Many on the left rushed to defend the protesters at Arizona State University who chased Democratic Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema into a bathroom and filmed her.
Protesters confronted Sinema and told her they wanted to talk to her, according to a video posted Sunday on Twitter. When the senator told them she was leaving and walked into the bathroom, they followed her in.
“We need a Build Back Better plan right now,” one protester told Sinema as she opened the bathroom door. The senator walked into a bathroom stall and shut the door while the protesters filmed outside of the stall. (RELATED: Biden Claims His Build Back Better Agenda ‘Costs Zero Dollars.’ Economists Are Less Convinced)
“We need to hold you accountable for what you promised to pass when we knocked on doors for you,” one person told Sinema as she washed her hands.
While Republicans and some Democrats condemned the behavior, many on the left rushed the defend the protesters.
The Daily Beast claimed that “Sinema locks herself in bathroom to avoid young activists.”
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema locks herself in bathroom to avoid young activists on ASU campus https://t.co/kCHs3FsCGb
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) October 3, 2021
Journalist Eoin Higgins said that Sinema “has repeatedly refused to meet with” the activists and said “what are they supposed to do.”
Lucha protesters, Arizona constituents, waited for Kyrsten Sinema outside of the class she teaches and she ran away into the bathroom. She has repeatedly refused to meet with them. What are they supposed to dopic.twitter.com/8YP5w3qAUi
— Eoin Higgins (@EoinHiggins_) October 3, 2021
Democratic strategist Max Burns blamed Sinema for the encounter.
“The bigger issue with the Sinema bathroom kerfuffle is that Sinema’s constituents feel this is the only way to reach her,” he said. “They’re desperate. And this is what it looks like when you spend months avoiding more structured public availabilities.”
The bigger issue with the Sinema bathroom kerfuffle is that Sinema’s constituents feel this is the only way to reach her. They’re desperate. And this is what it looks like when you spend months avoiding more structured public availabilities.
— Max Burns (@themaxburns) October 3, 2021
“The 2 charlatan Senators should be forced to face their constituents,” said left-wing activist Amy Siskind.
Protestors at Arizona State University follow Sinema into the bathroom and tell her they knocked on doors to get her elected, and she is not keeping her promises. The 2 charlatan Senators should be forced to face their constituents. pic.twitter.com/NZDt0F8kad
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) October 3, 2021
“Ms. Sinema only wants attention when it’s convenient to her. She was approached and asked politely, instead of stopping and listening to Arizonans she hides in a bathroom stall,” immigration activist Astrid Silva posted on Twitter. “If those kids were corporate donors she would have stopped.”
This makes me grateful for my Senators.
Ms. Sinema only wants attention when it’s convenient to her. She was approached and asked politely, instead of stopping and listening to Arizonans she hides in a bathroom stall.
If those kids were corporate donors she would have stopped. https://t.co/q6jKdDMih8
— Astrid Silva (@Astrid_NV) October 3, 2021
Writer Konrad Juengling called out people for “clutching their pearls” over the encounter.
“That’s what happens when she doesn’t hold a town hall in THREE YEARS and repeatedly and actively avoids her constituents,” he said. “Especially ones that knocked on doors for her.”
A few people are clutching their pearls some activists followed Sinema into a bathroom. That’s what happens when she doesn’t hold a town hall in THREE YEARS and repeatedly and actively avoids her constituents. 🤷♂️ Especially ones that knocked on doors for her. pic.twitter.com/2wZCNLMpWJ
— Konrad Juengling (@PDX_er) October 4, 2021
Sinema said in a statement that the protesters disrupted her class and posted footage of her in the bathroom without her permission. The senator also claimed that she had met with the group several times since she was elected to the Senate and called their behavior “unacceptable” and “unlawful.”
All Democrats need to support President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion Build Back Better plan in order for it to pass. Both Sinema and Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin have openly opposed the legislation.