Commentary:
The following statement on Donald J. Trump’s pardon of Joe Arpaio, the disgraced former sheriff of Maricopa County, AZ, was issued by Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund): Oh, how the White House has miscalculated! The Latino community will remember this Fridaynight torchlight pardon – in history and at the next election. Pardoned without sentence having been imposed and without having pursued an appeal in order to demonstrate his asserted innocence, Joe Arpaio will go down in history as a federal convict whose misdeeds required presidential intervention; there is no vindication for Arpaio in what transpired on Fridaynight. Trump, on the other hand, will go down in history as the Apologist-in-Chief who once again implicitly endorsed racism and discrimination, while also sending a message that some people are above the law.” # # # | |
Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org. | |
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