Multiple members of Congress, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have been detained by Capitol Police for blocking traffic outside the Supreme Court in a pro-abortion demonstration.
Others who have reportedly been arrested or detained include Reps Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Andy Levin, Cori Bush, and several others.
The lawmakers were chanting "Bans off our body!" and "Our body our choice!" Progressive lawmakers are marching from the Capitol steps to the Supreme Court in protest of the overturn of Roe v. Wade. It’s expected that arrests will be made. pic.twitter.com/dKGZJNznJE Some of the members of Congress arrested: @RepSpeier @CarolynBMaloney @AOC @RashidaTlaib @Ilhan @AyannaPressley @RepAndyLevin @SaraJacobsCA @RepKClark @ReElectNydia @RepBarbaraLee @RepCori @janschakowsky @RepDean pic.twitter.com/NMSV9BQP4W Multiple members of Congress, including @AOC, being arrested by Capitol Police for blocking traffic outside the Supreme Court in abortion rights demonstration: pic.twitter.com/fysQN1oBAw
— Nancy Vu (@NancyVu99) July 19, 2022
— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) July 19, 2022
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) July 19, 2022
Many on social media were quick to point out that it appeared Rep. Ocasio-Cortez was only pretending to be handcuffed while being escorted away from the protest. Lol is AOC pretending to be handcuffed?
pic.twitter.com/NGONQYPTQP
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 19, 2022 .@CoriBush, @AOC, @IlhanMN, @AyannaPressley & other Members of Congress arrested for civil disobedience in front of Supreme Court. #BansOffOurBodies pic.twitter.com/GxtxS4aMYb She pretends to be handcuffed, raises her fist in a salute, and then goes back to pretending to be handcuffed 😂😂 https://t.co/BLFT0D3k1V
— Lynese Wallace (@lynesewallace) July 19, 2022
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 19, 2022
It is unclear if all of the lawmakers were arrested, or if some were just detained.
Rep. Pressley's office confirmed her arrest in a statement.
“Today, Congresswoman Pressley joined her colleagues and grassroots advocates for a non-violent civil disobedience to protest the Supreme Court’s cruel and callous decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and strip away abortion rights for everyone who calls America home,” said Pressley spokesman Ricardo Sanchez in a statement sent out to multiple media outlets. “She, along with several of her colleagues, was arrested as part of the peaceful demonstration and is currently in custody of the U.S. Capitol Police. We will share more information as soon as it becomes available.”
Congress Minutes reporter Nancy Vu was on the scene and asserted that the lawmakers were being escorted to another area to be processed for arrest. Reps. Levin and Tlaib being escorted to where they and other lawmakers + activists will get processed for their arrest pic.twitter.com/MUEmXRxoID
— Nancy Vu (@NancyVu99) July 19, 2022
Rep. Alma Adams' office confirmed that the lawmaker was arrested on Twitter.
"This is Congresswoman Adams’ staff. She was just arrested protesting for abortion rights and reproductive justice at the Supreme Court. More information as it develops," the tweet said. This is Congresswoman Adams’ staff. She was just arrested protesting for abortion rights and reproductive justice at the Supreme Court. More information as it develops. pic.twitter.com/Z8Ioi8D7Og
— Rep. Alma Adams (@RepAdams) July 19, 2022
This situation is ongoing and this report will be updated as more information becomes available.
