More than a dozen House Representatives were arrested on Tuesday for blocking traffic while participating in a protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court building over the court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last month.
According to ABC News, a total of seventeen lawmakers were arrested outside the nation's high court on Tuesday, including Representatives Katherine Clark (D-MA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).
Correction: We made a total of 35 arrests for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding (DC Code § 22–1307).
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) July 19, 2022
That arrest number includes 17 Members of Congress.
In video footage posted to social media, Ocasio-Cortez is seen crossing her hands behind her back as if she was handcuffed as she was being escorted from the demonstration by Capitol Police. She then raised her right fist in the air before returning it to the handcuffed position.
AOC pretended to be in handcuffs when she was escorted away from the Supreme Court pic.twitter.com/QnUP4ZQWxX
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) July 19, 2022
According to Law & Crime, it is unclear if Ocasio-Cortez was instructed to place her hands behind her back while being removed from the protest. It does, however, appear that several others put their arms in a similar position despite the lack of handcuffs used in the arrest.
"The Supreme Court will not stop us. Even though they arrested us, we won't stop our organizing, agitating, and legislating for justice," House representative Cori Bush (D-MO) tweeted.
The Supreme Court will not stop us. Even though they arrested us, we won’t stop our organizing, agitating, and legislating for justice.
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) July 19, 2022
We got us. pic.twitter.com/wDHzptEYiQ
Lawmakers also released statements following the arrests on Tuesday, vowing to continue to fight for abortion rights.
"The extremist Republican Party is determined to take us back in time and take away our rights. I refuse to stand on the sidelines as their rampage continues," Clark said in a statement. "I am furious and heartbroken, and I will proudly fight for our right to abortion and all of our Constitutional rights. They can arrest me, but we won't allow them to arrest freedom."
"There is no democracy if women do not have control over their own bodies and decisions about their own health, including reproductive care. I have the privilege of representing 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 at risk of losing their rights," Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) said in a separate statement.
As reported by CBN News, the demonstrations come after the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade last month, sending the issue of abortion back to the states.
Last week, House Democrats push forward two bills, one codifying Roe V. Wade and another protecting interstate travel for those seeking an abortion.
Related:
Kamala Harris: Supporting Abortion 'Does Not Require Anyone to Abandon Their Faith'
House of Representatives Passes Bill Protecting Abortion Access
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Anna Moneymaker/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
