Former Arizona State Senator Alfredo Gutierrez has died at 79 after battling esophageal cancer, known for his civil rights, education, and immigrant advocacy.

The last time I saw Alfredo Gutierrez was at this year’s May Day rally outside the State Capitol. He was standing toe-to-toe with a MAGA supporter who had shown up at the protest and was marching through the crowd,

Alfredo Gutierrez was elected to the Arizona Senate in 1972 and eventually became the Democratic Senate Majority Leader.