Arizona’s Role in the Storming of Capitol Hill
Arizona had a presence at this insurrection that should have the state’s attention. As I detail Arizona’s involvement, something becomes very clear — these groups and people were led to the edge by politicians, and when they jumped, politicians stepped back.
A quick review of this week’s event: on January 6th, 2020, Trump urged a rally to march on Capitol Hill. This event quickly escalated — though this escalation wasn’t unforeseen; it was mentioned as far back as Dec. 23rd. Trump supporters climbed walls into the capitol, broke windows, ran into the Capitol Hill Building, sat in offices, stole podiums, and terrified staff and officials into hiding. These actions were not met with strict police resistance, as police met them with little force and took selfies with people inside the capitol building.
It is clear that white nationalist violence is treated differently in the U.S., but also that it is underestimated. Warning signs of rising right-wing violence are increasing. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the FBI have warned about it. There were multiple warning signs of the actions on January 6th, and they were not treated seriously.
But addressing these issues locally is also essential. This should come as no surprise as contesting Arizona’s election results were a main aspect of the events of January 6th.
“I can’t go home, I drove all the way from Arizona! “— Protestor at Capitol Hill, The Nation
Politicians’ Responsibility
Arizonan House Representatives who voted to sustain one or both objections were: Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Debbie Lesko, and David Schweikert.
Meanwhile, Rep. Mark Finchem tweeted out, “What happens when the People feel they have been ignored, and Congress refuses to acknowledge rampant fraud. #stopthesteal,” with a picture of the mob on January 6th. State Sen.-elect Kelly Townsend accused Italy of stealing our election and has attempted to redirect Arizonan electoral votes to Trump. Sen.-elect Wendy Rogers has staunchly promoted election fraud, tweeting out on January 8th, “I still stand with @realDonaldTrump. I do not stand with Congress.”
The flames of these conspiracies are being fanned by politicians — as well as being directed by them. They are using these movements for political capital, legitimizing them. Many of these politicians are now trying to distance themselves from what happened on Capitol Hill, but in reality, they are directly responsible.
Let’s discuss Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), the MVP of Arizonan misinformation and inflammation of 2020. Paul Gosar attended rallies named “#SharpieGate” that protested the electoral results of Arizona’s election, shouting through a megaphone to the crowd, “This is our Alamo.” He also tweets out statements like, “Child trafficking and the deep state are real, “systemic racism” is a hoax,” and contributes to conspiracies like QAnon, while denying realities like COVID-19, saying the “pandemic was waning” in June.
He denies systematic racism while posing with members of hate groups like the Proud Boys or militias like the Oath Keepers, while dining with white nationalist Steve Bannon — it might be hard for him to see systematic racism without looking in the mirror. Gosar is building momentum for movements that seem more and more detached from reality. You can see below how he has tweeted publicly on Twitter, with discretion, in contrast to how he posts on conservative social media app, Parler, with complete lack of discretion.
It’s not just Gosar — Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has also spread COVID-19 and QAnon lies, and contributed to the climate of dismantling democracy, protesting and attempting to overturn election results.
In Congress, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, (D-AZ) spoke in response to accusations of electoral fraud, saying that:
“Today’s challenge to our election fails any factual analysis. More disturbingly, it seeks to rob…more than 3 million Arizonans of a free, fair election.
Right after she finished her speech, the chambers were evacuated as Capitol Hill was breached.
Arizona Action on January 6th
Arizona had its own protest on January 6th at the Arizona State Capitol. Members with tactical military gear stood right alongside families with dogs, as well as vendors selling MAGA items. A large vehicle with a televised screen reads out things like “#RecallDucey” and “A Day in History You Don’t Want to Miss.” Groups like the Oath Keepers and Three Percenters were present. The Three Percenters in Arizona are a militia group that is anti-government according to the SPLC — they are armed and patrol the border as some of the members mention “hunting Mexicans” though they state their goal as reporting people to Border Patrol.
Senator-elect Wendy Rogers, who is an Oath Keeper member, spoke at the rally, calling for people to “fight, fight, fight.” Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb spoke as well. Gosar called into the event to speak over a projected screen.
