Pro-abortion protesters in Phoenix, Arizona, threatened to break into the state’s Senate building Friday night in a move that Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake said amounted to “domestic terrorism.”
“The left is showing everyone what a REAL ‘Insurrection’ looks like right now in Downtown Phoenix,” Lake tweeted, sharing a video of protesters banging on the glass to the Senate building’s entryway. “This is domestic terrorism.”
Calling out her state’s current governor for his lackluster response, the former news anchor added: “The Arizona national guard should have been deployed hours ago, @DougDucey. Arrest these animals immediately. They are out for blood.”
The incident, according to Arizona State Senator Kelly Townsend, essentially devolved into a “hostage” situation as she and other lawmakers were forced to lock down inside the building.
“We are currently there being held hostage inside the Senate building due to members of the public trying to breach our security,” Townsend tweeted Friday night. “We smell teargas and the children of one of the members are in the office sobbing with fear.”
Referencing the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, the senator added, “I expect a J24 committee to be created immediately.”
According to Fox News, the protesters were eventually dispersed by police, and lawmakers were able to resume working in a secure room.
“Violent pro-abortion protestors’ attempts of an insurrection at the Arizona State Senate were thwarted Friday night, thanks to the swift actions from local and state law enforcement,” said Kim Quintero, the Republican State Caucus’s communications director, per Fox News.
The Phoenix protest was just one of many national protests that occurred Friday in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark abortion ruling of Roe v. Wade and hand the question of the legality of abortion back to the individual states.
In Washington, D.C., according to Newsweek, pro-abortion group Jane’s Revenge responded to the news by promising a “night of rage” and circulating ominous fliers encouraging protesters to riot.
“TO OUR OPPRESSORS: IF ABORTIONS AREN’T SAFE, YOU’RE NOT EITHER,” the fliers threatened.
Other activists and lawmakers also held demonstrations, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., showing her disdain for the ruling by leading a crowd of protesters to chant that the court’s decision was “Illegitimate.”
In response to her colleague’s actions, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., tweeted: “AOC just launched an insurrection. Any violence and rioting is a direct result of Democrat marching orders.”
With “trigger ban” laws prohibiting abortions set to take effect in at least 13 states, protests are expected to continue nationwide.