TUCSON - At least eight people who initially refused to leave the lobby of the Border Patrol headquarters at Davis-Monthan Airforce Base, have been cited and released by the Tucson Police Department.

Protestors are still demonstrating outside of the building.

The demonstrators say they are protesting SB 1070 and any military presence at the border.
(click image for full-size)

In a statement they said, "The militarized border imposed by the U.S. has lead only to cultural and environmental destruction of the indigenous peoples whose land is on or near the border."

These are pictures taken by our crew on the scene.

The protestors inside chained themselves to a pillar in the lobby. They left the building after 4 hours.

In an effort to be balanced, News 4 reached out to Border Patrol, but were told no comment will be released about the incident.

1st NATION AND MIGRANTS OPPOSE SB1070 DEMAND DIGNITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND END TO BORDER MILITARIZATION

“The militarized border imposed by the U.S. has lead only to cultural and environmental destruction of the indigenous peoples whose land is on or near the border. This militarization brings death and terror for indigenous peoples from other parts of the continent migrating to this land.”
21 May 2010

Tucson, AZ – More than a dozen people occupied Border Patrol headquarters at Davis-Monthan Airforce Base today in an act of peaceful resistance. The group includes members of Indigenous Nations of Arizona, migrants, people of color and white allies. Six people used chains and other devices to lock themselves in the building. These Arizona residents disrupted the Border Patrol operations to demand that Border Patrol (BP), Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), their parent entity, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Obama administration end militarization of the border, end the criminalization of immigrant communities, and end their campaign of terror which tears families apart through increasing numbers of raids and deportations.

WASHINGTON – Pro-immigrant groups announced Tuesday a wave of non-violent acts of civil disobedience in several U.S. cities as the next step in their strategy to push for immigration reform and halt the entry into force of the new Arizona law that criminalizes undocumented immigrants.

In addition to repeating their call for a boycott against the southwestern state, the coalition plans sit-ins at federal buildings and actions against firms that invest in Arizona.

The initiative will be conducted in New York, Chicago, Washington, Seattle, Miami and Los Angeles, but activists say that more cities will join the campaign in the coming days.

By James Jordan |
May 18, 2010

Tucson, AZ - Arizona has seen an explosion of Chicano and Mexicano led student resistance to racist laws and in defense of the right to a quality education. Nowhere is this more evident than in the city of Tucson, which is singled out for attack by racist elements of state government. The struggle has attracted attention across the nation. Since the state House and Senate adopted the anti-immigrant and anti-Latino law, SB1070, thousands of students have walked out of school in protest and there has been a wave of youth-led direct actions.

**We will be gathering AGAIN on Monday 5/24 at 12noon to continue the escalation to STOP the moral crisis in our communities. Join us!***

WHAT: 2ND RALLY and ESCALATION ACTION to raise pressure to...

-RESIST PASSAGE OF ARIZONA'S SB1070 LAW!
-PUSH FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM!
-STOP DEPORTATIONS NOW!
-END THE SEPARATION OF FAMILIES!

WHEN: MONDAY 5/24. Escalation action will also take place on 5/31!

WHERE: 26 Federal Plaza, Broadway side

TRAINS: N/R/W to City Hall

*PLEASE WEAR WHITE SHIRTS!!!*

WHY:
-To call on President Obama to immediately stop the implementation of -- and affirmatively strike down -- Arizona's immoral and unconstitutional SB1070!
-To call on local law enforcement to focus on protecting our communities, not destroying them!
-To demand that President Obama and ICE immediately halt the Criminal Alien Program, Secure Communities, 287g, and all other partnership sbetween ICE and local law enforcement
-To call on President Obama to issue a moratorium on detention and deportation until Congress passes meaningful and just immigration reform that puts and and to mandatory deportations
-To call on Congress to act NOW!

JOIN US ON MONDAY 5/24!