During a demonstration against the decision of the Supreme Court to eliminate the constitutional right to abortion last month, Capitol Police detained many members of the Democratic caucus of the House of Representatives.
These members included Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
WATCH: Several @HouseDemocrats were arrested by @CapitolPolice Tuesday at a protest against the SCOTUS ruling to overturn the federal right to abortion.@RepMaloney, @NydiaVelazquez, @RepAOC, @RepSpeier, and @RepBonnie were among those seen.
READ: https://t.co/6lyJkNhLNZ pic.twitter.com/EHFd2A9kQP
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 19, 2022
The List of Arrests
Other members of Congress, including Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Nydia Velazquez, Jackie Speier, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Alma Adams were also spotted being arrested by cops.
In a statement, the Capitol Police acknowledged they made 34 arrests, which included 16 members of Congress.
The arrests happened due to these members violating statutes that prohibit crowding, obstructing, or inconveniencing others. The police department did not reveal who was taken into custody or who was freed after being led away from the scene.
.@AOC has just been escorted by police away from the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/F9DOoLq8yJ
— Douglas Blair (@DouglasKBlair) July 19, 2022
Ocasio-Cortez was led away as her arms were placed behind her back, making it appear as if she was being handcuffed.
However, she could be seen on tape raising her fist in defiance as she was being led away. After being led away from the demonstration, some members of Congress met together outside of the area.
It is probable that very few of them were taken into custody.
Statement From Maloney
Following Maloney’s arrest, she made the following statement:
“If women are unable to exercise autonomy over their own bodies and make decisions regarding their own health, especially reproductive healthcare, then there is no such thing as democracy.”
“I have the honor of representing a state in which reproductive rights are honored and safeguarded. As a result, the very least I can do for the 33 million women who are in danger of having their rights taken away from them is to put my own body in harm’s way.”
She continued by saying, “The Republican Party and the right-wing fanatics who are responsible for this decision are not pro-life.”
“Rather, they are in favor of regulating the bodies of women, girls, and anybody else who has the potential to become pregnant.”
Those who attended the rally voiced their opposition to the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and chanted, “Impeach Clarence Thomas!” and “Where do we stand on term limits?”
Those who are opposed to restrictions on access to abortion gathered at the state capitol to vent their ire at the decision that the court made in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
As a result of this decision, the right to abortion that had been established in the case of Roe v. Wade in 1973 was reversed.
Right now, the states once again have gained the power to adopt abortion legislation. It is anticipated that around half of the states will make it possible for abortion bans or other restrictions on the practice to go into place.
This article appeared in The Political Globe and has been published here with permission.
