Dozens of protesters were attacked by police with pepper spray and seven people have been arrested so far in a day of action against the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
On November 30, starting at 8 am hundreds marched and converged on the Kierland Westin Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, where ALEC is attempting to hold its annual “States and Nation Summit”.
This is breaking news, the protest is planned to continue and grow through the day. More updates to follow.
“We will continue to use diversity of tactics to send the message to ALEC members that the we are watching and we will not stand for the further destruction of our communities and environment that ALEC members push into law in order to fill their own pockets.” Stated Alex Soto of O’odham Solidarity Across Borders. “The amount of force that police are using to protect ALEC’s corporate interests reveals how corrupt this system is.” Stated Soto.
An O’odham elder was transported to the hospital for breathing difficulties due to the police’s pepper spray attack.
Behind closed doors of ALEC meetings, thousands of state politicians and hundreds of powerful transnational corporations come together to create laws that advocate for, among other things, the desecration of Indigenous land through eco-cide and the growing dragnet of incarceration that sweeps up immigrants and people of color, all for the profit of global corporations (like SB1070).
Additional actions are planned through December 3.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1
4pm: March at Freeport McMoran
Converge at Freeport McMoran, Downtown Phoenix, AZ.
Decentralized Actions at Various Sites
Locations throughout the valley All day
Rally against ALEC influence on Arizona Politics organized by Arizona at Work
Speaking Event w/ Lisa Graves, Publisher of ALECexposed.org
6pm: At OccupyPhoenix
Full schedule located at: www.azresistsalec.wordpress.com/schedule/
See short video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rr3n9iSWC8&feature=player_embedded