Over 30 demonstrators, including at least 16 Democratic lawmakers were arrested Tuesday afternoon at a rally protesting the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade. Among the lawmakers detained were members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), who led the protest according to Axios.
Multiple members of Congress, including @AOC, being arrested by Capitol Police for blocking traffic outside the Supreme Court in abortion rights demonstration: pic.twitter.com/fysQN1oBAw
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) July 19, 2022
The demonstrators were reportedly detained after blocking a street in Washington D.C., near the Court. Many wore green bandanas printed with the phrase “Won’t Back Down,” and chanted “The people, united, will never be divided” as they were escorted away from the sit-in by Capitol police officers per CNN.
Today, Rep. AOC was arrested along with other members of Congress outside the Supreme Court for protesting in support of abortion rights. #AbortionRightsAreHumanRights pic.twitter.com/gvj9J1o5ic
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) July 19, 2022
“There is no democracy if women do not have control over their own bodies and decisions about their own health, including reproductive care,” said Maloney upon arrest.
“The Republican Party and the right-wing extremists behind this decision are not pro-life, but pro-controlling the bodies of women, girls, and any person who can become pregnant,” she continued. “Their ultimate goal is to institute a national ban on abortion. We will not let them win. We will be back.”
Also among the lawmakers arrested was Michigan’s Rep. Andy Levin, who stressed the importance of protest as a form of resistance in the current moment. “Our country has never really made a big changes, not expanded rights, based on some senators and representatives having a lovely conversation in the Capitol,” he said. “It happens because of social movements. It happens because people march, people protest, people organize, people get arrested.”
In the wake of the Dobbs ruling, lawmakers have joined in with the multitude of protests that activists have led outside the Court. Last month, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) was also arrested after taking part in a pro-abortion rally at the Capitol.
I’m not backing down—not now, not ever.#FightBackForFreedom pic.twitter.com/MECMNt7IkV
— Judy Chu (@RepJudyChu) June 30, 2022
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