Arizona GOP Chair Kelli Ward stands by tweets about nurses at protest

PHOENIX – The chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party doubled down Wednesday on her belief that people wearing nurse uniforms at a state Capitol rally may have been fake.

Dr. Kelli Ward’s April 21 tweets implied that people dressed in scrubs and masks at coronavirus-related rally a day earlier were not actually health care workers.

“I don’t feel bad,” the former state senator told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show about her tweets, one of which encouraged anyone attending future protests to dress like a medical worker.

Hundreds of demonstrators in Phoenix marched against the coronavirus restrictions put in by place by Gov. Doug Ducey. A number of health care workers gathered to support the social distancing guidelines and restrictions on businesses.

“Give me a break. Not anybody thinks that every person that was there standing in those scrubs that were exactly the same, with the same sunglasses, in the same age range … were all actually health care workers,” Ward said.

Life lesson #243: people who wear scrubs and masks & stand around scowling are rarely healthcare workers. Most of us understand scrubs & masks are for when we are at work, we don’t have time to stand around, & the vast majority of us have smiling, caring, sunny dispositions! 😷 https://t.co/oOxUGHyIbc

— Dr. Kelli Ward 🇺🇸 (@kelliwardaz) April 21, 2020

One counterprotester wearing a face mask held a sign that read, “We know you’re frustrated but we need your help #pleasestayhome.”

Another, Phoenix nurse Lauren Leander said hearing protesters shout at the medical workers was disheartening.

“As a nurse, it’s the first time I’ve ever felt like the enemy,” Leander told The Broomhead Show on Friday.

Ward added health care workers, “had a right to protest just like everybody else.”

Related

Coronavirus restriction protesters descend on Arizona Capitol for rallyPhoenix nurse says she felt like enemy at coronavirus restriction protestCity of Chandler to hold public meeting on planned utility rate increaseArizona food bank receives 1st delivery as part of egg price-fixing settlementWhich Arizona cities, counties, law enforcement agencies have stopped using Flock cameras?2 Phoenix officers put on leave after allegedly using force, not activating body cams during stop