Ten people were arrested outside Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s office in Phoenix on June 22, 2021 during an anti-filibuster protest. (KTAR News Photo / Griselda Zetino)
PHOENIX – Police arrested 10 people Tuesday during a protest against the Democrats’ opposition to the abolition of the filibuster who were staging a sit-in at US Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s Phoenix office.
Those arrested were among dozens of demonstrators who gathered in Sinema’s office on Camelback Road near 32nd Street and chanted slogans about ending the filibuster.
Most of the protesters took to the pavement outside the building when asked, but 10 objectors sat outside the door and refused to move until they were safely arrested and taken away in police SUVs.
Before his arrest, Kai Newkirk explained why he was forced to take a stand on the filibuster issue.
“I’m here because everything that is important to me, what we need in this country, so much change for the people, is blocked by the filibuster, from the right to vote, to the DREAM law, to an increase in the minimum wage and so much more.” “He told KTAR News 92.3 FM.
Phoenix Police did not immediately respond to a request for information about the arrests, which took place around 11:30 a.m.
The demonstration came the day after Sinema penned an opinion piece for the Washington Post arguing that maintaining the filibuster, a Senate rule that requires 60 votes to pass most bills, strengthens democracy.
“If we lift the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, we will lose a lot more than we win,” she wrote.
The Senate is evenly divided, but the 48 Democrats and two Independents who join them have a majority because Vice President Kamala Harris has the power to break the bonds.
The filibuster allowed Republicans to block the creation of a commission to investigate the January 6 riots in the U.S. Capitol, and the GOP stands ready to reapply the rule to prevent the Democrats from passing a sweeping electoral reform bill.
Sinema and Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, another moderate Democrat, stand firm in their view that the filibuster will lead to more bipartisan collaboration and thus to stronger legislation.
“I understand that bipartisanism seems out of date for many experts. But the difficult work of collaboration is what we expect in Arizona, ”Sinema wrote on Monday.
“And I still believe that it is the best way to find realistic solutions – instead of escalating all-or-nothing political battles that lead to no action or a U-turn in federal politics.”
Griselda Zetino from KTAR News 92.3 FM contributed to this report.
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