Massive Crowd Protests "Safe" Republican District in Pima County
A massive crowd of some 300 people swarmed a hotel in Tucson on December 4, 2021 at one of the last public hearings of the Independent Redistricting Commission. One speaker after another railed against the manufactured “safe” Republican district carved out of Democratic Pima County.
The roasting hot room had only 165 seats, and people waited for hours for their chance to testify. A busload of Republican MAGA activists pulled up to the hotel, but the riders were not admitted. Because of the huge crowd, attendees were limited to 90 seconds of speaking.
Democrats in the room stood up as Alison Jones, former Chair of the Pima County Democratic Party, led off the condemnation. “Cronyism, backroom deals, and the stench of the unconstitutional partisan gerrymander of [proposed] LD17 have contaminated the whole map and will be the shameful legacy of this Commission if it is passed,” she said.
“Troubling information has come to light that District 17—a sprawling, non-compact district that wraps around Tucson, was actually drawn by Sen Vince Leach and the GOP. It was passed through the Southern Arizona Leadership Council to this Commission in an attempt to impart a veneer of legitimacy.
Read more: https://blogforarizona.net/massive-crowd-protests-safe-republican-district-in-pima-county/