Human-rights activists gathered in front of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Monday to protest Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s actions and encourage his prosecution. Nick Oza/azcentral.com








Carlos Garcia of Arizona-based Puente Human Rights Movement speaks at a protest asking U.S. Attorney John Leonardo to prosecute Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Monday, August 22, 2016, in downtown Phoenix.(Photo: Nick Oza/The Republic)



PHOENIX — Human-rights activists gathered in front of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Monday to protest Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s actions and encourage his prosecution.


U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow on Friday referred Arpaio and three of his aides to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, requesting that they be prosecuted for criminal contempt of court because of their disregard of the judge’s orders in an 8-year-old racial-profiling case.


Representatives of the Arizona-based Puente Human Rights Movement and other organizations wanted to emphasize how important it was to them that the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecute the sheriff.


Reyna Montoya, founder of immigrant-rights group Aliento, said they gathered to make a point to U.S. Attorney John Leonardo “to raise awareness that this is not fair and that we will continue to unite … until we see justice.”


The crowd of 40 to 50 protesters chanted together in English, “Arrest Arpaio, not the people” repeatedly.






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“Going down, going down, Arpaio is going down,” the protesters said in Spanish.


A handful of people who had been illegally detained by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office also were allowed to present their views to the U.S. Attorney’s Office staff.


Maricruz Ramirez said in Spanish, “We want an answer as soon as possible, because we have waited a very long time and so has the community. This is an urgent matter. We want to tell our story and what we have suffered through.”


Noemi Romero said in Spanish, “Three years ago, I was arrested at one of the selective stops by Sheriff Arpaio, and I was held at Estrella for two months. I’m here today for my case to be taken seriously and so that something can really be done and Arpaio be put behind bars.”


Political activists participated in the event as well.


Dan O’Neal, Arizona state coordinator for the Progressive Democrats of America, said that he has been fighting to defeat Arpaio at the polls for years.