Multiple Democratic lawmakers were arrested during a protest against abortion for blocking the steps to the Supreme Court building.
Among those who were arrested were Reps Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was briefly taken into custody for “crowding, incommoding, or obstruction.”
Rep. Barbara Lee took to Twitter to speak about the protest. She wrote, “One has a moral responsibility to push back against unjust laws.”
Lee continued, “Today, I am standing up for reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy in solidarity with the millions who have had their rights stripped away by inhumane policies.”
One has a moral responsibility to push back against unjust laws.
Today, I am standing up for reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy in solidarity with the millions who have had their rights stripped away by inhumane policies. pic.twitter.com/EnS8YEbc8t
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) July 19, 2022
As The Root reports, 35 arrests were made by the U.S. Capitol Police including 17 politicians. Shortly before the protest began they also tweeted out, “Demonstrators are starting to block First Street, NE. It is against the law to block traffic, so officers are going to give our standard three warnings before they start making arrests.”
A spokesperson for Pressley said on behalf of Pressley’s arrest, “[She] joined her colleagues and grassroots advocate for a non-white civil disobedience to protest the Supreme Court’s cruel and callous decision.”
Democratic N.Y. rep, Carolyn Maloney also spoke on her commitment to continuing her fight for reproductive rights. “There is no democracy if women do not have control over their own bodies and decisions about their own health, including reproductive care.”
She added, “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. Their ultimate goal is to institute a national ban on abortion. We will not let them win. We will be back.”