Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix

Unitarian Universalists Arrested July 29th, 2010 "Day of Non Compliance" in Phoenix Begin
Trials.

Protestors arrested for blocking the intersection in front of the Wells Fargo building, on Washington St, in downtown
Phoenix during the "Day of Non Compliance" July 29th, 2010 head to court this
week and next. The group includes many Unitarian Universalist ministers and lay people from all over the country as well as local human rights activists.

The group of activists who helped take over the streets of Phoenix this past
summer gained National attention, while protesting the racist legislation
contained in SB1070 as well as the inhumane treatment of undocumented residents
who were taken into custody by local law enforcement.

Rev Susan Frederick-Gray of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix
put out a call to all UU activists this past summer to "Stand on the Side of Love with Immigrant
Families" that were being terrorized by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and MCSO. Rev
Frederick-Gray witnessed, before being arrested, that "Love is where our future
is, not fear not hate".

The activists are divided up into 4 groups of 6-8 for trial. Trials are taking place on January 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th
at the Phoenix Municipal Court, 300 W Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Trials begin at 10:00 AM. UUCP members, Standing on the Side of Love activists were on hand to lend support.

Before the trials began, some of the UU clergy made public statements.

"When we legislate out of fear and bitterness, we create bad legislation that further harms our community," said the Rev. Susan Frederick Gray.

Rev. Wendy vo Zirpolo, minister of the UU Church of Marblehead, MA stated:

Your honor, I treasure this country. I believe in our judicial system and the laws that protect all people. But there is a higher law which landed me here today. The law of our collective soul, some call God. It is a law that cherishes all creation’s children and insists that each of are due respect, safety, justice and love.
On my flight here this morning I reread the autobiography of Anne Moody, an African American woman who grew up in the midst of the battle for civil rights in Mississippi. A story she told mirrored a part of my fourteen hour experience in Maricopa County Jail. She tells of a young man being yanked from a gathering, dragged by police, not resisting arrest but unable to stand because of how we was dragged. He is beaten by officers and taken away, bloodied. The only difference between that story and what I witnessed on July 29th was that the beating itself took place away from my eyes. While inside the Maricopa Jail garage, I saw a young Latino man dragged past me and behind some vans, calling out “I am not resisting arrest. I am not resisting arrest.”. When I saw him again, perhaps only ten minutes later, it was clear he had been beaten. Beaten badly. This, nearly half a century since the horrific instances of racism were brought to a country
finally willing to see, to own and to correct, and yet, here we are today.
In Anne’s accounting, two white men sat watching in a car, unwilling to participate. Silent. Today, while it saddens me to find breaking a law of our land necessary, my God calls me to participate, my faith requires I not be silent. My faith calls me to stand with my Latina and Latino sisters and brothers and other people of color who are victimized, scapegoated and hunted by those who deform the laws of our human soul and construct evil legislation.
Thank you for listening
from the SSL Blog

So far the 5 protestors who went on trial on the 20th, Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer, Rev. Collin Bossen, Susie Cornoa, Tupac Enrique, Asa Duffee were found not guilty. The judge reportedly stated:

"I would like to commend the police officers on their professionalism and courtesy... Likewise, I am also very impressed by the way the protesters conducted themselves. As a citizen of this nation, I am very proud of the way the way everyone conducted themselves."

The protestors were charged with obstructing a public thoroughfare. The judge ruled that because police had already closed the street as a result of the assembly, they were not obstructing it.

Seven other protestors scheduled for trial on the 21st, Luissen Santibaniz, Kat Sinclair, Enrique Gutierrez, Sonia Perez, Jorge Mursuli, Jolinda Stephens, & Rev. Greg Ward had their cases dismissed. An group of protestors scheduled for trial earlier, in December, including Mar Cardenas, of UU South Bay in San Diego also had their cases dismissed.

News of the acquittals quickly reached the UUA Board of Trustees, who happened to be in Arizona to discuss Justice General Assembly 2012 and to meet local human rights workers, such as No Mas Muertes (No More Deaths).

Please join us as we Stand on the Side of Love with our activists who showed
"Courageous Love"and continue on as spokespeople for Compassionate Immigration
Reform.

Sun Principe, Jimmy Leung