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Democratic Lawmakers Arrested By Capitol Police At Abortion Rights Rally

07/19/2022
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Topline

Over a dozen Democratic members of Congress were arrested in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday during an abortion rights protest, marking the latest demonstration since the high court overturned Roe v. Wade last month.

Key Facts

Capitol Police say they arrested 35 people for “crowding, obstructing or incommoding” after activists blocked First Street, a figure that includes 17 members of Congress.

According to CNN and Axios, the arrested lawmakers include Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Cori Bush (Mo.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Barbara Lee (Calif.).

Key Background

Last month, the Supreme Court overturned its 49-year-old Roe v. Wade decision, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion and giving states the right to ban the procedure. In the weeks following the decision, pro-abortion rights protesters took to the streets—including outside Supreme Court justices’ homes.

Tangent

Last year, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) was arrested and zip-tied by Capitol Police during a voting rights march through a Senate building. Beatty, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, was also pepper sprayed by police during a George Floyd protest in 2020.

Further Reading

Dems including Ocasio-Cortez, Speier, Alma Adams arrested at abortion rights rally outside Capitol (The Hill)

Roe V. Wade Overturned: Supreme Court Overturns Landmark Abortion Decision, Lets States Ban Abortion (Forbes)

Supreme Court Overturns Roe V. Wade—Here Are The States That Will Still Protect Abortion Rights (Forbes)

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliecoleman/2022/07/19/democratic-lawmakers-arrested-by-capitol-police-at-abortion-rights-rally/