Protesters camp out for weeks to stop construction of border wall

Protesters have conducted a “sit-in” to obstruct the creation of a border wall at the Arizona-Mexico border since mid-summer, according to footage posted by the activists.Demonstrators in Lochiel have climbed a tree set to be torn down, blocked vehicles, sat on equipment, and celebrated their actions on an Instagram account called “Rally for the Valley.” The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office arrested three protesters on disorderly conduct charges Tuesday for allegedly trespassing into a restricted construction area and accessing equipment. “We don’t see ourselves coming down anytime soon,” a masked protester, siting in a roped fixture among trees, said on camera in a Wednesday post. “By no means will we relinquish our right to migrate and to defend our land and to defend these trees.”“So, they can arrest us, they can intimidate us, Border Patrol can shine their headlights into camp and into the canopy,” the speaker continued. “It will make no difference because we are here to stay.”Profiles by liberal media outlets suggested the activists might be succeeding in slowing down construction. Another protester appeared to be arrested on video at the building site in late July. Some were seen on video in animal costumes, pretending to be “endangered species.”Two of this week’s arrestees are from California, while a third is from Oregon, according to the sheriff’s office.“The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office respects the right of individuals to peacefully protest and express their views,” Sheriff Mark Dannels said in a Tuesday statement. “That right, however, does not extend to trespassing, damaging property, interfering with lawful operations, or creating a safety hazard, and we take a zero-tolerance approach to these actions.”WHO’S BEHIND WISCONSIN’S ANTI-POLICE ‘AUTONOMOUS ZONE’ TAKING OVER CITY STREETS?“No one is above the law,” Dannels said. “We will continue to respond to these incidents in a coordinated, professional, and deliberate manner.”In directives from last year, President Donald Trump ordered officials to build more border walls around the country to prevent illegal immigration.