Activists call for Sheriff Joe Arpaio to be prosecuted for criminal contempt of court

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.

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

Activists, former detainees speak out

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.

"We tried four years ago, and we tried four years before that, but I really think that this is the year," O'Neal said. "He's going down."

Arpaio is being challenged in the Republican primary Aug. 30, but if he wins as anticipated, he will face Democrat Paul Penzone in the November general election.

"Arpaio  ... represents the worst that Arizona has to offer," O'Neal said. "His time is up. He needs to retire so we can change the world's opinion of Arizona."

'It's about equality, justice, respect'

Sheila Ryan is a member of Women in Black, Tona Tierra, Progressive Democrats of America and the Bernie Sanders campaign, and said that she has been an activist since the week after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Ryan said she believes Arpaio prevents peace, and that is what she's fighting for.

"It's about equality, justice, respect and world peace," she said. "As long as there are people like Arpaio in office, that's never going to happen."

The judge's order also refers Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan, Arpaio's former defense attorney Michele Iafrate, and Capt. Steve Bailey for prosecutors to consider criminal contempt charges against them as well.

The sheriff and Sheridan already have been held in civil contempt of court. Potential penalties are steeper in a criminal case.

Cosme Lopez, a spokesman for Leonardo, said Friday that the U.S. attorney will have several options, including passing the referral on to the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section based in Washington, D.C. He said it could take a couple of weeks for a determination on how to proceed.