Activists attempting to pressure Sen. Kyrsten Sinema into supporting President Joe Biden’s massive $3.5 trillion reconciliation package say they plan on targeting her as she participates in the Boston Marathon on Monday.
Protesters with an umbrella group known as the Green New Deal Network, which consists of 15 separate left-wing organizations, will be “bird-dogging” her during the event, according to a press release reported by The Boston Globe.
Along the way, activists plan on holding signs with slogans including, “Senator Sinema: Pass the Full Deal,” “Senator Sinema: Stop Running. Start Listening,” and “Senator Sinema: Stop Running From Us.”
The activists are upset with Sinema over her refusal to support the reconciliation package at its current spending level.
Video posted last week showed Green New Deal Network Chief of Staff Kunoor Ojha harassing Sinema as she attempted to have a phone conversation while at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., as he pressed her to support the legislation, known as the Build Back Better Act.
“Hi, Senator Sinema? I want to ask if you can explain to the American people what you’re planning on cutting from Joe Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ plan?” he pressed.
“Do you want to cut climate priorities? Is it elder care that you want to cut, or is it child care?” he continued.
Then, while onboard her plane, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) named Karina came up to Sinema and confronted her about supporting the formalization of that program, which was enacted via executive order by then-President Barack Obama in 2012.
“Can you commit to that, senator?” Karina asked, adding, “I don’t want to disturb you, but at the same time, I just want to know if I can get a commitment from you, senator.”
Also last week, Sinema was accosted as she exited a classroom at Arizona State University where she teaches and was followed into a bathroom by activists haranguing her as she used the facilities.
“We knocked on doors for you to get you elected, that’s how we got you elected and we can get you out of office if you don’t support what you promised us,” a young female protester can be heard saying in video of the incident.
In a statement, Sinema’s office said she won’t “negotiate through the press” but instead will continue to have “good-faith discussions with both President Biden and Senator [Charles] Schumer to find common ground.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who has also come out in opposition to the reconciliation bill, saying he would support a $1.5 trillion package instead, has been targeted as well. Protesters showed up last week in kayaks outside his houseboat in Washington, D.C., to protest.
“Senator, this is an investment,” one woman hollered from her kayak. “This is not giving out money, this is not spending, this is building the state that we both love!”
“We’re working hard, we really are,” Manchin told the protesters as he briefly engaged them. “We’re going to continue to in good faith. I really want to get a good bill that’s a balanced bill, that’s well done. And I know it won’t be enough for some. It will be too much for others in West Virginia.”
Jon has over 30 years' worth of reporting experience, as well as an author and U.S. Army veteran. He has a BA in political science from Ashford University and an MA in national security studies/intelligence analysis from American Military University.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.