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ACLU Lawyer Arrested At Day Labor Protest
POSTED: 3:45 pm MST November 3,
2007
UPDATED: 6:29 am MST November 4,
2007
PHOENIX -- The legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona was arrested Saturday during a demonstration at a Phoenix store that has been a site of controversy over illegal immigrant day laborers.Capt. Paul Chagolla said Daniel Pochoda was arrested as activists demonstrated in front of Pruitt's Furniture and that Pochoda is accused of misdemeanor trespassing.Deputies said they warned Pochoda six times to leave, but he refused.The owners of Pruitt's have complained that their business is being harmed by day laborers' presence. Sheriff's deputies have responded with arrests, drawing protests from immigration rights activists.
"I'm not their favorite guy," Sheriff Joe Arpaio said. "They've sued me. I think this guy (Pochoda) is involved in a lawsuit against me. You think that's going to bother me?"Bystanders came by to shake the sheriff's hand. One woman told Arpaio, "You kick butt.""It's a disgrace that private businesses can be intimidated by activists that don't like the immigration laws that this sheriff is enforcing," Arpaio said."We as people who are trying to fight for a cause, we need to understand also the feelings and the exasperation of all of those businesses who feel affected by this situation," said Elias Bermudez of Immigrants Without Borders.Activists also protested last Saturday in front of Pruitt's. They said they were supporting illegal immigrants and day laborers.ELSEWHERE ON KPHO.COM. Body piercing to lose weight is catching on, but before rushing out to try it, the medical community says make sure the practitioner is certified and licensed to perform the technique. CLICK HERE for details. MORE SLIDESHOWS: From the bizarre to the tragic to the light-hearted, visit the KPHO.com slideshow collection and click away! CLICK HERE for images.
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Copyright 2007 by KPHO.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
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