Sheriff Joe Crucifies Human Rights on Good Friday

Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez attended a press conference today by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. In true McCarthy form, he threw out reporters from the Phoenix New Times, who have worked diligently to fight back against Sheriff Joe's un-American tactics in the Valle del Sol. Unfortunately, they are among the few journalistic voices willing to take he and his posse to task for the terrorizing they've unleashed in Latino neighborhoods.

I am here as an editor, as a reporter, and as a citizen observer. But I don’t go inside the roped off area with most of the other reporters. They’re here from all the TV stations, from the newspapers. Sheriff Joe Arpaio farts in Phoenix, and many in the corporate media here come running to celebrate it against a backdrop of American flags and tough-guy scowling. There has never been a more lauded scoundrel than this, I think. Question is: Will they celebrate this day as well? After all, Arpaio is here today, on Good Friday, to tell the people of Maricopa County that he has begun another weekend of “patrols” in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. For Easter Weekend. The last time he did this, it was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Nice timing, from a man who bragged on CNN that he found being compared to the KKK to be a compliment. Ah, Arizona.

more from Alisa