House Speaker rejects hearing for protest rights bill

Arizona Senate Bill 1142 was passed by the Senate last Wednesday, a bill that would enforce strict protest restrictions – Calling for the arrest of protest organizers if riots break out.

Although the bill was approved by the Senate, Representative Charlene Fernandez confirmed the House Speaker refuses to hear it on Monday. According to Fernandez, she said she believes the ultimatum was made after national backlash against the bill broke out. “This is just the beginning,” Fernandez said. “‘You can’t protest, now you can’t gather, now you can’t talk to other people,’ I mean when does it end?” While Representative Fernandez said she deems the bill illicit, she also said the House Speaker will place a hold on the bill. “We have to stand up for our rights today,” Fernandez said. “Even though you know there may be a Democrat side or a Republican side […], we need to stand up for each other because tomorrow it could be you.” Some protest organizers, such as the Women’s March in Yuma organizer Alberta Wallace, said the decision to pass the bill would have gone against civil First Amendment rights. “The law is an infringement on our First Amendment rights,” Wallace said. “To be able to publicly gather peacefully. Now there’s a law put in place to say, ‘We don’t want you to gather to raise your voice […], I think that’s very unfair.” Supporters originally behind the bill said it was intended to stop people from rioting after national protests have turned violent in recent months.