Amy Goodman: A Tale of Two Sheriffs

By Amy Goodman The Tucson massacre that left six dead and 14 injured, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, brought into sharp public focus the local sheriff, Clarence Dupnik. He’s been the sheriff of Pima County, which includes Tucson, Arizona’s second-largest city, for 30 years. For the 20 years before that, he was a police officer. Dupnik has gained attention this week for linking the shooting to the vitriolic political climate in the U.S., and in particular, Arizona. Speaking at a ...

Tucson tea party founder says Giffords to blame for getting shot

By David Edwards One tea party leader says that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) has herself to blame for getting shot in the head Saturday. The Arizona congresswoman shouldn't have attended an event "in full view of the public" if she had security concerns, according to Tucson Tea Party co-founder Trent Humphries. Giffords warned MSNBC's Chuck Todd last year that there would be "consequences" to violent rhetoric and imagery after Fox News' Sarah Palin released a graphic which placed c...

Vigil for Civility Held as AZ Legislature Begins Session

PHOENIX - It was a subdued start Monday for Arizona's 2011 legislative session. Talk of budgets and policy was replaced with expressions of sadness, sympathy, and prayers for the victims of Saturday's Tucson shooting. A vigil was held at the Capitol by the immigrant rights group Border Action Network, calling for a return of humanity and civility to the Arizona Legislature. Allen says the future of our democratic system of government is at stake if something isn't done to tone down the i...

AFSC Statement: Responding to Violence against Those in Public Life

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker organization committed to overcoming violence in communities throughout the U.S. and around the world, is deeply saddened by the violence of January 8, 2011 in Tucson, Arizona, when an attempt to kill U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords brought death and injury to so many. Our thoughts and prayers are with all victims of the shooting, as well as their families and friends who are now mourning the deceased and anxiously awaiting ...

Rep. Giffords a leading voice in immigration debate

Reuters TUCSON, Arizona (Reuters) – Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, who was shot point blank in the head while meeting with constituents on Saturday, was expected to be a leading voice on immigration in the new Congress. Sworn in to a third term in Congress just this week, Giffords, 40, was one of the few Democrats in swing districts to survive a Republican sweep in the November elections, narrowly defeating a conservative Republican opponent. She represents a distri...

Law Enforcement Memo Links Arizona Assassin To “Anti-Immigration” American Renaissance

A law enforcement memo reportedly states that alleged Arizona shooter Jared Loughner is "possibly linked" to the white supremacist magazine American Renaissance, edited by Jared Taylor. As the memo indicates, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was targeted in the attack, is "opposite this group's ideology" on immigration. Memo: Loughner "Possibly Linked" To "Anti Immigration" American Renaissance Memo Also Notes Giffords Was "Opposite This Group's Ideology" On Immigration. Fox News co...