17 August, 2017
President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona next Tuesday.
Stanton, a Democrat, made the request in a statement released via Twitter on Wednesday night, saying the timing is not right just as the nation is reeling from the events in Charlottesville, Virginia, that have deepened the divisions in American society. Arpaio gained notoriety for his unusual jailing policies and extreme stance on illegal immigration. He also noted that if Trump uses the rally to pardon Arpaio, it will be "clear the true intent is to enflame emotions and further divide the nation".
Trump told Fox News earlier this week that he was seriously considering pardoning Arpaio, who he called a "patriot".
The man who built a controversial national reputation as "America's toughest sheriff" admitted he prolonged his patrols, but insisted he did not intend to break the law because one of his former attorneys did not explain to him the full measure of restrictions contained in the court order. Trump told Fox News. "He doesn't deserve to be treated this way".
Not only is now a awful moment to hold a campaign rally, but it would only deepen the racial divide in the United States since the president is reportedly going to use the event to announce his decision to pardon Sherrif Joe Arpaio.
"Our Constitution protects the right to free speech, even for those we disagree with or those who don't represent the values we hold dear as a community", he concluded.
