Jim Larkin and Michael Lacey are currently the founders of Lacey and Larkin Frontera Fund, an organization that assists, by giving grants to other non-profitable organizations that are fighting discrimination and violation of Latino and Hispanic amendment right by law enforcement bodies in Arizona.
The duo met in 1972 after studies at Arizona State University. The worked together to come up with the Phoenix New Times, a weekly publication to counter the vast media coverage of the student antiwar protest. At the time, Lacey was the editor while Jim was working to advertise the paper.
Over time, it gained popularity. They even began fetching for new social and political issues. It became the alternative paper for most people. The News-Times purchased other like-minded papers across the country. Learn more about Jim Larkin and Michael Lacey: http://www.laceyandlarkinfronterafund.org/about-lacey-larkin-frontera-fund/jim-larkin/ and https://twitter.com/JimLarkin_
Their journey in journalism has not been easy. For a long time, they had published articles questioning the policies of the then sheriff of Arizona, Joe Arpaio. This was an underlying cause of their arrest.
In an article “Larkin and Lacey Speak Out – What Happened to Joe Arpaio”, it is evident that the immediate cause of their arrest on October 18th, 2007 was the publishing of an article about the issuance grand jury subpoena by the attorney’s office who was an ally to Joe. Joe was the person behind the arrest and detention.
Arizona has a large population of Latin and Hispanic people from South America. Joe was very much against illegal immigrates. He blamed the immigrants for lack of morals in the society. Joe took it upon him to pursue immigrates, however in most cases this call ended up in the violation of the civil right.
He continued to do this for a very long time. It looked like he was immune to the law. Things took a U-turn after a court order directed that he and his office should stop profiling Latin driver. The court regarded this as a form of racism. Joe did not end the profiling and detaining Latin even after the issuance of the order. Read more: Michael Lacey | Facebook and Phoenix New Times | Wikipedia
The court was forced to make a ruling that Joe had willingly violated the court order. The arrest of Lacey and Jim was because they had criticized the Joe policies. The judgment was done right after him losing the sheriff position.
A relatively large number of the people thought it was payback time for his after 24 years of ruthless ruling. Jim and Lacey’s lawsuit went in their favor as they got detained illegally. Maricopa County paid the duo $3.75 million to settle the lawsuit.
They used the money to establish their current foundation. Mr. Joe Arpaio was an ally for Trump during his campaigns as they shared a similar view about immigrates. It is not a surprise to many after the president pardoned him. The foundation is working hard to make sure no one violates the human rights.
With the launch Front Page Confidential, a website that addresses threats to free speech. They are soon be getting back to media.