The Democrats who truly give me the kind of hope that sustains me are the ones who have put it on the line, either in times past or now, in the present.
17 House Democrats, wearing green ‘Won't Back Down’ bandanas, chanting "bans off our bodies," were detained and arrested today, whilst protesting the recent Supreme Court decision striking down Roe V. Wade.
It was at a abortion rights rally near the Supreme Court building.
Those arrested included 5 members of ‘The Squad’…. Reps Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush and Ayanna Pressley.
As well as Reps. Barbara Lee and House Oversight Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney.
The full list…
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y.
- Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo.
- Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.
- Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa.
- Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y.
- Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.
- Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif.
- Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass.
- Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif.
- Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.
- Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich.
- Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C.
- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J.
- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas.
- Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill.
All women, besides Rep. Andy Levin.
18 others were also arrested.
The rally included a march from the Capitol to the Supreme Court.
thehill.com/…
At 1:20 p.m., the U.S. Capitol Police wrote on Twitter that it began arresting activists blocking First Street NE. Authorities said they gave their traditional three warnings before taking protesters into custody.
As of 1:35 p.m. the demonstration was clear, according to Capitol Police, which reported that 17 lawmakers were arrested in total. Authorities arrested 35 people overall for crowding, obstructing or incommoding.
Rep. Maloney issued this statement….
"There is no democracy if women do not have control over their own bodies and decisions about their own health, including reproductive care," Maloney said in a statement after arrest, according to her office. "I have the privilege of representing a state where reproductive rights are respected and protected — the least I can do is put my body on the line for the 33 million women at risk of losing their rights. The Republican Party and the right-wing extremists behind this decision are not pro-life, but pro-controlling the bodies of women, girls, and any person who can become pregnant. Their ultimate goal is to institute a national ban on abortion. We will not let them win. We will be back."
Pressley spokesperson Ricardo A. Sánchez said the congresswoman had "joined her colleagues and grassroots advocates for a non-violent civil disobedience to protest the Supreme Court’s cruel and callous decision."
"This Supreme Court has been relentless in stripping away our reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy, but we're not backing down," she said. "Today, we put our bodies on the line to defend abortion rights because the stakes in this fight could not be higher. Due to the cruelty and callousness of this Court, millions of people now face insurmountable barriers to abortion care and the health of our most vulnerable—especially our Black, brown, low-income, disabled, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ siblings—is now further at risk."
"I'm grateful to all of the advocates on the frontline of this fight who led us in peaceful protest today and have been leading this movement for generations. Abortion rights are human rights, and we won't stop fighting until our policies and budgets reflect that fundamental truth."
On her Instagram page, AOC wrote, 'Today I got to scratch 'Get arrested with Barbara Lee' off my bucket list!'
(This is no reflection on our kind and good President, Joe Biden.
We can do with as many leaders who stand up and represent!
God, I love Neil.)
Wednesday, Jul 20, 2022 · 2:09:21 PM +00:00 · Tevye
noofsh
Jul 20, 2022 at 03:55:38 AM
I am proud of Bonnie Watson Coleman. To do this after the health problems she has been through — cancer and two bouts of COVID. She braved the heat and arrest. That was a great thing to do.
ultrageek
Jul 19, 2022 at 11:16:19 PM
I met Jan Schakowsky this weekend. She is a noticeably older woman with visibly arthritic hands. If she can walk the walk, we all can.