US Capitol Police reported making a total of 35 arrests for crowding, obstruction or harassment, including 17 members of Congress. Protesters had climbed First Street NE near the Capitol building, blocking the road. Capitol Police said they issued the standard three warnings before making the arrests. A spokesman for Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts also confirmed multiple arrests of members of Congress and said Pressley was among those arrested. Pressley’s communications director, Ricardo Sánchez, said her arrest was an act of “non-violent civil disobedience”. Rep. Kathryn Clark, the Democratic assistant to the speaker of the House, was also arrested. Representative Carolyn Maloney’s office also announced that she was among the Democratic Women’s Caucus members arrested near the Supreme Court. Representatives Andy Levin (D-MI) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) are held during an abortion rights protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC, U.S., July 19, 2022. SARAH SILBIGER / REUTERS “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 in a statement after her arrest, according to her office. “I am privileged to represent a state where reproductive rights are respected and protected – the least I can do is put my body on the line for the 33 million women who are at risk of losing their rights. The Republican Party and the right-wing extremists behind this decision are not pro-life, but pro-control of the bodies of women, girls, and anyone who might become pregnant. Their ultimate goal is to enact a national abortion ban. We will not let them win. We’ll be back.” A spokesman for Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez confirmed she was among those arrested. Abortion rights supporters – and those who oppose abortion rights – are protesting near the Supreme Court after the court’s decision to strike down abortion protections under Roe nearly a month ago. The court ruled that abortion is not a constitutional right. Democrats hope to enshrine abortion access protections into law, but such a measure lacks support in the Senate under current rules.

Kathryn Watson

Kathryn Watson is a political reporter for CBS News Digital based in Washington, DC