At 10A.M. July 30th, 60 Unitarians are being released from the 4th street jail, after a very successful protest blocked the main entrance of Sheriff Joe’s jail. The self professed “Toughest Sheriff in the West” had to call his officers away from their duties, and in doing so prevented his noon immigration sweep, planned Thursday July 29th. He was reported saying that “They’re not going to hold this sheriff and this jail hostage”.

At 2A.M. July 30th, Rev. Susan Fredrick-Gray and Peter Morales (President of the Unitarian Universalist Association out of Boston), with a congregant of the UUCP were released. With over 20 Unitarian Universalist Ministers from New York to California being arrested for civil disobedience, the question on the minds of supporters to SB1070 was simply why? These supporters of the bill are scratching there heads this morning after all the news reports wondering why all these white faith leaders from around the country were involved in local politics.

As Rev. Susan Fredrick-Gray puts it,” I am standing for human rights, not one more person, not one more mother, not one more grandfather will be taken from their family.” Putting a face to those affected by this ill-written immigration bill should raise red flags over most of the nation. We, as Americans, who have been eating produce picked and packed by migrant workers for a century now want them all to go home. The reality is that the farm jobs are open to everyone who wants to apply; the work is tedious, hot and pays about $8.00 an hour. The reports are that there are relatively few whites who chose this as a profession other that the Mexican migrant worker.

Who will pick your citrus, your cotton and your corn when you send the labor workers away? Will you brave the heat in California, Utah, Georgia, Arizona, Nebraska and elsewhere? You wonder why the nation of faith leaders cares about this bill. Maybe the question should have why don’t you? Arizona’s indigenous people are Native Americans and Mexicans. Who really are the immigrants here?

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