Arizona Republicans Push to Criminalize Protesters for “Obstructing” ICE Arrests |
Support justice-driven, accurate and transparent news — make a quick donation to Truthout today!
Despite public scrutiny over federal immigration agents’ use of force following the shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, Republicans in Arizona are pushing to criminalize protestors for “obstructing” an arrest.
Top Republicans marked the start of the new legislative session with the announcement during an early morning news conference, brandishing bright red posters with “We support ICE” printed on them in capital letters and bracketing Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller — who came up with the proposal — as he praised federal immigration officials and criticized “agitators.”
Miller has sought to build a reputation as a border hawk and Trump loyalist, entering his office into a federal partnership with ICE last year without permission from the county’s board of supervisors, volunteering to prosecute a Phoenix Democratic senator who shared alerts about ICE activity on her social media, and most recently speaking out in defense of the agent who shot Good in the face and called her a “f*cking b*tch” immediately after he killed her.
But just as the news conference was about to begin, a crowd of outraged protestors descended on Miller and the handful of GOP lawmakers preparing to give remarks about the new legislation just outside of the state Senate. One man played a tuba, another played a trombone and still........