Here in the belly of the beast it's still 100 degrees. The beast is trying to wear down the OccupyPhoenix protestors. We started Saturday afternoon, and Saturday night the Phoenix police arrested 47 people and sent them to Joe Arpaio's jail. They were released the next afternoon without their personal effects (like phones, keys and wallets).
The occupiers are in a small municipal plaza area with little shade across from city hall during the day, next to a busy and often loud street. They struggle with maintaining a livestream since the city cut power to the plaza on Monday. At 6 p.m. they have to move to the sidewalk in front of the plaza because the plaza "closes" at 6 p.m., though there aren't any signs saying that. The occupiers are not allowed to lie down during the day or overnight without facing arrest by the Phoenix Police Department. If they try to hold the GA in front of the Old Courthouse next door, they're subject to arrest by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) run by Arpaio. If they were to move to the state capitol grounds, they'd be subject to arrest by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) whose director is appointed by our witch governor, Jan Brewer. No matter who arrests them, they go to the same jail run by MCSO. They are exhausted, and don't understand why more local people don't stay. (We don't because we know what brutality may await us if we go to Arpaio's jail.) Here are some of the faces of OccupyPhoenix.
The media is ignoring them. Phoenix's ostensibly Dem mayor, Phil Gordon, and his staff have lied to the protestors and the Dem mayoral candidate Greg Stanton has been silent. You can help by signing the petition to the mayor, city council and staff here.