Aggressive Protest Actions Against Sinema Will Only Increase, Activists Say

After Arizona activists confronted Senator Kyrsten Sinema in a bathroom at Arizona State University where she teaches on Sunday, criticism over their tactics followed, with the influential lawmaker releasing a statement calling their actions "unlawful."

"Yesterday's behavior was not legitimate protest," Sinema wrote in a statement posted on Twitter. "It is unacceptable for activist organizations to instruct their members to jeopardize themselves by engaging in unlawful activities such as gaining entry to closed university buildings, disrupting learning environments, and filming students in a restroom."

Democrats and activists in Arizona have become increasingly angry with Sinema, whom they feel has become a roadblock to President Biden's Build Back Better agenda and efforts to pass a $3.5 trillion infrastructure and social safety net package that would be rolled out over the next decade.

Arizona activists told Newsweek that not only are their actions "legitimate" forms of protest, but Sinema can expect more where that came from if she continues to be a barrier to the change their communities urgently need.

Belen Sisa, the former Latino press secretary for Senator Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, is a longtime Arizona activist who has spent the year pushing Sinema to end the filibuster. She recently co-launched an effort along with other activists to primary Sinema, which includes a crowdfunding donation drive that she said has received pledges of $55,000 in just a week.

"It's been almost a year of trying to use 'proper' channels to reach our senator, who we helped elect and canvass in 115 degree weather for," she said. "The bottom line is, no one wants to meet their representative inside a restroom, but the people of Arizona have been ignored for so long, we had to try to reach her in whatever way possible."

Sisa said progressives thought they would have an ally in Sinema in the Senate, but "that hasn't been the case," which is why activists have now turned to more dramatic, in-your-face forms of protests. She cited as disappointing not only Sinema's votes but also her "behavior," including an April post she made on social media that was widely covered and seemed to be aimed at her critics.

"For people who call it inappropriate, I think it's inappropriate she took a photo on Instagram sipping a margarita and wore a ring that said f*** off," Sisa said.

Alicia Contreras, executive director of Corazon, which is part of the Faith in Action national network, told Newsweek that her group is nonpartisan and advocates for their community in different ways, but defended the tactics of coalition partners like LUCHA Arizona.

"I know through painful experiences that freedom is never voluntary," she said, noting that her organization has been pushing Arizona senators on a pathway to citizenship and paid leave for all. "What we want is to be able to speak to our elected officials and senators, and they have the ability to say, 'I can talk to you in a couple minutes,' or 'I'm happy to set up a time to speak.' But the apathy is disheartening when people's lives are on the line."

Activists know they may not get the response they want, she said, "but acknowledging that a conversation needs to be had is important, and we have not seen that from our U.S. senator."

But not everyone in Arizona believes activists are accomplishing what they're setting out to by confronting Sinema so boldly.

Jaime Molera, who served as an advisor to former Governor Jane Dee Hull and is a co-founder of Molera Alvarez, said Sinema is beginning to look like a "young John McCain" in her tendency to buck her party.

"The right used to attack John McCain, so he became popular in Arizona because he was seen as not beholden to any political party," Molera said. "In many ways it heightens popularity with Arizonans, though it might hurt her with her base."

That base is increasingly lining up to primary Sinema, following a Newsweek exclusive that an effort to draft Ruben Gallego to run against her in 2024 already has $1 million in commitments. Way To Win, a progressive donor network, also launched Primary Sinema PAC last week, along with an initial $400,000 investment.

Molera said there's a "real fear" Sinema could lose a primary because of that erosion, which could be deja vu all over again in Arizona.

"When Jeff Flake was abandoned by Republicans because he was not 100% behind Trump he realized he couldn't win a primary and then, guess what? The Democrats and Sinema won that seat," he said. "The same thing could happen to Democrats now if they're so myopic to get rid of Sinema for more of a true believer. They can do that, but there's a chance for Republicans to beat a progressive candidate."

But activists are undeterred and plowing forward in their opposition to Sinema.

Along with tried and true tactics like flooding her phone lines, writing to her office, holding sit-ins and confronting her in public places like airports and on flights, which occurred on Monday, they say they will attack her top priority.

Her fundraisers, including with business groups that oppose the reconciliation bill, have shown advocates that what she prioritizes above all is money, they said.

"If money talks, then that's where we're going to hit you," Sisa said of new tactics from activists to crowdsource primary funds. "We don't want Sinema to see any peace until she listens to her constituents, so we will find her anywhere she is."