The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

A topless woman interrupts Bernie Sanders’s rally. She was there to protest Donald Trump.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks at a campaign rally, Saturday, March 19, 2016 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

PHOENIX -- On a day when Donald Trump protesters dominated political headlines again, there was a flash of disobedience on display here at a Bernie Sanders rally.

Well into the speech of the Democratic hopeful, a woman in the crowd climbed atop a man's shoulders and removed her top to display messages written in black ink on her bare back and nearly bare front.

"STOP FASCISM" her back said. "HATE SPEECH IS NOT FREE SPEECH" her front said. (She also sported two strategically placed “Free the Nipple” stickers.)

It turns out the woman was not there to protest Sanders. Her ire was directed at the Republican front-runner.

The woman, who identified herself as Anni Ma of Los Angeles, told reporters that she had tried unsuccessfully to get into Trump’s rally in Fountain Hills, Ariz. That rally was briefly delayed after dozens of protesters blocked a highway leading to the site.

Protesters block the road to Donald Trump rally near Phoenix

Sanders briefly paused upon seeing the topless woman. She was led to the back of the venue without incident and then swarmed by reporters. She stuck around awhile to tell her story.

Sanders, meanwhile, continued talking about greed on Wall Street.

Arizona holds its Democratic primary on Tuesday.

Loading...