PHOENIX (AP) - The Latest on Arizona women’s advocates demanding that Sen. Jeff Flake reject Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. (all times local):
3:30 p.m.
Phoenix police say four women involved in a demonstration outside Sen. Jeff Flake’s Arizona office have been arrested for trespassing after entering the privately owned building complex where the office is located, sitting down and refusing to leave.
Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson says the owners and officers asked the four to leave the part of the property where they were seated, which didn’t include Flake’s office. Several other demonstrators had earlier entered Flake’s office, where they were talking with his staff about their demand that the Republican senator not back Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme court amid allegations of sexual assault.
Thompson said police officers on Thursday arrested the four without incident and they were booked for criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor. Their names were not released.
2 p.m.
Several dozen members of Arizona women’s advocacy groups have gathered outside Sen. Jeff Flake’s office in Phoenix to urge him not to back Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court amid allegations of sexual assault.
Camaron Stevenson has shouted through a bullhorn, holding his 4-year-old daughter and leading group chants.
Other protesters have carried signs protesting the Supreme Court nominee, including one that reads “Liar!” and another that says, “Kava_NO!”
Flake was among three Republican senators who had pressed President Donald Trump to order a renewed background check on Kavanaugh this week.
A much smaller group of counter protesters also showed up for the Thursday event, yelling that there is “No evidence! No corroboration!” to back up the claims of women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault.
11 a.m.
Arizona women’s advocacy groups are calling on Sen. Jeff Flake to not back Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Members of the national organization UltraViolet Action and local groups are holding a midday rally on Thursday rally outside Flake’s Phoenix office to support the women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault. Kavanaugh has denied the allegations.
Thirty-three Arizona women who described themselves as survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence on Wednesday sent an open letter asking Flake to publicly commit to rejecting Kavanaugh’s nomination to the high court.
They say if he doesn’t, he will send a “devastating message to millions of survivors that what happened to us doesn’t matter.”
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