Capitol Police arrested 17 Democrat lawmakers, who were protesting the overturning of Roe v Wade in front of the Supreme Court, in Washington. They issued three warnings and then started the arrests, but the lawmakers were released after their ids were processed but they’ll have to pay a fine for obstruction.
Those arrested took to Twitter to champion their cause and vowed to not stop protesting the decision that stopped abortion from being a constitutional right in the United States.
Here’s what each Democrat representative said.
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Rep Jackie Speier
Rep Jackie Speier of California said “Proud to march with my Democratic colleagues including @DemWomenCaucus members, and get arrested for women’s rights, abortion rights, the rights for people to control their own bodies and the future and our democracy!”
Rep. Veronica Escobar
Rep Escobar from Texas said “Today, Congresswoman Escobar was arrested in front of the Supreme Court for proudly standing in defense of abortion access and reproductive freedom. Our rights are on the line.”
Rep Carolyn B Maloney
Maloney, from New York, released a statement, while her staff had earlier tweeted “She will not be silenced”.
Rep. Cori Bush
Rep Bush of Missouri said “The Supreme Court will not stop us. Even though they arrested us, we won’t stop our organizing, agitating, and legislating for justice. We got us.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
AOC, also from New York, tweeted, “Today, Rep. AOC was arrested along with other members of Congress outside the Supreme Court for protesting in support of abortion rights.” She added the hashtag “abortion rights are human rights”.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley
Rep Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, said “Today, we put our bodies on the line to defend abortion rights because the stakes couldn’t be higher. TY to our advocates on the frontlines of this fight who led this peaceful protest & have been leading this movement for generations. We’re not backing down in this fight.”
Rep. Nydia Velazquez
The New York politician said “Today we marched to the SCOTUS to protest the radical right-wing decision to overturn Roe. It’s time for some good trouble. We won’t go back.”
Rep. Barbara Lee
Lee, who represents East Bay, noted “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.”
Rep. Katherine Clark
Clark, from Massachusetts, said “The extremist Republicans are determined to take us back in time and take away our rights. They can arrest me, but we won’t allow them to arrest freedom.”
Rep. Sara Jacobs
Jacobs, from California, said, “I won’t stop fighting to protect reproductive health care, including the right to an abortion, and I will proudly put my body on the line to make it clear just how urgently we need to act.”
Rep. Rashida Tlaib
Tlaib from Michigan added, “We wont back down! Members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus and CPD Action took a stand today against the attack on Women’s bodies. We will do whatever it takes to protect reproductive freedom.”
Rep. Andy Levin
Levin from Michigan said “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to protect abortion rights—even if it means getting arrested. I joined my Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues in a civil disobedience action outside the Supreme Court. We won’t go back!”
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman
Coleman of New Jersey said, “I’m back on the Hill. The attacks on our personal freedoms must stop. On Friday, Democrats in the House passed legislation to protect the right to choose. We’ll continue to fight until the right to bodily autonomy has been restored to all Americans.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar
Omar, of Minnesota, said “Today I was arrested while participating in a civil disobedience action with my fellow Members of Congress outside the Supreme Court. I will continue to do everything in my power to raise the alarm about the assault on our reproductive rights!”
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Jan Schakowsky of Chicago added, “Today, I am making good trouble.”
Rep. Alma Adams
Adams of North Carolina said in a statement, “The Supreme Court’s decision was fundamentally wrong, so I will continue to put my body on the line – and record my votes in House – in defense of abortion rights.”
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She also thanked supporters for “free Alma” tweets, noting she’d paid bail and was on her way to vote.
Rep. Madeleine Dean
Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania didn’t post about the arrest directly, but re-tweeted a call from the House Democrats to stand with colleagues who got into “good trouble”.
