Zack de la Rocha 'brings out the youth' in protest against Arizona sheriff

Reporting from Phoenix -- Zack de la Rocha, lead singer of the rock band Rage Against the Machine, helped lead a rally through the streets of Phoenix today in a bid to end the practices of an Arizona county sheriff who Rocha said had “deputized vigilantes” and created a “state of terror” for local Latinos.

Thousands of people marched about four miles from the Steele Indian School Park to the U.S. District Court of Arizona on Washington Street, chanting “No more Joe” and “Arpaio escucha, estamos en la lucha” –- which translates from Spanish to “Arpaio listen, we’re in the struggle.”

At issue is Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s enforcement of federal immigration law. Some activists say he has unfairly targeted the Latino community. Arpaio says he is simply doing his job and told The Times in a phone interview that today's protest would not "deter" him from fulfilling his duties.

“Without the proper warrants, he raids the homes and workplaces of janitors and gardeners,” De la Rocha told demonstrators at the end of the rally. “At routine traffic stops he detains and deports mothers, violently separating them from their children, who are left abandoned.”

Protest organizers said Arpaio has targeted Latinos in recent years with massive immigration sweeps, armed workplace raids and traffic checkpoints where Latinos are asked about their legal status.

Earlier last month, four U.S. congressional representatives sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr., demanding a federal investigation into Arpaio’s actions.

Arpaio has “a blatant disregard for the rights of Hispanic residents of the Phoenix area.... Members of the Latino community -- whether they are U.S. citizens or foreign-born, whether they are legal immigrants or undocumented -- feel under siege,” read the letter, written by Reps. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), Robert C. Scott (D-Va.) and Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.).

Salvador Reza, one of the rally’s leaders, said he began organizing Saturday’s event about two weeks ago after Arpaio led undocumented inmates, chained together at their hands and feet, to a tent city jail as reporters watched.

“When people are upset, it doesn’t take much time to get them together and to get them out,” Reza said. “Arpaio is raiding our communities and putting fear into our households because he’s targeting people based on the color of their skin.”

Reza said De la Rocha, pictured above on the right, who now fronts the duo One Day as a Lion, had marched in Arizona before to protest a proposed bill that would have made being in the United States without documents a felony. He said the artist is able to attract a crowd that might not otherwise attend.

“He brings out the youth and the 25-to-35 crowd and makes some people think of these things who might not of otherwise thought about it,” Reza said. Before Saturday's protest, De la Rocha put on a short free show for organizers and demonstrators.

Protest organizers said they want Napolitano, Arizona’s former governor, to stop Arpaio’s ability to conduct such enforcement.

In a telephone interview, Arpaio said he was largely unfazed by the protest.

“I don’t know why they have to have signs calling me illiterate and a Nazi and every other name in the book. I’m not concerned about them or some elected officials, they all seem to be Democrats,” he said. “Nothing changes. They are not going to deter me.”

Alfredo Magallandes traveled from Los Angeles with about 20 other luncheros -- lunch truck vendors -- to march in the rally. He has operated a catering truck at the corner of Compton Avenue and 62nd Street for about 20 years and said he wanted to show unity with immigrants in Arizona.

“We are here to support and say, ‘We are all human beings created equal.’ This sheriff, Arpaio, is violating the rights of humans, not only Mexicans or Central Americans, but human rights.... That’s why we’re here together, so we can stand up and speak out loud and say ‘that’s enough’,” Magallandes said.

One Phoenix protester said the sheriff’s actions in recent years have made her fearful.

Zeyda, 28, who did not give her last name because she is undocumented, said driving puts her on edge because she worries about running into one of the sheriff’s checkpoints.

“When there’s construction clogging the streets, I start to pray.... When there’s traffic, I pray,” she said.

Zeyda, speaking in Spanish, said she came to the United States from Mexico when she was 5 years old and has been able to build a good life for herself, making a home with her two daughters and running her own business cleaning homes.

“I feel capable. I feel intelligent,” she said. “But I sometimes feel like I live in a cage made of gold.”

Post and photos by Ari B. Bloomekatz, Paloma Esquivel and Nathan Olivarez-Giles.

Comments

[RoseH]

I am not understanding what is making people so angry. The Sheriff is doing his job. We are supposed to be a nation of laws and our law says it is a crime to come into the country any other way than what is our legal process. It doesn't matter to me what nationality they are, they just have to do it right. We allow many, many people every year to immigrate to the USA. Why isn't this good enough?

Undocumented workers are in the country ILLEGALLY. As a law abiding citizen, I am sick of this situation. No other civilized nation in the world (including Mexico) allows people to come into their country without the proper documentation.

