[WATCH] AOC, Tlaib, Omar, and Other Democrats Arrested At SCOTUS Protest
More than a dozen Democratic members of Congress were among those arrested by Capitol Police on Tuesday afternoon as part of an abortion rights protest in front of the Supreme Court.
Within two minutes of their arrival, police began ordering the group, all of whom were wearing specially-made green bandanas reading “Won’t Back Down,” to “cease and desist.” Instead, the Democratic lawmakers marched from the Capitol to the Court, which has been fenced off since shortly after the leak of the draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and staged a sit-in on the street.
They were all taken away one by one by officers as they chanted, “The people, united, will never be divided.”
Today, Rep. AOC was arrested along with other members of Congress outside the Supreme Court for protesting in support of abortion rights. #AbortionRightsAreHumanRights pic.twitter.com/gvj9J1o5ic
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) July 19, 2022
The US Capitol Police tweeted: “Demonstrators are starting to block First Street, NE. It is against the law to block traffic, so officers are going to give our standard three warnings before they start making arrests.” Soon after, 35 people were arrested at the protest for “blocking traffic” including Democratic members of Congress:
- Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark of Massachusetts
- Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts
- Barbara Lee of California
- Jackie Speier of California
- Sara Jacobs of California
- Ilhan Omar of Minnesota
- Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey
- Andy Levin of Michigan
- Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
- Jan Schakowsky of Illinois
- Madeline Dean of Pennsylvania
- Cori Bush of Missouri
- Carolyn Maloney of New York
- Nydia Velazquez of New York
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
- Alma Adams of North Carolina
The Supreme Court will not stop us. Even though they arrested us, we won’t stop our organizing, agitating, and legislating for justice.
We got us. pic.twitter.com/wDHzptEYiQ
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) July 19, 2022
Today I was arrested while participating in a civil disobedience action with my fellow Members of Congress outside the Supreme Court.
I will continue to do everything in my power to raise the alarm about the assault on our reproductive rights! ✊🏽pic.twitter.com/rpFYOGBDf4
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 19, 2022
The reaction from liberal Twitter carried a common theme: Democrats being arrested for peaceful protest while Republicans connected to the January 6th siege at the Capitol have yet to suffer any consequences.
It’s quite telling that more members of Congress were arrested today for protesting in support of abortion rights than have been arrested ever for facilitating Jan. 6th. https://t.co/LXLrTLMNk0
— Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D (@RVAwonk) July 19, 2022
So they finally arrested members of Congress but it was Democrats for protesting instead of Republicans for treason?
Did I understand that correctly?
— connectpoliticditto. (@cpoliticditto) July 19, 2022
When Josh Hawley raises his fist, he walks free for seditious conspiracy.
When AOC raises her fist, she’s arrested for peacefully protesting abortion rights.
— Sarmad Faiz (@move2strike) July 19, 2022
Some users doubted the claims of being arrested, as videos showed them with their hands behind their backs without handcuffs. Capitol Police tweeted the verification shortly after the arrests.
Correction: We made a total of 35 arrests for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding (DC Code § 22–1307).
That arrest number includes 17 Members of Congress.
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) July 19, 2022
So far, no charges against any members of Congress have been announced.
[WATCH] McConnell’s Made A Prediction For the 2022 Midterms That the GOP Won’t Like