I was rather surprised to see this press release from Roy Warden, the anti-immigrant provocateur who burnt a Mexican flag in the middle of a pro-immigration rally in Tucson. The first surprise was the risable charges against Pima County officials of illegal-alien smuggling and (I can’t help but chuckle as I type) formenting civil war. As if this weren’t sufficient reason to seriously question Mr. Warden’s mental balance, he goes on to issue a death threat to two public officials and a private citizen. Read on and prepared to be shocked.
Apparently a statement to this general effect was aired on KVOA TV. I would be surprised if they aired this statement verbatim – I doubt if they would transmit a death threat, however conditional, on the news. Likely they carried a PG-rated version, if they gave air to the unfortunate Mr. Warden at all.
One of the officials named in Mr. Warden’s bizzare indictment is my boss: Isabel Garcia,the Legal Defender for Pima County. You should be aware that the Legal Defender is not a law enforcement officer, but an officer of the court charged mainly with indigent criminal defense work. Robert Hooker is the Pima County Public Defender, also an officer of the court having a similar role in indigent defense. Ms. Cowen is a private citizen affiliated with No More Deaths.
"May 12,
2006Isabel Garcia, Margo Cowan and
Robert Hooker
Pima Public Defenders
Dear Isabel Garcia:
Please be advised I intend to speak at the Tucson City Council Meeting May 16,
2006, congratulate the Tucson Police Department for their sterling performance
in Armory Park on April 10, 2006, and go outside in the public square to burn some Mexican
Flags.
You three “public officials” have used Pima County public funds to break federal
immigration law and smuggle Mexican Nationals. You have specifically created the
conditions of unrest that bring this country to the brink of civil war.
Therefore you are all subject to arrest by federal
authorities.
Time to put your money where your big fat mouths are: If any of the three
of you, or any of your pendejo thugs, assault me in any way, break through my
perimeter, make any threat of deadly force upon my life, etc. I will not
hesitate to draw my weapon and blow your freaking heads
off."
Wow. Now that’s seriously deranged. Issuing a death threat via press release. The guy certainly seems to have the courage of his convictions, but this sort of behavior puts him on a collision course with some serious consequences.
I suppose I should be delighted; he’s seriously compromising the legitimacy of his cause with such antics. But really, it’s just alarming and terribly sad. This is beyond poor judgment, he should be evaluated for full-blown paranoia. This guy really needs help.