Multiple Democratic lawmakers were arrested at an abortion rights rally outside the Capitol on Tuesday, less than a month after the Supreme Court issued a ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.
Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar (Minnesota), Ayanna Presley (Mass.), Jackie Speier (Calif.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (New Jersey), Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), Cory Bush (Mass.), Kathryn Clark (Mass.). ), Andy Levin (Michigan), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), Alma Adams (North Carolina), Veronica Escobar (Texas), and Carolyn Maloney (New York) were among those arrested during the demonstration.
At 1:20 p.m., US Capitol Police tweeted that they had begun arresting activists blocking First Street NE. Authorities said they gave their traditional three warnings before arresting the protesters.
By 1:35 p.m., the demonstration was cleared, according to Capitol Police, who reported that a total of 16 lawmakers had been arrested. Authorities arrested a total of 34 people for crowding, obstruction or nuisance.
The demonstration came more than three weeks after the Supreme Court overturned Roe, the 1973 decision that protected access to abortion. The decision angered Democrats across the country and prompted House Democrats to pass two bills protecting abortion access; those measures face little chance of clearing the 50-50 Senate.
Maloney said in a statement Tuesday, “There is no democracy if women do not have control over their own bodies and decisions about their own health, including reproductive care.”
“The GOP and right-wing extremists behind this decision are not pro-life, they are about controlling the bodies of women, girls, and anyone who can get pregnant. Their ultimate goal is to introduce a national abortion ban. We will not let them win. We will be back,” she added.
In a statement Tuesday, a spokesman for Presley said the congresswoman was participating in a protest against “the cruel and callous decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and take away abortion rights for everyone who calls America home.”
According to Presley’s spokesman, grassroots advocates were also present at the demonstration.
Speier tweeted that she was “proud” to march with her fellow Democrats “and get arrested for women’s rights, abortion rights, people’s rights to control their own bodies and the future of our democracy!”
Escobar tweeted that she was detained before the Supreme Court, adding that she “proudly stands in defense of abortion access and reproductive freedom.”
She also posted a video of her and other House Democrats marching outside the Capitol chanting “we will not go back.”
Clark, the assistant speaker of the House, said in a statement: “The extremist GOP is determined to take us back in time and take away our rights. I refuse to stand by while their rampage continues.”
“They can arrest me, but we won’t let them arrest freedom,” she added.
Levin tweeted Tuesday, “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to protect abortion rights — even if it means getting arrested.”
“I joined my colleagues from the Democratic Women’s Caucus in a civil disobedience action in front of the Supreme Court. We’re not going back!” he added.
Tuesday’s demonstration was not the first time lawmakers have been arrested at protests since Roe’s ruling. Last month, Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-Calif.) was arrested at an abortion rights rally on the Capitol grounds.
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— Updated at 3:11 p.m
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