Rep. Gallego Statement on Arizona Legislature Republican’s Attempt to Disenfranchise Navajo Nation in the Middle of a Pandemic
PHOENIX, AZ - Rep. Ruben Gallego, Chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States released the following statement in response to the Arizona legislature's planned consideration of SCR 1018 this week, which would break up the only legislative district in Arizona where a majority of residents are Native American. The Arizona legislature just came back into session this week.
"Republicans in the Arizona State legislature have done next to nothing to help our state successfully combat and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and yet their first week back in session, they are prioritizing legislation that would disenfranchise diverse voters in our state.
"SCR 1018 would break up Arizona's only majority-Native American district and is officially opposed by the Navajo Nation Council. Attempting to pass a bill to smother Native American voices as the Navajo Nation battles the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the country is despicable.
"This represents a new low in Arizona legislature Republicans' shameless pursuit of voter suppression in our state."