Politics

Arizona sheriff sends armed squads to protect churches

By John Siciliano
Published June 20, 2015 4:59pm ET
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Arizona sheriff sends armed squads to protect churches
The men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. lead a crowd of people in prayer outside the Emanuel AME Church, Friday, June 19, 2015, after a memorial in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton) | Stephen B. Morton

A sheriff in Arizona is rounding up volunteers to protect black churches in his county after last week’s deadly murders in South Carolina.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is sending 60 armed volunteers 60 to predominantly black churches on Sunday, according to USA Today.

Arpaio says he is responding to the request of a progressive Baptist preacher, the Rev. Jarrett Maupin, to provide the volunteers, according to the Arizona Republic. Maupin is a civil rights advocate.

From the Arizona Republic:

“We do have a fear a very real worry, that the incidents that occurred in Charleston can happen here in Phoenix,” Maupin told a reporter.

Arpaio added, “I am the elected sheriff of this county, he (Maupin) asked me to help and I’m going to help.”

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