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3'*’e ^ortlanb (Bbseruer
November 3, 2010
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A Modern-Day Bull Connor
Sheriff’s abusive
law enforcement
F o rty -sev en y ears later, in
Maricopa County, Ariz., there’s an­
other police official who seems bent
on defying the Constitutional rights
BY M A R C M O R IA L
of non-white, law-abiding citi­
In April 1963,
zens.
while confined tojail
For more than a decade,
in Birmingham, Ala.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe
for leading peaceful
Arpaio has been the subject of
civil rights demon­
numerous investigations and
strations in what was
lawsuits for his inhumane treat­
then considered to
ment of prisoners and over-
be the most segre­
zealous enforcement of immi­
g ated
city
in
gration laws, including Arizona
America, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. statues that amount to outright ra­
wrote an open letter challenging a cial profiling.
group of local ministers and the
Since M arch, 2009, the Justice
nation to speak out against the bru­ Departm ent has been investigat­
tal, segregationist tactics of the in­ ing Arpaio for violating the Civil
famous Birmingham police commis­ Rights Act, which forbids discrimi­
sioner, Bull Connor.
nation in program s receiving fed­
eral funds. Investigators have re­
quested docum ents and in te r­
views to ascertain whether the
aggressive search and seizure tac­
tics of Arpaio's office during its
pursuit o f undocum ented im m i­
grants, violated the civil rights of
law -abiding Latino citizens. For
more than 18 m onths, Arpaio has
refused to cooperate with the
probe. In early September, the Jus­
tice Departm ent filed suit against
Arpaio. M aricopa County stands
to lose $ 113 million in federal funds
if Arpaio doesn't produce proof
that he's not engaging in racial
profiling.
Arpaio's obstinate refusal to co­
operate with this federal investiga­
tion is virtually unprecedented.
According to the Justice Depart­
ment, Arpaio is the first local law
enforcement official in 30 years to
refuse to provide documents in a
federal civil rights inquiry. Arpaio's
actions follow a longstanding pat­
tern of abuse of power and anti­
immigration behavior. In 2008, a fed­
eral judge ruled that M aricopa
County jails failed to meet constitu­
tional standards.
Moreover, Arpaio has publicly
admitted that for years he has been
employing many of the tactics con­
tained in Arizona's controversial
new immigration law, which the Jus­
tice Department has said illegally
conflicts with federal statutes and
undermines the nation's foreign
policy.
Joe Arpaio is becoming a symbol
of rising anti-immigration fever
throughout the nation. He's a throw­
back to the days when powerful and
arrogant police officials openly
blocked racial progress and defied
federal law.
Arizona ACLU Legal Director
Dan Pochoda has said, "Sheriff
Arpaio does not have the right to
profile people because they look
Latino regardless of their immigra­
tion status. His job is to uphold the
law, not violate people's rights."
I agree. Joe Arpaio calls himself
the "toughest sheriff in America."
But his abusive law enforcement
and anti-immigration tactics make
him look more like a modern-day
Bull Connor.
Marc H. Morial is the president
and chief executive officer o f the
National Urban League.
Living the Baptismal Promises
With love and
support for sexual
minorities
by K elly
B urd
Sharing in the sacra­
ment of baptism was one
of my favorite aspects
of parish ministry.
When I baptized infants, I got to hold them
in my arms and look into their bright eyes as
I proclaimed God’s abundant love for them in
Christ. I would turn to the congregation and
ask, “Do you, who witness and celebrate this
sacrament, promise your love, support and
care to this one?” They always affirmed, “We
promise our love, support and care.”
Grace abounds in a community bound
together by faith, sharing responsibility for
the new life in our midst.
and siblings.
for suffering, alienated youth in our commu­
Inevitably, each cooing infant becomes a
As individuals, we have the power tQ do nities? Are we speaking with a loud, pro­
teenager with a changing body, an increas­ something vitally important: shape the per­ phetic voice on issues of justice for LGBT
ing awareness of his or her sexuality and a spectives of young people in our lives. Every people? Are we taking a public stand against
peer group whose acceptance is of utmost moment of every day, our language, atti­ other forms of intolerance?
importance. Most will be straight. And many tudes and actions concerning sexual orienta­
All of these actions are pastoral and pro­
will be lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or tion and gender identities (as well as race, phetic expressions of love, support and care,
transgendered, whether or not they have culture, religion and other forms of diversity) and they are but a few possibilities. What can
recognized it, accepted it, or begun to live convey a message. From simply watching us our churches do that not one of us could
into it.
they will learn either the way of Christ’s accomplish alone? Let’s dream big, collabo­
Those young people we’ve been reading inclusive compassion or the way of exclusiv­ rate, and live into those baptismal promises
about in the headlines - they are our children. ity and hate. Which will they learn from you? with faith, courage and action.
We have held them, loved them, baptized
As the church, we are challenged to keep
The United Church of Christ offers LGBT
them - both the bullied children who may those baptismal promises in tangible ways. justice and anti-bullying resources at ucc.org/
contemplate suicide and the bullying chil­ Do youth experience our love, support and lgbt. LivingWorks1 Applied Suicide Inter­
dren who mob and taunt them. They belong care for them when they are struggling with vention Skills Training helps people to rec­
to our churches and go to our schools. They their sexual identity? What does love look ognize and competently respond to persons
live in our homes and just down the street like when we witness them acting with malice at risk of suicide. For information, visit
from us. They come over for sleepovers and toward kids who are different from them­ livingworks.net.
birthday parties with our children and grand­ selves?
Kelly Burd is the minister fo r leadership
children, our nephews and nieces, cousins
Are we offering a safe place (sanctuary) development fo r the United Church o f Christ.
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