure everything stays peaceful.

Today's march stems from Mayor Phil Gordon's action early this month, appointing a four-member panel to consider changes in Phoenix Police policy which currently bans officers from questioning people they stop about their citizenship status. Reza and others claim that authorizing such questions would lead to racial profiling.

Meanwhile, the head the police union is questioning a comment that Police Chief Jack Harris made to The Arizona Republic. Harris, who says his officers do not have time to make immigration enforcement their top priority, was quoted as saying, ``Do you want me to take the people that were working the Goudeau (Baseline Killer suspect) case and have them chase corn vendors?" Union lead Mark Spencer said the use of ``corn vendor" was reprehensible and only serevs to agitate and inflame the issue. http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=678240

Answer 1

And I suppose the pro illegals wouldn't mind us standing in front of there homes? What a bunch of morons. This shows the kind of people they are, harassing small business owners who are losing business and have to clean up urine, cigarette butts, broken liquor bottles and graffiti from what these illegals leave behind.

Answer 2

We need more law enforcement officers like Maricopa's Arpaio. The rule of law needs to be strictly enforced and day laborers should be arrested if they are not in the country legally. Why not have the County Pass an Ordinance that will not allow the gathering of day-laborers without a permit? Why not make sure that every person who hires day laborers is required to register with the county and report the names and addresses of all those who are hired? After all, there is still a requirement to pay taxes and how else are we going to collect the taxes due if we don't ensure that those who are working in the country are not only entitled to work here but are paying their fair share of the taxes? If we can regulate public smoking, require permits for solicitation, and otherwise restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens and legal immigrants, then why can't we regulate day laborers? Why not require that they must be picked up at the police stations instead of in front of stores or in parking lots? Enforcement will eliminate a great deal of the law-breaking activities and will do much to help the country in this time of crisis.

Answer 3

"Do the Immigrants' rights activists have the right to intimidate Pruitt's trying to destroy a private business" - Well your question is a little ambiguous, however I will address some of the underling issues:
1. Do the activist have the right to assemble and lead a protest? - Yes, as long as it is peaceful. It is a constitutional right.
2. Do they have the right to "intimidate" a business? - That really depends on how they "intimidate" the business. If they do so by organizing a boycott, then yes. If they do so by threatening the employees or owner, then no.
3. Do they have the right to attempt to "destroy" the business? - Again this depends on how they intend to destroy it. If by legal means such as a boycott, then yes. If by breaking windows, then no.

I don't support protesters that back illegal immigration. It would be like a bunch of people holding protest to support any other crime. "Hey, lets have a march to support armed robbery!!!". Makes no sense to me.

Answer 4

It's disgusting. Why are they targetting this one business repeatedly. It shows how self centered these people are. They keep telling us how the illegal immigrants want to make money and don't want to be bothered, but this business obviously want the same thing, and they harass them. Some of these immigration rights group are just fronts for racist organization. TO them, if a Mexican isn't making money, they don't care. They claim that they want our government to stop intimidating illegal immigrants, but they are intimidating the furniture store. The only difference is that they support illegal activities, while the furniture store owner only ask to enforce a pre existing law. I remember when Day Labororers use to hang around the entrance of Home Depot in my town, and not only were they a nuisance, but a safety concern. They jump in front of cars trying to get hired. I always was afraid of running them over with their excessive behavior.

Answer 5

This is not about immigrates rights this is about illegal immigrates rights, so lets call it what it is, and not once again let the illegals blur the line. As to the illegals contention that this is profiling, after 911 we have the right to know who is in this country, and why, the illegals and their supporters know that if a illegal is stopped and gives forged or stolen documents it's a federal crime, so that's why most carry forged or stolen documents to allow them to work, but do not show them for ID purposes

Answer 6

These activists are cowards. They are targeting and making an example out of Pruitt's, because of its small size. It is just one store. They wouldn't dare do it in front of a huge business like Home Depot.

Whatever happened to the laws against loitering? Whatever happened to a citizen's right to conduct business unhampered?

Again, shooting themselves in the foot. Let's hope this leads to a crackdown such as Prince William County has done. Kudos to Arpaio.

Answer 7

Here's what makes it legal. If they have filed for permits every time they hold their little protests, and their marches. Now if they don't have them, then they too are breaking the law.

Is this right?! No! But they are trying to make an example out of this business as "immigrant" unfriendly.

Answer 8

They are actually making the sheriffs job a bit easier. he is arresting illegal aliens who gather there. If they are legal and are having a legal march and protest then yes they are with-in their rights.

Answer 9

Any obvious in plain sight breaking of the law should be "probable cause" for checking someones legal status

Answer 10

a good time to round them up while in a crowd and send the entire bunch back to ole Mececo.