Secular Day at the Arizona Capitol
Observations from the peanut gallery.
I recently attended Secular Day at the Capitol 2025 with Secular Arizona. It was inspiring to be part of a small community advocating for what they believe is right, and I’m grateful to be finding my tribe so we can support each other in the future.
My main takeaway from observing the House and Senate proceedings is that the separation of church and state is not being upheld. Although we missed the beginning of the House meeting, we were able to attend the start of the Senate proceedings, where everyone was asked to rise for a moment of prayer. Those of us from Secular Arizona resolutely remained in our seats and were the only ones who did. Prayer has no place in our government, and it was disturbing to see our elected representatives behave as if they were in a church.
Another thing we watched was a brief discussion about amending the language in a proposition known as HB 2437. I did a quick Google search while listening to the House discuss the measure before they swiftly moved on to another topic. Republican Representative David Cook proposed the bill and aims to amend existing laws by making it illegal for individuals to be present in “drug-free homeless service zones” with the intent to sell or transfer drugs. It also prohibits employees of homeless service facilities from permitting drug possession or use in these areas. Violations would incur harsher penalties, including longer prison sentences and mandatory fines. In other words, this representative seems more focused on enacting punitive measures rather than proposing laws that would support and assist those involved. This reflects the reality of the America we live in — it’s genuinely a police state. Our politicians primarily focus on imposing more punishment on citizens rather than finding ways to enrich their lives.
Another noteworthy observation was watching representative Mark Finchem. He was one of the first Senators to arrive on the floor, and we watched him get testy when someone approached him. He’s associated with the Oath Keepers militia group and participated in the January 6 Capitol Riot, which aimed to overturn the 2020 election results. He promotes QAnon conspiracy theories and has filed lawsuits to nullify the 2020 election outcome. His political actions support voter suppression, and he is known for divisive rhetoric that exacerbates political tensions. Notably, we noticed that he had framed pictures of Trump and Vance prominently displayed in the center of his desk, almost like a shrine.
Attending Secular Day at the Capitol 2025 was an enlightening experience that highlighted the ongoing challenges we face in safeguarding the principles of separation of church and state and the need for a more compassionate approach to public policy. Furthermore, the discussion surrounding HB 2437 underscored a concerning trend toward punitive legislation that fails to address the root causes of societal issues, particularly concerning vulnerable populations like the homeless. It’s evident that the current political climate prioritizes punishment over support, reflecting a troubling trajectory for our democracy.
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