Trump impeachment rally draws hundreds outside Phoenix office of McSally

Angel Mendoza | Arizona Republic

Hundreds rallied near the office of Sen. Martha McSally on Tuesday as part of a national movement to call for President Donald Trump's impeachment and removal from office.

Demonstrators chanted calls for Trump to leave office amid bass drum beats and a constant chorus of car horns blaring in response to multiple protest signs reading "Honk for impeachment."

The normally busy yet quiet intersection near Biltmore Fashion Park turned into a chaotic scene as the night went on, with officers guiding traffic from all directions. Some came with signs, megaphones, and balloons — one man in a group of a couple dozen counter-protesters held up a massive Trump 2020 flag.

"There were literally 600 rallies like this around the country — it's a clear indication that the people are really tired of this president," said Dan O' Neal, a coordinator with Progressive Democrats of America.

The coordinated protests were held across the country the night before the House of Representatives is set to vote on two articles of impeachment against the president, charging him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The abuse of power charge stems from the accusation that Trump solicited interference of Ukraine in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, according to the original House document.

The obstruction of Congress charge accuses the president of directing officials not to comply with subpoenas related to the House’s impeachment inquiry.

“I think Nixon wasn’t impeached, he resigned, because America finally stood up against him and realized that most of America wanted him gone," said demonstrator Kevin Anderson. "With us standing out here, I hope that it begins to gain momentum."

The Phoenix "Impeach and Remove" rally was organized through MoveOn.org. More than 600 similar rallies took place nationwide under the group's "Nobody Is Above the Law" campaign, according to MoveOn.org's website.

Phoenix rally to impeach President Trump before U.S. House vote Protesters rallied outside the office of Martha McSally as part of a national movement to call for President Trump's impeachment.

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Kevin Anderson's wife, Katie said she hopes the turnout from the protests nationwide Tuesday evening would force Trump to understand that "he's not welcome."

Dante DiFilippo, a 17-year-old Republican who said he would vote for Trump in 2020, said he didn't necessarily disagree with the protests, but thought many who were protesting were "misguided."

“I believe that this protest is just people, honestly, getting out, venting their frustration with the president,” DiFilippo said. “I’m sorry, but all this yelling isn’t going to change anything.”

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