OccupyALEC
30 NOVEMBER 2011 - PHOENIX, AZ: Phoenix police battle with anti-ALEC protesters in front of the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa Wednesday. Police pepper sprayed the crowd several times and arrested six or seven people during the melee. About 300 people picketed the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) conference at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Phoenix, AZ, Wednesday. The protesters claim ALEC, a conservative think tank, violates its tax exempt status by engaging in lobbying, a charge ALEC officials deny. Many conservative pieces of legislation, like Arizona's anti-immigration bill SB1070, originate with ALEC conferences (SB 1070 originated at an ALEC conference several years ago). Many of the protesters are also members of the Occupy movement. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
