House, Senate Republicans condemn Democrat Zack Fields after he stages protest in House Chambers

By SUZANNE DOWNING

March 11, 2026 – Republican minority members of the Alaska House and Senate are condemning the actions of Anchorage Democrat Rep. Zack Fields after he repeatedly displayed a protest sign during Congressman Nick Begich III’s annual address to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature.

During the formal proceedings Tuesday, Fields held up a sign reading “ICE OUT,” a reference to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while seated on the House floor facing the podium where Begich was delivering his remarks.

Rep. Zack Fields holds up an ‘ICE OUT’ sign facing Congressman Begich during floor speech

Republican lawmakers said the demonstration violated long-standing rules governing decorum during joint sessions of the Legislature. According to Republican leaders, the display breached Uniform Rule 26, provisions of Mason’s Manual, and the traditional standards of conduct expected during formal legislative proceedings.

In a joint statement released after the address, members of the House and Senate Republican caucuses described the protest as disrespectful to Alaska’s representative in Congress and inappropriate for the setting.

“A Joint Session is a time-honored tradition intended for the exchange of ideas between our federal and state representatives. It is not a venue for juvenile protest or political theater,” said Sen. Mike Cronk, R-Northway. “Representative Fields’ decision to use the floor of the House as a backdrop for a prop-based protest is an insult to the office of the Congressman and to the Alaskans we all serve.”

Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, also criticized the demonstration, saying the Legislature should maintain a professional tone during official addresses.

“Sitting on the House floor during our congressman’s annual keynote address is not the place for disruption and waving protest signs,” Johnson said. “This behavior reflects a lack of professional maturity and a blatant disregard for the rules of this body. We should be focused on the serious issues facing Alaska—energy, infrastructure, and the economy—not catering to a singular member’s need for social media attention.”

Republican lawmakers emphasized that while individual legislators have the right to express their views, participation in a joint session carries responsibilities to uphold the dignity of the institution.

They argued that introducing handheld protest signs into a joint session risks creating a hostile and unprofessional environment that detracts from the purpose of the gathering: Communication from the delegation and cooperation between Alaska’s elected representatives in Washington, DC and the state Legislature.

The Republican caucuses in both chambers are calling on legislative leadership to review the incident and determine whether additional steps should be taken to prevent similar disruptions during future joint sessions.