Protest at Trump’s Campaign Office in Phoenix Ends in Arrests
A demonstration by climate activists at a Trump campaign office in north Phoenix on Monday escalated quickly, resulting in the arrest of participants. The protest, organized by the Sunrise Movement, aimed to highlight the influence of the oil and gas industry on Donald Trump’s policies.
Five young volunteers from the Sunrise Movement entered the campaign office carrying a mock check for $1 billion and $1, symbolizing Trump’s alleged promise to oil executives to overturn President Joe Biden’s climate initiatives if they contributed to his campaign. The activists sang and shared personal experiences related to climate change, intending to draw attention to potential policy reversals under a second Trump administration.
Adah Crandall, an 18-year-old observer with the Sunrise Movement, emphasized the protest’s goal of alerting the public to the potential rollback of climate progress made under the Biden-Harris administration. “A group of five of my friends was arrested for sitting in at the campaign office, calling out Trump’s ties to Big Oil and calling out the fact that he works for billionaires, not for everyday people like us,” Crandall told The Copper Courier.
The protest was met with hostility from campaign staff. One staff member, who did not wish to be named, verbally and physically confronted the activists, calling them “stupid” and attempting to seize their phones. Additional staff members did not intervene to de-escalate the situation but instead played loud music and called the police.
Social media coverage, such as a TikTok video by The Copper Courier, captured the tension and ultimate arrest of the activists. They were taken to Maricopa County Jail and charged with trespassing, spending 30 hours in custody before being released without bail.
Despite the arrests and potential legal consequences, the activists remain resolute. Crandall stated that their commitment to climate action is unwavering, and the Sunrise Movement plans to continue its efforts, including hosting an information session on September 28 to discuss climate issues on the upcoming ballot.
The arrested activists, including Nate Scofield, Amanda Thompson, Riya Kumar, Nick Koeing, and J.M., are preparing for a court appearance scheduled for November 18. They have launched a fundraiser to help cover legal expenses.
Crandall reflected on the broader impact of Trump’s policies, expressing concern for vulnerable communities. “People are dying on the streets from heatstroke, and meanwhile, we have a candidate campaigning in this state that actively wants to undo every kind of victory that we’ve had,” said Crandall. “Black and Brown people, poor and working-class people—the same people that Trump says that he is a champion of, he’s actively letting die in climate disasters.”
