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BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
Falls Church News-Press (VA)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12 2011 06:51:19 PM
It is this writer's recommendation to the editors of Time magazine that they add the name of Clarence W. Dupnik to its short list for "Person of the Year" in 2011.
Less than two weeks into the new year, this outspoken and articulate sheriff of Pima County, Arizona, home of the horrific murders and assassination attempt against U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, spoke for an entire nation by indicting the rise in the politics of hate in the land.
Sheriff of Pima County since 1980, it didn't take proof of any specific connection of the murderer in this case to any political or hate group for Dupnik to condemn all the political peddlers of anger and hate in the entire nation.
This seasoned lawman could see the impact of words on actions in ways that the dissemblers of the political right and many in the cowardly national media have tried to obfuscate.
"People tend to pooh-pooh this business about all the vitriol that we hear inflaming the American public by people who make a living off of doing that," Dupnik said during a press conference the night after the shootings. "That may be free speech, but it's not without consequences."
Earlier in the day, he told a TV network,
"It's time that this country take a little introspective look at the crap that comes out on radio and TV."Elected seven times to his post, the 73-year old Dupnik made national headlines last summer for his outspoken refusal to enforce what he called a "racist" new immigration law.
"This law, it's just irresponsible," he said. "It makes them (Arizona legislators) look like racists."
In the immediate aftermath of the shootings Saturday, Dupnik wasn't the only one to raise his voice in anger against the climate of hate that political demagogues have fomented. In a live interview within a couple hours of the shootings, an Arizona Daily Star columnist and cartoonist David Fitzsimmons, a life-long resident of Tucson, called Arizona a "gun-happy state" (some CNN coverage Saturday originated from a TV station with the call letters "KGUN" there). He added that the "rabid right" was "stoking hate and rage" in the state.
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SHERIFF DUPNIK
Arizona Daily Star
AzStarNet.com
Letters@AzStarNet.com
4850 S. Park Ave. Tucson, AZ 85714
KVOA 4 - KVOA.com 792-2270
KGUN 9 - KGUN9.com 722-5486
KMSB 11 - Fox11Az.com 770-1123
KOLD 13 - KOLD.com 744-6397
Send Sheriff Dupnik a note at:
PimaSheriff.org
On the eve of the rally to kick off a "Dump Dupnik" event Pima County Democratic Chair issued this call for uniting the community by requesting the Sheriff's supporters donate to the Red Cross and the Community Food Bank.
Pima Dems ask Dupnik Supporters to Contribute to Blood and Food Banks, Rather than Counter-Protest
Pima County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Rogers issued the following statement today:
“The right to free speech and peaceful assembly are sacred and should be cherished. Butin this difficult time as our community heals, we would like to encourage a spirit of togetherness. We would like to celebrate that which unites us rather than highlight that which divides. This is an opportunity to come together to be the change that we want tosee in our community. We hope that the politics of personal destruction that have marred the public dialogue for far too long will give way to a renewed sense of charity, compassion and community pride.
It has been brought to our attention that a rally supporting the recall of Sheriff Dupnik is planned for Friday, January 28th. Today we ask that all of the Sheriff’s supporters who would like to “counter-protest” do so in a manner that helps those in need in our community.
The world is watching and we know that the people of southern Arizona will rise to the occasion.”
Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross is currently recruiting O Neg, A Neg and B Neg donors. We highly recommend contacting the local Red Cross office at (520) 230-7295 to schedule an appointment to donate.
Contributions for the Community Food Bank can be made online or may be dropped off at any of the locations listed online or at Pima County Democratic Party Headquarters, 4639 E. First St.,
Tucson, AZ 85711
