Several House Democrats were arrested Tuesday as they protested outside the Supreme Court against its decision to strike down constitutional protections for access to abortion.
The group of Democratic lawmakers and others marched on the Supreme Court from the Capitol chanting “we will not go back” and “our body is our choice” – the latest demonstration after five conservative justices ruled last month to overturn Roe in 1973 against a ruling of Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide for the first time.
A total of seventeen lawmakers were arrested, according to Capitol Police, including Reps. Catherine Clark of Massachusetts, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois.
Police at the High Court told protesters they were engaging in “illegal demonstration activity” before advising anyone who did not want to be arrested to leave, prompting chants and chants from the group.
Reps. Andy Levin and Rashida Tlaib are detained during an abortion rights protest outside the Supreme Court, July 19, 2022.
Sarah Silbiger/Reuters
Officers then began arresting the demonstrators, but no handcuffs were seen. Police also collected IDs and took photos of those arrested – including some of the MPs – and brought water to the gathering place for the protesters to drink.
Tuesday’s event was part of an effort by Democrats to continue to highlight the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that allowed strict abortion restrictions or outright bans in at least a dozen states across the country.
In statements, lawmakers vowed to continue fighting to protect access to abortion.
“The extremist GOP is determined to take us back in time and take away our rights. I refuse to stand by as their rampage continues,” Clark said in a statement. “I am furious and heartbroken and will proudly fight for our right to abortion and all of our constitutional rights. They can arrest me, but we will not let them arrest freedom.”
The court’s decision, widely welcomed by conservatives, was met with mass protests by abortion rights advocates.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is detained after participating in a meeting with activists from the Action Center for Popular Democracy outside the US Supreme Court building on July 19, 2022 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Democrats in liberal states pushed for efforts to enshrine abortion protections in law. But at the federal level, lawmakers have struggled to pass similar legislation, given GOP opposition and reluctance to change Senate rules.
House Democrats this week passed two bills, one to codify Roe v. Wade and another to protect a person’s right to travel to other states for legal abortions. However, those measures are not expected to have enough support to pass the Senate 50-50.
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