September 3, 2025
Defend Free Speech and Stand with Senator Analise Ortiz
In recent days, Arizona State Senator Analise Ortiz has come under fire for exercising her right to free speech on social media. Her posts, which criticized ICE, have sparked outrage from extremist groups who are now attempting to silence her voice.
Let’s be clear: Senator Ortiz is a secular star and a champion for justice. She has stood with communities across Arizona, advocating for policies that protect our freedoms and dignity. And now, extremists, many of whom shout the loudest about “free speech” when it benefits them, are working overtime to limit hers.
The Bigger Picture: Religious Extremism and Xenophobia
What we are seeing is part of a larger pattern. Religious extremists in Arizona have fueled an agenda that conflates their narrow worldview with public policy. That agenda often manifests in xenophobic rhetoric and punitive immigration enforcement. Now, when a courageous public servant speaks truth to power, these same voices attempt to censor her.
This is not about partisanship. This is about principle. Free speech is not reserved for the powerful; it belongs to all of us, including those who challenge injustice.
Why We Must Speak Up
If extremists succeed in silencing Senator Ortiz, it sends a dangerous message to every community leader, activist, and everyday Arizonan who dares to speak out. We cannot allow this chilling effect to take hold.
Senator Ortiz has shown up for our most marginalized and vulnerable communities and citizens time and again, including advocating for:
- Free school meals
- Affordable housing and tenant protections
- Services for families in need
- Protections for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities
- Consumer protections
- Mental healthcare
- Election integrity and voter access
Senator Ortiz has consistently stood up for working people in Arizona, those who face daily struggles to make ends meet, who deserve fair wages, affordable housing, and dignity in their workplaces. She has fought to keep and expand access to quality health services in Maryvale, ensuring that families in one of the most underserved areas of Phoenix are not left behind. She has championed young people striving for a better future, pushing for investments in education, opportunity, and pathways to success.
Again and again, Senator Ortiz has been a voice for those who are too often ignored or silenced. Now it is our turn to raise our voices for her.
What You Can Do
We need our community to rally in support of Senator Ortiz. Here’s how you can help:
Make calls and send emails: Contact your elected officials to express your support for Senator Ortiz’s right to free speech. Share your concern about attempts to censor her voice. Find your legislators here.
Spread the word: Post on social media, talk to your networks, and remind others that free speech is for everyone…not just for extremists.
- Like and Repost the following Instagram and TikTok posts. Share them in your stories:
- Like and Share/Quote Post on Bluesky and Facebook with your own message of support, asking others to join:
Our Commitment
At Secular AZ, we are committed to defending democracy and protecting the rights of all Arizonans to speak freely, without fear of intimidation from religious or political extremists. Senator Ortiz embodies that courage, and she deserves our support.
The same amendment in the United States Constitution that protects freedom of (and from) religion also protects free speech, because you can’t have one without the other. Together, we can send a clear message: Arizona stands with leaders who speak truth, and we will not allow extremists to silence them.
In solidarity,
Iain Hamp
Secular AZ Board Chair