I talk with many Hispanic people everyday who have a legal right to live and work in this country. They are sick of it too.

You protesters, do some research on what this runaway ILLEGAL immigration mess is doing to our country, both economically and criminally. Are only law abiding, hard working people sneaking into the country? You know better than that. And it is going to get worse as Mexico heads for a collapse because of their drug wars.

Allowing this to continue is not making our country better. On the contrary, our country now looks like the country they are all trying so hard to leave. Wise up and support our law enforcement agencies who are trying to preserve our laws and keep us safe.

It isn't about discrimination, it's about following the law of the land. If ILLEGALS do not understand that basic principle, then how can the rest of us trust them to follow any of our laws?

[Ron M]

Rose H: Be glad you do not live in Maricopa County. Under Joe it has become the Kidnap Capital of the United States, Crime is rampant and all Joe does is plan for photo ops. All law enforcement agencies have to prioritize, do we go after the guy smoking a joint or do we go after the guy selling Meth at the Junior High? In the case of illegals Joe goes after the Janitors and Gardeners and not the dopers, kidnappers and rapists. HE is doing nothing about public safety, All Joe cares about is Joe and the power he has, his policies and lack of training his officers has cost the Taxpayers of Maricopa County Millions of Dollars from excessive force and wrongful death suits- they were so nefarious that the County had no choice but to settle. Would you rather have a Drug Runner or Rapist Smuggler off the street or would you rather have a gardener off the street? Presently there are over 42000 felony warrants not being acted upon in Maricopa county yet Joe is forming a Posse and going after illegal Janitors, what is wrong with this picture? It is time for the Feds to take responsibility for the illegal alien issue by passing and enforcing meaningful laws that punish not only the illegal but the profiteers that hire them, only then will we be able to create some order to the immigration issue. I encourage all of you to research "Americas Toughest Sheriff" what you find will scare you!

[lisa olson]

i'm sorry ron but i agree with rose. which is something you guys refuse to understand. these people are here ILLEAGLY. they cause a severe burden on our social welfare system, among others. why should I have to pay for these people to live here? i work in the restaurant business, and have had the pleasure to work for and with many naationalities, but they had a green card and eventually got their citizenship. i hope sherriff joe arrests and deports them all, after getting my money back. and no i dont think the school system or any govt agency should have to be in spanish either. you wanna be here, learn english! furthermore, since all of you feel so sorry for them, why dont you pay for them out of YOUR pocket?

[Julian Gonzalez]

My family came over from Mexico and did all that was asked to become a legal citizen of the USA. My aunts work in Los Angeles doing immigration work and have helped thousands of people become legal US citizens. If they can do it and help other people do it, whats stopping other people from doing right? We have laws against illegal immigration for a reason. Everyone deserves to pursue their happiness as long as its done legally. I am a big supporter of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I think he needs to broaden his enforcement to other illegals such as, middle easterns, asians and europeans as well. Im sure mexicans and other latinos arent the only ones in Maricopa County illegally, thats the only complaint I have against him.

[Da Maverick]

Good point Ron M. Immigration, illegal and otherwise, is a complicated subject, with lots of conflicting policy objectives and political ramifications. That being said,I think it's clear that if you're spending resources trying to pickup Joe the gardener,then you're probably spending less time going after dirt bag dealers and kidnappers. I mean, while Sheriff Joe was on the watch, Phoenix became the nation's #1 kidnapping location. This is mostly due to drug smuggling and its related business, which IS under Sheriff Joe's jurisdiction.

Sheriff Joe is clearly going for low-hanging fruit. Like stealing candy from a baby, deporting nannies and a guy who wields a weed whacker for 10 hours a day is no admirable feaMaricopa County residents keep re-electing this guy? They deserve him and their crime problems.

[Indehf]

Rose H,

I am a American citizen of hispanic decent, and if I were to be stopped at a check point on the road, only to questioned if I am legally here in this country, simply because I appear to be hispanic, would violate my civil rights. This is illegal. This is what this sheriff is doing, so thats why people are angry. This is a form of discrimination. Please do some wising up of your own, and try to use the left side of your brain, instead of just the right side.

[Tom]

"Protest organizers said Arpaio has targeted Latinos in recent years with massive immigration sweeps, armed workplace raids and traffic checkpoints where Latinos are asked about their legal status."

Do they think he should be targeting Elvis impersonators? He is looking for illegal aliens, in a part of the country where 99.99999% of the illegals are Latino. Who else would he be targeting?

[MajorHavok]

Indehf: "I am a American citizen of Hispanic decent, and if I were to be stopped at a check point on the road, only to (be) questioned if I am legally here in this country, simply because I appear to be Hispanic, (that) would violate my civil rights." A young friend of mine was once stopped by the local constabulary because he fit the description of a rapist. Did that violate *his* civil rights?

