Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Think Progress reports Neo-Nazis March In Support Of SB-1070 In Arizona:
Yesterday, members of the Neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement gathered in front of the Sandra Day O’Connor Federal Court Building in Phoenix, AZ to protest a federal judge’s decision to block several provisions of the state’s controversial immigration law, SB-1070. Pollice had to interfere with tear gas and pepper spray when a group of counter-protesters clashed with the neo-Nazi march. Watch ABC15′s coverage:
Yesterday’s march is yet another example of the increasing participation of white supremacist groups in the SB-1070 immigration debate. This past summer, the East Valley Tribune reported that that “[w]hite supremacist activity is on the rise in Arizona.” Bill Straus of the Anti-Defamation League said of SB-1070, “It does seem like the distance between what most of us would consider the extreme fringes of political thought and the mainstream of political thought, it seems like that distance has shrunk.”
It’s not surprising that SB-1070 has attracted extremism. The lawyers who are credited with authoring it are employed by an organization that has reportedly accepted $1.2 million in donations from the Pioneer Fund, “a foundation established to promote the genes of white colonials.” The law’s sponsor, state Sen. Russell Pearce (R-AZ), has faced criticism in the past for cozying up to local neo-Nazis. He even endorsed one of “Arizona’s leading neo-Nazis,” J.T. Ready, when the he ran for City Council in the spring of 2006.
Not to worry. The Arizona Republic today assures us that it was all just a misunderstanding - Pearce didn't know. Riiight. Political Insider: So much for smaller government at state level:
- Not one of them . . . Russell Pearce last week went out of his way to separate himself from a White-supremacist group he's been indirectly linked to in the past via former Mesa Republican party official J.T. Ready.
Pearce has consistently said he did not know Ready was affiliated with the National Socialist Movement when they were photographed together at a 2007 anti-immigration rally. (above)
In a news release denouncing the group's planned rally against illegal immigration in downtown Phoenix on Saturday, Pearce said Arizonans don't want "outside agitators coming to Arizona."
"These hate-based groups are not welcome," he said. "We in Arizona will take care of Arizona and defend the constitutional rights of our legal, lawful residents."
We thought Pearce supported constitutional rights for Americans, but Insider must have misunderstood. Apparently it's only for Arizonans.
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