Cindy Gaines yells ‘Jeff Flake arrests grandmas’ as protesters are arrested at Obamacare rally
Police arrested five protesters, rallying against the latest Republican plan for health care reform, this time outside of Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake’s Phoenix office.
“Jeff Flake arrests grandmas,” Cindy Gaines, 62, yelled from the back of a police car after her arrest.
Image/ United States Congress
The protests over two days resulted in a dozen arrested at Flake’s offices in Phoenix and Tucson as activists attempt to pressure Flake to vote against the proposed healthcare legislation.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office released the names those arrested: Ethan Ashley,23; Salie Travis, 64; Suzanne Gayle Distaso, 69; Phyllis Lesniak, 73 and Gaines, who is 62.
“The first is that the legislation needs to ensure that those who currently have coverage do not have the rug pulled out from under them,” Flake said in a prepared statement. “The second is that the Senate must agree on a solution that is fiscally sustainable.”
Gains and nearly two dozen other protesters were denied access to Flake’s office on Thursday because the doors to the building were locked.
All but five left after police threatened to arrest anyone who did not leave.
Police then arrested the remaining protesters.
A police spokesman said they will be cited for trespassing.
Flake was unavailable for comment but issued the statement confirming his support for the plan.
photo Will O’Neill via Flickr
