Call to Action: Arpaio's racist media targets Isabel Garcia

Contact:
Coalición de Derechos Humanos P.O. Box 1286Tucson, AZ 8570Office: 520.770.1373or 1.800.682.4280Fax: 520.770.7455
http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net/
Coalición de Derechos Humanos is a grassroots organization which promotes respect for human/civil rights and fights the militarization of the Southern Border region, discrimination, and human rights abuses by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials affecting U.S. and non-U.S. citizens alike.
Call to Action!
Defend Isabel Garcia!---Defend our First Amendment Rights!---Demand Accountability from those who would support Hate media! As many of you are aware, a protest last week of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio last week has had some ugly backlash. As a community, we set out to let Arpaio know that there were many who did not welcome him into our community. As part of this protest, and in a symbolic expression our disagreement with Sheriff Arpaio, his policies, and his promoting of his xenophobic and narrow-minded perspective in his recent book, an empty piñata with the likeness of Sheriff Arpaio was hit by local youth. As a result, the right-wing radio talk show host, Jon Justice (104.1 The Truth) has launched a campaign to have one of our Co-chairs, Isabel Garcia, fired from her position as a Pima County Legal Defender. Many do not know that 104.1FM is associated with local news channel KGUN 9-we would like to ask KGUN 9 about their support of such divisive views as those expressed on 104.1FM. Since last Friday, our office has received numerous hate calls, and Jon Justice has posted a YouTube video of himself with a piñata with Isabel's likeness, caressing it and making comments about "wanting to take it home with me," among a few other comments about "chorizo" and "viva la raza." You can see this video at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTR20jav2RA
We ask you, as community allies, to step up with us in defending Isabel Garcia, demand accountability from 104.1FM and KGUN 9, and that hate speech not be given a platform in our communities.
It is our First Amendment Right, and our duty as members of this society, to denounce anything that goes against the basic human and civil rights that ALL posess. To try to silence those that would condemn torture and raciscm is contrary to the rights of us all! Please help us to spread the word, and take up the following action items:
1. Contact Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckleberry in support of Isabel Garcia. 520.740.8661 or e-mail chh@pima.gov 2. 3. Contact the Journal Broadcast Group, expressing your opinion of Jon Justice and the tactics of 104.1FM, and your concern that local KGUN 9 would be associated with an outlet that is so obviously NOT an objective media source. Contact Julie Brinks: 520.290.7600 or e-mail: jbrinks@journalbroadcastinggroup.com 4. 5. Contact the Board of Supervisors, voicing your support of Isabel Garcia, who has broken no rule or regulation as a Pima County employee.
Pima County Board of Supervisors 130 West Congress Street, 11th FloorTucson, Arizona 85701 Receptionist - (520) 740-8126 Fax - (520) 884-1152 Ann Day, District 1Ann.Day@pima.gov (520) 740-2738 Ramón Valadez, District 2district2@pima.gov (520) 740-8126 Sharon Bronson, District 3district3@pima.gov (520) 740-8051 Ray Carroll, District 4district4@pima.gov (520) 740-8094 Richard Elías, Chairman, District 5district5@pima.gov (520) 740-8126 We need your support! Please spread the word on this Call to Action! Defend our First Amendment rights!