Meanwhile, in Arizona, AZ GOP Chair Kelli Ward said at a rally that the violence was a “shame,” to which, in response, the crowd booed. She has retweeted that “Antifa openly planned to dress as Trump supporters and cause chaos today” while the Arizona Republican Party, which she heads, tweets out that rioters, “are fed up, and understandably so.” Earlier this month, the Arizona Republican Party tweeted that its supporters should fight and give their lives to “#StopTheSteal.” So what is it? Is it “Antifa” or is it “understandable?” Should their supporters give their lives or is violence a shame? What do they stand for, if anything at all?
Arizonans Present in the Capitol
It is worth noting memorable people from Arizona movements that were present in D.C.
Phoenix QAnon supporter Jake Angeli, who has been a well-known figure at right-wing events over the last year has garnered attention in D.C. In addition, AZ Patriots, a right-wing group that has burst into election counting rooms, announced over social media that they would be present in D.C.
Misinformation — COVID-19 & Voting
Misinformation will always be an issue, but the ease of access nowadays seems to be sending this issue into overdrive. COVID-19 has been ravaging Arizona, which has had one of the highest rates of spread this winter. Over 9,400 Arizonans have died as of January 6th. Meanwhile, we have politicians like Kelly Townsend who is openly anti-mask and has stated that COVID-19 is no danger.
The results of the vote, on the other hand, are certified, approved by judges, and demonstrate that Biden won Arizona’s popular vote by 10,457 votes. They were challenged eight times and eight times, these challenges failed. These both point to populations that are increasingly favoring misinformation, even as it endangers other people and our democratic process.
Maricopa County has been a hotbed of COVID-19 cases and deaths, as well as hosting rallies crying voter fraud. With no evidence. As they protested election fraud, they also welcomed famous conspiracy theorist Alex Jones into “#StoptheSteal,” on November 5th, where he spoke to the gathered crowds.
“#StoptheSteal” has been a nationwide cry, but “#SharpieGate” is our local Arizona conspiracy. “#SharpieGate” is another election conspiracy that claims that Republicans were given sharpies, on purpose, as those ballots would not be counted — this was immediately countered as a false claim, as sharpies are allowed in Arizona.
“#SharpieGate” is a great example of how leaders have fueled misinformation. Sharpies used to not be allowed. Now they are. It was a simple miscommunication, one easily researched and corrected. But instead, these miscommunications are co-opted into disinformation campaigns.
Sinema (D-AZ) sums up the election fraud allegations so:
“Eight challenges contesting the Arizona election were brought to federal and state courts. All eight were withdrawn or dismissed — including a unanimous ruling by Arizona’s Supreme Court.
The Chief Justice wrote: “[the] challenge fails to present any evidence of ‘misconduct,’ [or] ‘illegal votes’… let alone establish any degree of fraud or a sufficient error rate that would undermine the certainty of the election results.”
A woman interviewed by The Nation in D.C. said, “This is not America. They’re shooting at us. They’re supposed to shoot BLM, but they’re shooting the patriots.” A line is drawn. What counts as American to these groups, and what does not. The racial imagery of those who invaded the capitol was blatant. The noose brought to Capitol Hill invoked not class-subversion, like say, a guillotine, but the imagery of lynching. The cross pushed up, invoked not Christianity, but KKK imagery of cross-burning. Confederate and KKK imagery and Nazi symbols and swastikas littered the movement. These are threats in plain sight to marginalized groups around the U.S.
Arizona has its own issues with systemic racism — racism lies enshrined in our laws, leaders, and wall. Matt Browning, a retired Mesa police officer, said that Arizona is easily top three in far-right extremism, “due to proximity to the border, the open carry laws, and the anti-government sentiment.” This connection cannot be overlooked.
This is who we are, but we can change. Economic disenfranchisement, growing poverty and inequality, lacking education, and the disinformation campaigns of politicians and corporations are evolving into a conspiratorial and unpredictable political climate. COVID-19, these insurrections, this past year, were a diagnosis, and a diagnosis we have to deal with.
There is no inevitability to addressing this diagnosis — they have been ignored before, and will be ignored again. But this time, we cannot let this slide.
