This week: Call to End Impunity on the Border

Please forward widely and make your calls within the week!



End Vigilante Hate Crimes and Impunity on the Border.

Don’t Let Elected Officials Off-the-Hook!

Week of Call-ins to insist that our officials do their jobs!



Call-in to officials: March 28-April 4



Beginning on April Fool’s Day, the Minuteman Project will bring in over 1,000 volunteers from across the U.S. to patrol the Arizona desert to apprehend undocumented immigrants during the entire month of April. The effort is being led by two men from southern California –Chris Simcox and James Gilchrist. While the group claims that they will be exercising their democratic rights, white supremacist groups including the National Alliance and Aryan Nations.org have been recruiting participants and inciting people’s anti-immigrant racism and xenophobia.



What can be done?



Our elected officials who have the power and responsibility to uphold the law should step up and prosecute these hate crimes and criminal vigilante activities. All three of the officials listed below have been dragging their feet and shifting blame and responsibility on one another. Because of their inaction and shirking of responsibilities, a climate of impunity has given the green light to vigilante groups to continue committing hate crimes and violence on the border.



During the month of April, Border Action is sponsoring a series of events and actions to keep the pressure on the policy makers that have the responsibility to uphold the law. PLEASE CALL THESE OFFICIALS TODAY AND LET THEM KNOW THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB.

Cochise County Attorney Ed Rheinheimer - (520) 432-8700 or erheinheimer [at] co.cochise.az.us

Arizona Attorney-General Terry Goddard - toll free (877) 491-5742 or tgoddard [at] azag.gov

Arizona US Attorney Paul Charlton - (602) 514-7500 or paul.charlton [at] usdoj.gov or contact his public affairs person, Sandy Raynor - (602) 514-7625 or sandy.raynor [at] usdoj.gov

Please call these officials and tell them that enough is enough!

ð There are four civil suits filed against vigilante groups for violating the rights of undocumented immigrants and US citizens. These four are not isolated incidents, rather they show a horrendous pattern of vigilante violence against Mexican immigrants, Mexican-Americans and property owners in southern AZ (other property owners and ranchers do not support vigilantes)

ð The groups impersonate law enforcement officers, they illegally detain people, they threaten people with deadly weapons, and there are dozens of incidents where people have been beaten, kicked, shot at, dragged by their hair and threatened by vigilantes.

ð Each of these officials has jurisdiction, power and responsibility to step up and prosecute vigilantes.

ð The officials must take a strong stand against vigilantism –if not, the Minutemen and other groups, including white supremacists, will continue to invade Arizona and disregard state and federal laws.



Please send us a copy of any emails you send. For additional information or questions, please contact us at ban [at] borderaction.org









Border Action Network/Accion Fronteriza

P.O. Box 384

Tucson, AZ 85702

Tel 520.623.4944

Fax 520.792.2097

http://www.borderaction.org