Audio By Carbonatix
Kudos to Phoenix videographer Dennis Gilman for his latest video, which captures the drama of yesterday’s demonstration at the state Capitol.
There, as Governor Jan Brewer gave her state of the state speech to members of the Legislature, a coalition of activists protested Brewer’s executive order denying driver’s licenses to Arizona DREAMers who qualify for the federal government’s deferred action program.
See also: –Jan Brewer on Blast by DREAMers and CBA in Protest: 3 Arrested
When news happens, Phoenix New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
Gilman was on the second floor of the state House lobby and captured some exclusive bird’s-eye footage of the three arrests that took place, arrests I detailed in a blog item yesterday.
All three demonstrators were taken into custody, cited for trespassing and released. Likely their real “crimes” were not moving fast enough for the DPS officers clearing the lobby. That and singing too loud.
The peaceful protest rocked the joint: A successful action that earned a bucketload of media.
My favorite quote from the day is from a fired-up Randy Parraz, president of Citizens for a Better Arizona, the group responsible for the recall of former state Senate President Russell Pearce in 2011.
“They’re good enough to graduate from ASU, [but] they’re not good enough to apply for a driver’s license?” Parraz asked of the DACA-eligible DREAMers. “That mentality has to stop.”
Hell, yes. And no rest until it does.