Zach: The ILLEGAL immigrants you are championing are like unto people who break into your house, then demand you give them living quarters, feed them, learn their language, pay for their medical bills, school their children, and, because they're such nice folks and hard workers, overlook the fact that they broke into your house in the first place. Would you be willing to do all that for someone who broke into *your* home? Or would you be screaming down the phone lines for the police to arrest them?

In parting, I want to say, Mr. Julian Gonzalez and all of you other legal immigrants, a warm and hearty welcome to America. May you be richly and immeasurably blessed for your hard work and diligence, and for honoring those who came before you. The best of luck in all your endeavors.
Illegal immigrants, Zach de la Roche, and all those championing them, you are spitting in these peoples' faces. Does this make you feel good? Are you proud of yourselves?

[Salvador Reza]

What is it Sheriff Arpaio doesn't understand about "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness?" It was the U.S. Founding Fathers that said something about inalianable rights. And I believe those are the rights to feed your family, to traverse man made borders to look after your family. Those rights have no borders. It is the obligation of elected representatives to also make sure that the laws adapt to human rights, and the laws respect those inalianable rights regardless of race, creed or national origin.

I have seen 4 and 6 year old children torn from the Mom by masked deputies for a simple traffic violation, and I have seen Sheriff Joe blame the Mom. However, what fault do the children have? They are U.S. Citizens under the State and Human Being under God but now have been left motherless. See the video at www.puenteaz.org and tell me if you still support local police acting as federal agents. If you do then check yourself into an institution cause you are either dead or don't have a human heart.

[neiljack]

"What is it Sheriff Arpaio doesn't understand about "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness?" It was the U.S. Founding Fathers that said something about inalianable rights. And I believe those are the rights to feed your family, to traverse man made borders to look after your family. Those rights have no borders. It is the obligation of elected representatives to also make sure that the laws adapt to human rights, and the laws respect those inalianable rights regardless of race, creed or national origin."

THESE rights are granted to UNITED STATES citizens by the constitution of the united states of America. People who think Sheriff Joe is so bad should go and see how Mexico deals with illegal immigrants.

[James]

Arpaio has cost your community tens of millions of dollars in lawsuits where he has been found legally responsible for the deaths and permanent disabilities of his inmates. Your sheriff is a murderer. Keep that in mind next time you defend him.

[Klaus]

As a _legal_ immigrant, I get really irritated with the soft-pedalling lawmakers seem to do with illegal immigration. My employer, their representatives, and me personally spent considerable time, effort, and money on my getting in to the country legally. Apparently, I could have saved them their investment and just hopped a fence.

The double-standard is really very frustrating, and it would be nice now and then to see the government actually enforce immigration laws rather than hassle ordinary-yet-legal schleps every we time we go through customs.

[silver]

Born & raised in Arizona. I have Hispanic blood and what the sheriff is doing is correct. We have laws to be followed. Illegal aliens break those laws. When children are separated from parents as posted by Salvador Reza that is what happens when a law is broken.
If you rob, kill, and many other crimes you will be separated from your children. If you don't want to be separated come here legally, and don't break our laws. You are also free to return with your children to the country you came from.

[Afuentes]

I believe the most obvious fact here that nobody seems to analyze or want to accept is that this sheriff is not going after the real criminals. He is focusing on getting innocent people, the people who should be last on his list, and is doing it in a matter that humiliates and discriminates. Calling him a racist is not farfetched either because he is looking for these people by doing racial profiling. What this sheriff needs to be doing, is training his guards so that we don't have any more wrongful deaths, our county doesn't take first place as the most sued, and he also needs to go after the real criminals, therefore reducing crime in our neighborhoods, not increasing, as it is now. People you need to realize these facts and not be the sheep that believe everything they tell you on tv or the radio. The government needs to do something soon, we need a federal investigation, that way the nation knows what this sheriff is really doing. I don't find anything impressive about his work. Go find the real criminals and let the government fix the immigration issue. The government doesn't want "illegal aliens", but their industry welcomes them with open arms.

[Christy]

Thats Zack! Always letting us know what these assholes are up too. Keep on doing it brother! WE LOVE YOU!!!

[trayd]

Let me clarify something here. Your rights are NOT given or granted to you by the Constitution. They are RECOGNIZED by the Constitution. Our founding fathers recognized that all rights come from the 'great legislature of the universe' as they called him, or 'God' for short, and drafted a document that would prevent and restrain the power of any earthly government from ever infringing on those rights. The Constitution was drafted to protect the people from government, not to grant or take away any rights... Only God can do that.

