Jul 19, 2022 - Politics & Policy
17 House Democrats arrested at abortion rights rally
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Some of the House lawmakers detained near the Supreme Court on July 19, 2022. Photo: Andrew Solender/Axios
Seventeen House Democrats were detained Tuesday at an abortion rights rally protesting the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
Driving the news: U.S. Capitol Police said that it started arresting demonstrators after they failed to follow their three warnings to stop blocking a street in Washington, D.C. near the Supreme Court.
- The lawmakers are expected to be released and fined.
- USCP said they made "a total of 35 arrests for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding" including the lawmakers.
- Axios counted 17 members of Congress within the cordoned off area where Capitol Police kept arrestees.
- Protesters sat down on First Street NE outside the Capitol building and blocked the road.
The 17 lawmakers are:
- Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.),
- Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.)
- Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.)
- Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.)
- Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.)
- Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.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.)
- Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.)
- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.)
- Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas)
- Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.)
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.)
What they're saying: "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 after being arrested.
- "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. It happens because of social movements. It happens because people march, people protest, people organize, people get arrested," said Levin.
- Asked if they are planning future actions along these lines, Speier — who led the protest — said, “Stay tuned.”
