Despite the angry and relentless protestors outside, the Arizona Senate finished up their final bills and declared, ‘Sine Die!'
Big Idea
- On the day that the US Supreme Court announced the overturning of Roe v. Wade, mobs attempted to break into the AZ Senate Building
The AZ Senate was attempting to complete their final bills before the end of the legislative session
- The Senate adjourned to a secure room to continue their deliberations
- They finally declared 'Sine Die’ (The term is used to describe an adjournment when the date to reconvene is not specified, when Congress intends to leave town for the last time in a year.)
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“We will always find a way to do the work for the people."
Arizona Senate President Karen Fann faced new challenges as the Senate attempted to finish up the Senate Agenda with the final bills of the legislative session. With protestors outside the Senate building, trying to break in, the Senate had to adjourn to an emergency room.
Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita shared these videos on Twitter:
Fann strongly condemned the actions, noting that, “Violence is never the answer, and we will not camouflage what was a blatant attempt at an insurrection as a ‘rally’ or ‘peaceful protest.’ We are calling on all state lawmakers to condemn these acts. There is a way to make your voice heard, and violence is never the answer."
Despite the outside ordeal, the Senate would finish their work, including passing a bipartisan water bill with a $1B investment to secure Arizona’s water future.
Just after midnight, Senate Republicans announced via Twitter:
Later, Fann acknowledged once again the Senate Staff and Police officers who kept them safe:
Saturday morning, the AZ Senate Democrats released a statement regarding the events of the previous evening:
The Arizona Department of Public Service later released a Press Release regarding the turmoil:
Protests over the United States Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade brought an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 people to the Arizona State Capitol Complex in Phoenix on Friday, June 24, 2022.
What began as a peaceful protest evolved into anarchical and criminal actions by masses of splinter groups. As groups realized the state legislature was in session, they attempted to breach the doors of the Arizona Senate and force their way into the building. The violence of their efforts literally shook the building and terrified citizens and law makers who occupied the building. As the glass doors bowed from attempts of forced entry, the occupants of the building were instructed to move to secure locations.
Due to the direct threat to the occupants of the Senate building and damage to the building itself, Arizona State Troopers took immediate action and utilized tactics including the deployment of field force teams and tear gas.
As the riotous behavior at the Legislature was taking place, concurrent and spillover criminal misconduct in the form of felony criminal damage and the defacing of state memorials was occurring in Wesley Bolin Plaza.
Troopers exercised patience and application of tactics in Wesley Bolin Plaza as some people unwisely brought children to the protest turned unlawful assembly. After multiple warnings, and notifications of trespass and unlawful assembly, state troopers deployed gas and strategically moved to clear the plaza. After the plaza was cleared, additional state buildings in the area sustained criminal damage.
Significant criminal damage impacted the following memorials and properties:
- Wesley Bolin Memorial Amphitheatre
- 158th Regimental Memorial
- Arizona Peace Officers Memorial
- Korean War Memorial
- Arizona Law Enforcement Canine Memorial
- Operation Enduring Freedom Memorial
- Lt. Frank Luke Jr. Memorial
