Lawmakers and legislative staffers face armed Trump supporters at Arizona State Capital

Phoenix (Thursday, January 25, 2018) Several armed Trump supporters, carrying Trump flags, surrounded Arizona state Representative Pamela Hannley and yelled at her about her “protecting illegals” near the state Capitol in Phoenix. Close by, on their way to lunch, were Representative Eric Descheenie (D-Chinle) and Representative Wenona Benally (D-Window Rock). Both are Navajo.

Lawmakers said they were questioned based on their appearance. Rep. Descheenie said he was confronted by Trump supporters while helping defend a young student that he said was being harassed.

They asked Descheenie, a Navajo lawmaker, if he was in the United States illegally.

“I’m indigenous to these lands,” Descheenie said. “My ancestors fought and died on these lands. I just told them, ‘Don’t ask me that question.’”

Armed Trump supporters were said to be intimidating and verbally assaulting, not only dark-skinned lawmakers and staffers, but young school children who were there to meet with their legislative representatives.

“There was absolutely no need for them to be armed. It was a very intimidating and frightening situation to have a group of armed protestors aggressively following us and screaming at us,” said Benally.

Lisette Flores and Selianna Robles, policy advisors for Senate Democrats, said they were yelled at when they walked from the Senate to the House lawn, directly passing the Trump supporters, to get lunch at a farmers market. Three white coworkers offered to escort Flores, Robles, and Democratic staffer Dora Ramirez back to their offices, Robles said.

“We’re walking back, and they start yelling again, ‘Get out of the country.’ At that point, they pointed to Lisette, called her an illegal, and said, ‘Get out, go back home!’” Robles said. “But they pointed at Jane (Ahern), who works for the House, and they said, ‘No, you can stay.’”

Ahern, a policy advisor for House Democrats, is white.

Senate Minority Leader Katie Hobbs, D-Phoenix, wrote a letter to Senate President Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler, and Senate security officials outlining what she called the harassment of staffers who the protesters “perceived not to be white,” and complained about a lack of response from law enforcement at the scene observing the protest.

Hobbs said she was told by an officer on Thursday that law enforcement was instructed to stand down while the Trump supporters exercised their First Amendment rights.

Their protest went “far beyond” the First Amendment, Hobbs wrote.

“This is a public place. When armed protesters aggressively go after members, staff and visitors, there needs to be a response that ensures the safety of everyone involved,” Hobbs wrote. “I have seen instances here at the capital (sic) when peaceful protesters with a different agenda were surrounded by many more law enforcement officers with a much more aggressive response.”

“This is unacceptable,” she added.