Law enforcement officers in Phoenix, Arizona, used tear gas to break up a large group of protesters outside the state Senate building following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the historic ruling on abortion Roe v. Wade.
“Protesters threatened to break the glass of AZ’s Senate entrance,” Arizona State Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers tweeted as members were in the middle of voting on a series of bills. law.
The situation became a “hostage” situation as lawmakers were instructed not to leave the building, Arizona Republican Sen. Kelly Townsend said.
The Republican caucus in the State Senate later called the protest an attempted “insurrection.”
“We are currently inside the Senate building because members of the public are trying to violate our security,” Townsend tweeted Friday night. “We smell tear gas and the children of one of the members are in the office crying in fear.”
“I hope a J24 committee will be set up immediately,” he added, referring to the Jan. 6 committee investigating the U.S. Capitol building insurgency on Jan. 6, 2021.
According to lawmakers, law enforcement officers deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds and regain control of the building.
“The crowd dispersed with tear gas.” Rogers added, noting that protests were still ongoing and that the situation remained “very dangerous.”
Another lawmaker confirmed the use of tear gas outside the building.
“While we were working inside we were interrupted by the sound of the blow and the smell of tear gas,” MP Sarah Liguori tweeted on Friday evening. “Protesters left the Capitol.”
Heavily armed officers were seen in and around the legislative building.
Protesters are seen in the Arizona Capitol building following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade.Twitter / Michelle Ugenti-RITA
Since then, the crowd of protesters has dispersed and lawmakers resumed their legislative calendar in a safe room.
“We’re going to a safe room to go to the polls,” Rogers said.
“Everyone is fine and we’re finishing our work,” Townsend added.
“God bless you guys,” Townsend exclaimed.
“I feel safe at the Capitol as I sit next to 3 of my fellow senators who are armed,” added Arizona state lawmaker Warren Petersen.
In the hours following the situation, several members thanked law enforcement officers who protected the Capitol.
“We’re safe inside … God bless law enforcement,” Rodgers said.
The Republican Caucus of the State Senate also congratulated law enforcement for preventing an “insurrection.”
“Violent attempts at an insurgency by pro-abortion protesters in the Arizona state Senate were thwarted Friday night, thanks to swift actions by local and state law enforcement,” Kim said. Quintero, communications director of the Republican Caucus.
The GOP group said the “extremist demonstrations” were carried out by “people” trying to enter by force. [to the building] breaking windows and pushing doors “.
“We are incredibly grateful for our local law enforcement that intervened quickly during what could have been a destructive and dangerous situation for our members, staff and the public within the Senate,” said Senate President Karen Fann.
Friday was the last day of the state senators ’session, which closed a series of ballots after the interruption.
Voting included a massive expansion of the state’s private school voucher system that was approved by the House earlier this week.
The United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday afternoon, effectively giving individual states the power to allow, limit or prohibit the practice as they see fit.
As of June 24, Arizona’s Planned Parenthood has paused all abortions, both medical and surgical. Seven of the nine state-licensed providers immediately stopped abortions, according to AZ Central.
Arizona has competing laws that completely ban the procedure or limit it to 15 weeks after a woman becomes pregnant. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed the law limiting abortions to 15 weeks in March.
The old law, created in Arizona’s territorial era, strictly prohibits abortion. It also calls for a mandatory prison sentence of two to five years for offenders. The only exception to the ban is abortions needed to save a woman’s life.
The Republican majority in the state Senate said Friday that the old law that completely bans abortion is applicable. At the moment, it is not yet clear which law will have priority. The state judicial system, probably the Arizona Supreme Court, will have to resolve the issue.
At least 13 states have previously passed so-called “trigger laws” banning most abortions, following the high court’s decision. These will take effect immediately or within a few weeks after Roe v. Wade is canceled.
These states include Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion research group.