Neo-Nazis in Arizona

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Phoenix New Times has been investigating and writing about the sympatico relationship between Sen. Russell Pearce and Sheriff Joe Arpaio with Mesa's neo-Nazi groups for some time. This is a photo of Sen. Russell Pearce posing with neo-Nazi J.T. Ready. Russell Pearce's Willie Horton: White supremacist J.T. Ready. – Phoenix News; Russell Pearce, J.T. Ready and the thousands of Mesans with rocks in their heads. – Phoenix News

Sheriff Joe Arpaio likes to have his picture taken as well, this one with neo-Nazi Thomas Coletto "Vito Lombardi." Joe Arpaio Takes Pic with Neo-Nazi, Gives Nazis Intelligence on Marchers – Phoenix News:

I spoke with neo-Nazis J.T. Ready and "Vito Lombardi," both of whom were throwing up the sieg heil sign as they verbally attacked the marchers passing by on Durango Street. They told me that Joe had stopped by earlier and spoken with each of them. Ready said Arpaio called him by his initials "J.T.," and Lombardi bragged of getting a photo with the sheriff.

In the United States in the 21st century this should not be happening. Consorting with neo-Nazi organizations should be an immediate disqualification from public office. Period. This country fought a World War to rid the world of Nazis, not to give them a safe haven here.

And yet, our elected officials with a wink and a nod give their tacit approval to neo-Nazi groups operating freely as domestic terrorists within Arizona. Man with neo-Nazi ties leading patrols in Arizona:

Minutemen groups, a surge in Border Patrol agents, and a tough new immigration law aren't enough for a reputed neo-Nazi who's now leading a militia in the Arizona desert.

Jason "J.T." Ready is taking matters into his own hands, declaring war on "narco-terrorists" and keeping an eye out for illegal immigrants. So far, he says his patrols have only found a few border crossers who were given water and handed over to the Border Patrol. Once, they also found a decaying body in a wash, and alerted authorities.

But local law enforcement are nervous given that Ready's group is heavily armed and identifies with the National Socialist Movement, an organization that believes only non-Jewish, White heterosexuals should be American citizens and that everyone who isn't White should leave the country "peacefully or by force."

"We're not going to sit around and wait for the government anymore," Ready said. "This is what our founding fathers did."

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Ready, a 37-year-old ex-Marine, is different. He and his friends are outfitted with military fatigues, body armor and gas masks, and carry assault rifles. Ready takes offense at the term "neo-Nazi," but admits he identifies with the National Socialist Movement.

"These are explicit Nazis," said Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project. "These are people who wear swastikas on their sleeves."

(h/t Phoenix New Times for the photo)

* * *

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said there haven't been any incidents with the group as they patrol his jurisdiction, which includes several busy immigrant smuggling corridors. But Babeu is concerned because an untrained group acting without the authority of the law could cause "extreme problems," and put themselves and others in danger.

"I'm not inviting them. And in fact, I'd rather they not come," Babeu said. "Especially those who espouse hatred or bigotry such as his."

Law enforcement officials said patrols like Ready's could undercut the work of the thousands of officers on duty every day across the border, especially if they try to enforce the law themselves in carrying out vigilante justice.

* * *

The patrols have been occurring on public land, and militia members have no real restrictions on their weaponry because of Arizona's loose gun laws.

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Such groups continue to operate in Arizona, and law enforcement officials generally don't take issue with them as long as they don't take matters into their own hands.

The cult movie Blues Brothers has a classic scene "I Hate Illinois Nazis" on Flickr. That goes for Arizona Nazis as well. It's long past time the voters of this state say "enough is enough!"