U.S. Capitol Police arrested 181 folks for blocking an intersection exterior the Supreme Court docket Thursday as they rallied in assist of abortion rights.
"We arrested 181 folks for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding (DC Code § 22–1307) for blocking the intersection of Structure Avenue, NE and First Avenue, NE," Capitol Police introduced on Twitter Thursday.
The arrests, Capitol Police mentioned, got here after they issued three warnings for folks to clear the intersection and space. Thursday marked the ultimate day of a time period crammed with controversial calls. The court docket's determination final week that there is not any constitutional proper to an abortion has sparked emotional demonstrations throughout the nation, each in favor of abortion entry and towards it.
Democratic Rep. Judy Chu of California was amongst these arrested Thursday. Protesters have gathered on the Supreme Court docket since its determination Friday to overturn the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade.
President Biden on Thursday voiced his assist for altering Senate guidelines briefly to codify abortion protections below roe and privateness rights, though the Senate presently lacks the votes to take action.
"A very powerful factor to be clear about is, we now have to vary — I imagine we codify Roe v. Wade within the legislation, and the best way to do this is to ensure Congress votes to do this," Mr. Biden advised reporters on Thursday. "And if the filibuster will get in the best way, it is like voting rights, it ought to be — we offer an exception for this. We require an exception to the filibuster for this motion."