“We are going to make his life unpleasant”: the activists are not done with Kyrsten Sinema

The planned protests mark the next phase of an aggressive approach activists have taken to step up pressure on Sinema, who has resisted the massive domestic spending plan that is at the heart of Biden’s economic agenda.

Last week, the face-to-face tactic prevailed when protesters Sinema tracking in a bathroom and filmed it. Monday they followed her in Boston where she was to participate in the marathon before a foot injury prevented him from participating.

Currently, activists on the ground in Arizona describe Sinema voters seething with frustration.

“They want someone to listen and the fact that that doesn’t happen is infuriating,” said Yolanda Bejarano, national legislative and field director for Communications Workers of America. “People are no strangers to him. They helped get her elected.

During protests, groups are lead a petition campaign in a continuing attempt to persuade Sinema to sign legislation that would strengthen unions and the right to organize.

Sinema’s office has not commented on the next round of protests. Asked about the invasive nature of some tactics, like following Sinema down the washroom at Arizona State University where she teaches a master’s class, an assistant pointed to a statement from Sinema released last week.

In it, the senator said she supports free speech but is upset by the position she is placing her students, some of whom she says were also filmed inside the room. bath. Sinema also noted that she and her office had previously met with LUCHA Arizona, the immigration activists involved in the toilet ambush.

“During my 19 years teaching at ASU, I have been committed to creating a safe and intellectually stimulating environment for my students. Yesterday this environment was violated, ”Sinema said in the statement. “My students have been unfairly and illegally victimized. It is totally inappropriate.

In interviews, several of the activist groups said they could not see their members employing such tactics. But, they also didn’t apologize for the behavior, describing it as an act of desperation on the part of voters who cannot reach a public official.

“She ignores them and rejects them,” Bejarano said. “When you dehumanize someone like that, it’s intolerable.”