The Campaign of the Poor led various rallies across the country on Monday in at least 27 states, including Arizona, to stop the filibuster and “bring the fight for democracy into the interiors of US Senators.”
On Monday, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Dr. William Barber II and Transformative Justice Coalition President Barbara Arnwine in Phoenix and led a march to the office of Senator Kyrsten Sinema, D-AZ.
The rally in Kachina Park was organized to call for an end to filibuster, the passage of voting and labor laws, and the increase of the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour.
Barber and the other speakers at the event expressed concern about Sinema’s decisions not to vote against the filibuster or to vote for a hike in the state minimum wage.
During his speech, Barber said the filibuster was “not constitutional”.
“You shouldn’t use unconstitutional things to block constitutional rights,” he said.
Speakers also called for the People’s Law to be passed.
“Today’s filibuster is a coward’s filibuster,” Barber said, adding that the law includes same-day and online voting registration, gives former prisoners the right to vote, and introduces early voting in federal elections.
“If you are against the campaign” For the People “or are hiding behind a filibuster, block it.”
A spokesman for Sen. Sinema’s office sent the Arizona Republic the following response regarding the rally and sit-in.
“Kyrsten has asked those who want to get rid of the bogus lawyer to pass the For the People Act (voting law that they endorsed and co-funded): Would it be good for our country if we did it, only if those laws were repealed? in a few years and replaced by a nationwide voter ID law or restrictions on postal voting in federal elections, against the objections of the Senate minority? ” Sinema spokesman John LaBombard announced this in an email. “This is an example of how the filibuster is helping to protect the country from wild fluctuations between opposing political poles.”
The rally began at 9 a.m. on Monday at Kachina Park in Phoenix, and was attended by at least dozen of people. At around 10:15 am, the crowd approached Sinema’s office.
Reach out to current reporter Olivia Munson at [email protected] or on Twitter @munson_olivia.
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