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Monday September 6th is Labor Day

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.  In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.  Cleveland was also concerned that aligning an American labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair.  All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.  Pictured at right is a photo of a Labor Day parade on Main St. in Buffalo NY in 1900.

 


SB-1070 Signed into Law

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On Friday April 23, 2010, Governor Jan Brewer flanked by representatives of multiple Arizona Police Association (APA) members signed SB-1070 "Safe Neighborhoods Bill" more commonly known as the "illegal immigratrion bill"  into law.  The law will not officially go into effect until late July early September time frame.  PLEA has supported this legislation from the outset.  For far too long, Arizona communities and Arizona law enforcement have paid too high a price in the battle on illegal immigration.

 PLEA sees SB-1070 as a common sense, proactive step in the right direction.  SB-1070 has numerous safeguards included to protect the rights of minority groups.  The bill requires reasonable suspicion for officers to make contact and also contains language that allows officers discretion in enforcing the law. The only MANDATES in the law are:

1. Officers cannot stop a person based solely on race, color, or national origin (racial profiling).

2. "No official or agency of this state or a county, city, town or other political subdivision of this state may limit or restrict the enforcement of federal immigration laws to less than the full extent permitted by federal law."

PLEA was privileged to stand with the Governor at the bill signing.  The APA was the only police organization that was invited and stood with Governor Brewer and the rule of law.  APA member groups representing Border Patrol, Chandler Law Enforcement Association, Glendale Law Enforcement Association, Gilbert Police Leadership Association, Arizona Corrections Association, Mesa Police Association and the Deputies Law Enforcement Association were also on hand to witness the signing of the bill.

CLICK HERE to read the language of SB-1070.

Listen Now! to comments from PLEA President Mark Spencer re: SB-1070 aired on the Mike Broomhead show on KFYI on April 23, 2010.