Seventeen members of Congress have been amongst these arrested Tuesday throughout an abortion rights demonstration exterior the Supreme Courtroom, in keeping with the U.S. Capitol Police.
U.S. Capitol Police mentioned they made a complete of 35 arrests for crowding, obstructing or incommoding, which included 17 members of Congress. Protesters had perched themselves on First Avenue NE close to the Capitol constructing, blocking the road. Capitol Police mentioned they issued their customary three warnings earlier than starting the arrests.
A spokesperson for Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts additionally confirmed a number of arrests of members of Congress, and mentioned Pressley was amongst these arrested. Pressley's communications director Ricardo Sánchez mentioned her arrest was an act of "non-violent civil disobedience." Rep. Katherine Clark, the Democratic assistant speaker of the Home, was additionally arrested.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney's workplace additionally introduced she was among the many Democratic Girls's Caucus members arrested close to the Supreme Courtroom.
"There is no such thing as a democracy if ladies would not have management over their very own our bodies and selections about their very own well being, together with reproductive care," Maloney mentioned in a press release after arrest, in keeping with her workplace. "I've the privilege of representing a state the place reproductive rights are revered and guarded — the least I can do is put my physique on the road for the 33 million ladies prone to dropping their rights. The Republican Occasion and the right-wing extremists behind this choice will not be pro-life, however pro-controlling the our bodies of ladies, women, and any one that can turn out to be pregnant. Their final purpose is to institute a nationwide ban on abortion. We is not going to allow them to win. We will likely be again."
A spokesperson for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez confirmed she was amongst these arrested.
Abortion rights supporters — and people against abortion rights — have been demonstrating close to the Supreme Courtroom for the reason that courtroom's choice to strike down abortion protections below Roe practically a month in the past. The courtroom dominated that abortion will not be a constitutional proper.
Democrats are hoping to enshrine abortion entry protections into regulation, however such a measure lacks help within the Senate below present guidelines.