At least 16 Democratic Members of the U.S. House have reportedly been arrested today for blocking traffic outside the Supreme Court as part of a pro-abortion protest.
Earlier this afternoon video surfaced that appeared to show Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being escorted away from the scene of the protest, and later reports indicated that Rep. Ilhan Omar was arrested at the scene.
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
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) July 19, 2022
Many noted that Ocasio-Cortez did not appear to be handcuffed when she was escorted away from the protest, nor did Ilhan Omar.
Both Democrats still held their hands behind their back, perhaps leading some viewers to believe they had been cuffed by police as they were escorted away.
Ilhan Omar faked being handcuffed too lmfaooo
pic.twitter.com/WYlh1hSUti— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 19, 2022
The far left Democrat is seen raising her hand in a fist toward the crowd while being escorted away, indicating she was not physically restrained with handcuffs at the time.
.@AOC has just been escorted by police away from the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/F9DOoLq8yJ
— Douglas Blair (@DouglasKBlair) July 19, 2022
Later, local media outlets reported that Omar was arrested, along with at least 15 other legislators.
“Although U.S. Capitol Police did not release the names,” reported KSTP, “they say a total of 34 people, including 16 members of Congress, were arrested for blocking First Street Northeast.”
Video has surfaced showing several representatives – known as “the squad” for their far left ideology and opposition to 45th President Donald Trump – appearing to be detained by police at the protest.
Seems like the whole Squad is here. pic.twitter.com/XDtU3USSur
— Douglas Blair (@DouglasKBlair) July 19, 2022
Capitol Police say they have not released the full number of arrests and plan to this afternoon, according to The Daily Caller.
One reporter claims that, in total, 17 House Democrats were arrested during the protest.
Among them, according to Henry Rodgers, were Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Bush, Omar, Carolyn Maloney, Ayanna Pressley, Madeleine Dean, Nydia Velazquez, Barbara Lee, Jackie Speier, Katherine Clark, Sara Jacobs, Rashida Tlaib, Andy Levin, Alma Adams, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Veronica Escobar, and Jan Schakowsky.
Here is a full list of all 17 House Dems who were arrested this afternoon outside the Supreme Court: https://t.co/97CDwvhW8z pic.twitter.com/5umO6xgXxk
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) July 19, 2022
The center right publication noted that Democratic Rep. Cori Bush, who attended the protest, tweeted that she and her fellow Democrats “put” their “bodies on the line” during the protest.
I introduced legislation yesterday and today to protect reproductive freedom. Today my colleagues and I put our bodies on the line—because we will leave no stone unturned in our fight for justice.
Bans off our bodies. https://t.co/ahmWgAd9WR
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) July 19, 2022
The protesters were apparently blocking traffic outside the Supreme Court to protest the Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which returned the right to legalize or ban abortion to the state level.
Multiple pundits have noted that not only will abortion still be available to Americans, so long as they can travel, access to abortion is expected to become easier in left wing states that have enshrined the right to terminate a child into law.
This is a breaking news story and may be updated with additional information as it becomes available.
