Groups target Democrat over Trump agenda item
The Indivisible groups that have swarmed Republican town halls in an effort to stymie the Trump administration’s agenda protested an Arizona Democrat for a change.
Two dozen demonstrators upset with U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran, D-Ariz., gathered outside his Tucson office on Tuesday to make clear they think he went too far by voting in support of an anti-gang bill they see as promoting racial profiling.
It may be the first time the Indivisible groups have targeted an Arizona Democrat.
The bill, which would allow a crackdown on designated gangs and deportation of their members, passed the House on a mostly party-line vote a week after U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-Va., introduced it. It’s now pending in the Senate.
O’Halleran and U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., were two of the 11 Democrats to vote for the measure. U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., did not vote.
The Indivisible groups also object to O’Halleran voting for a bill that included $1.6 billion to help fund a Southwest border wall. When he voted for the anti-gang bill, members of Indivisible wanted to let him know they are watching him, underscored with protesters carrying signs made to resemble eyeballs.
“Tom has a history of voting for the Trump agenda,” said Kristen Randall, a founder and leader of Indivisible of Southern Arizona. “For the most part, we don’t bother him about that . ... We’re trying to be strategic. We don’t want to protest everything.”
O’Halleran, a freshman member of Congress and former Chicago police officer, defended his vote on the gang bill.
“As a former law enforcement officer who has worked to combat criminal gangs, I understand the unique challenges local law enforcement faces — especially in border states like Arizona,” he said in a statement to The Arizona Republic. “The Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act gives local law enforcement — including intergovernmental task forces — more tools to combat transnational street gangs.”
O’Halleran tried to finesse the pushback without criticizing the Indivisible groups. He promised “an open line of communication for future discussions.”
“I always welcome and encourage input and feedback from my constituents, even if we do not agree. I am willing to listen to their concerns about this issue and any other issues that impact our communities and work towards improving the policy outcome.”