Leading the story: US Capitol Police said they began arresting protesters after they failed to heed three warnings to stop blocking a street in Washington, DC near the Supreme Court.
The MPs are expected to be released and fined. The USCP said it made “a total of 35 arrests for crowding, obstruction or obstruction” including lawmakers. Axios counted 17 members of Congress inside the cordoned off area where Capitol Police were holding those arrested. Protesters sat down on First Street NE outside the Capitol building and blocked the road.
The 17 deputies are:
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (DN.Y.) Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) Representative Nydia Velazquez (DN.Y.) Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.) Representative Alma Adams (DN.C.) Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (DN.J.) Representative Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.)
What they say: “There is no democracy if women are not in control of their own bodies and decisions about their own health, including reproductive care,” Maloney said after his arrest.
“Our country has never really made big changes, not expanded rights, based on some senators and representatives having a great debate on Capitol Hill. It’s happening because of social movements. It’s happening because people are protesting, people are protesting, people are organizing, the people are getting arrested,” Levin said. Asked if they were planning future actions in this direction, Speier — who led the protest — said: “Stay tuned.”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after his detention near the Supreme Court. Photo: Andrew Solender/Axios