[Doctor Alverez]

They come here, knowing they are breaking the law, knowing what the consequences are, and knowing they are putting their family at risk . But when they get busted they cry that their human rights are being violated in defense for their pre-meditated illegal actions. One illegal immigrant was quoted saying how the deputy makes her feel uncomfortable to drive now. Yet she is here illegally, and thus driving WITHOUT a license. Is it a human rights violation to arrest someone for driving without a license? And if she is driving with her kids in the car, WITHOUT a license, what does she expect to happen? Should the police let her bring the children into the jail cell with her? If you sneak into a foreign country which is heavily protected by law enforcement, and you drive around without a license, you are a criminal. I'm disgusted by Zach De La Rocha's involvement in these protests. Maybe Zach De La Rocha and his friends should be down in Mexico protesting their degraded and practically useless government to provide better living conditions for its citizens.

[Doctor Alverez]

Also I love the idiot holding the sign upside down.

[GRE G DELGADO]

Great work Zac! I came to the march from Oregon we are dealing with a local sheriff that is doing the same thing and we are organizing statewide to address the issue .I am happy to see younger Latinos getting involved . As for anyone who says Latinos burden our welfare systems in most states without a Social Security card you don't get help and your employer still deducts social security taxes from your check. The problem exists in equality for all we live and work hard to raise family's and want the same things everyone else wants .

[Josh B]

I have read every post on this page and am ashamed at Zach and all you who say what sheriff joe is doing is wrong. You break the law you deserve what ever comes your way. My wife came to the US the proper way and has become a citizen as well. Stop your crying about drug dealers and other criminals, 80% of convicted big time drug dealers are here illegal (do the research). I served 10 years in the ARMY and think Joe could do a better job at other things but is doing a great job at a few i.e. illegals. The president does a great job at a few things and could do a better job at other but I dont here you yelling for impeechment. If your here illegally I hope Joe gets you and hope you remain fearfull..

[Go Joe]

I love Rage Against the Machine's music, but this made me roll my eyes. I say all the time, "Con Papeles = Sin Miedo", which means "With Papers = Without Fear". Come here illegally, you run the risk of getting busted and shipped back to where you came from, period! You do it the right way and have documents, you don't ever have to look over your shoulder, now do you? Sheriff Joe is doing his job. Why should law breakers be allowed to get away scot free because they have families? Aren't other families torn apart when their loved ones commit crimes and are incarcerated?

Raids are necessary and not racist. I'm tired of that word being thrown around so much. It's a crock. We all know the industries that employ illegals, so why can't they "target" those areas?

On behalf of the American citizens that are tired of being overrun by people who ignore our immigration process, let me tell you something, Zack...estamos en la lucha tambien!!

Finally, anybody else see the irony in the fact that the woman here illegally quoted at the end has been in this country for TWENTY-THREE YEARS yet she can't (or doesn't bother to) speak to the reporter in English?!? Hmmm, do you think that's part of the problem here??? Infuriating.

[aaron horner]

"We are supposed to be a nation of laws and our law says it is a crime to come into the country any other way than what is our legal process. It doesn't matter to me what nationality they are, they just have to do it right. We allow many, many people every year to immigrate to the USA. Why isn't this good enough?"

I don't recall ever seeing a greencard from any of the Europeans that came over here. We have always been here your the immigrants. Better for you to remember that.
I'm so sick and tired of hearing these laws that were forced upon those who were ment to be repressed by a system that fails to acknowledge the truth.

[aaron horner]

"The ILLEGAL immigrants you are championing are like unto people who break into your house, then demand you give them living quarters, feed them, learn their language, pay for their medical bills, school their children, and, because they're such nice folks and hard workers, overlook the fact that they broke into your house in the first place. Would you be willing to do all that for someone who broke into *your* home? Or would you be screaming down the phone lines for the police to arrest them? "

This has been going on for 500 years now. I still don't have my home. I'm forced to learn English , foreign language, and yet you have the audacity to complain about what you have done yourself. My advice: read a history book because your not from here either.

[arodKl]

i cant believe that people are getting upset about some illegal immigrants. this sheriff, in my mind, is racist and deserves to have his badge taken away. His job is not to scare latinos or take mothers away from their 6 year old kids, his job is to protect people against criminals. I would rather see a rapist off the streets than see an innocent immigrant get jailed for not having the right documentation. this ticks me off so much cuz this guy could do some good in society, but instead he preys on helpless people who just want to make a living outside of a drug and crime infested culture.

[levi short]

alot has happened since rages last album and zach de la rocha needs to let his voice be heard! tom morellos guitar style cannot be absent tho. these two people are invencible together and should tell it how it is and lead a revelution.WAKE UP AMERICA!