LUCHA Sues Arizona Republican Leaders Over Unconstitutional Bans Targeting Community Members at State Capitol

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 8, 2026

CONTACT: press@luchaaz.org

PHOENIX — Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) filed a lawsuit against Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Steve Montenegro for violating the constitutional rights of community members who were banned from the State Capitol for the remainder of the legislative session for voicing their opposition to an authoritarian agenda that targets everyday people across our communities. 

“Warren Petersen and Steve Montenegro, along with MAGA Republicans, are a direct threat to our democracy. They are pushing a failed agenda that serves billionaires, and they are using their power to silence the very people they were elected to represent,” said Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of Living United for Change in Arizona. “The Legislators’  ban against LUCHA is about intimidation and shutting down opposition. Our members were threatened with arrest and removed from the people’s house for speaking out against their draconian and malicious agenda.” 

Gomez continued, “As members of the legislature, they are to be responsive and accountable to Arizonans, but instead Republicans use their authority to suppress opposition, intimidate community members, and violate people’s civil rights to avoid criticism. The Arizona State Capitol belongs to the people of this state. The lawmakers in that building work for us, not the other way around, and we aim to remind them of this truth every single day.”