As the trial of humanitarian aid worker Scott Warren entered its fourth day, people from around the country gathered in front of Tucson's federal courthouse on Monday to offer him support.
Warren faces federal charges for smuggling and harboring undocumented migrants. Supporters say providing food, water and clothes to those in need should never be a crime. Support for Warren is now beginning to pour in from around the country.
Outside the Tucson federal court, supporters had to share the sidewalk with noisy rush-hour traffic. Three women maneuvering the crowded sidewalk carrying signs made their way to the front of the rally. They had made the trip from South Dakota to support Scott Warren. One of them was Melanie Bliss.
She was asked if people in South Dakota were talking about this case.
Absolutely, I think everywhere that the media is you can't ignore it any longer. The border issue is not just an Arizona issue. It impacts so many of us. So many migrants work and raise families in our communities all over the country. But they are not just workers. They are our friends and neighbors and, most important, they are human beings."
There were supporters from California, Florida, Colorado, Texas and the Carolinas. And from New York state, Ravi Ragbir from the New Sanctuary Coalition showed up to support Warren.
"Scott Warren is being prosecuted for political purposes of the Trump administration, not for his humanitarian work. Scott is there to help someone. Scott is there to protect life and to give water to human beings. He is being prosecuted by the Trump administration to try to scare people from helping our brothers and sisters and children traveling in the Arizona desert."
The trial is expected to last a total of three weeks. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison.