Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Arrested Outside US Supreme Court During Abortion Rally
"Today I got to scratch 'get arrested with Barbara Lee' off my bucket list."
Sitting members of the Democrats have staged an abortion rights protest in Washington DC, leading to the arrest of several high-profile politicians including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The demonstration started today as protesters — many of whom sitting US politicians — gathered at the US Capitol Building. Chanting “hands off our bodies” in reference to the recent overturning of Roe v Wade, the group marched towards the Supreme Court where they sat down in the middle of a traffic intersection in an act of peaceful civil disobedience.
Police officers arrived at the scene quickly, warning protesters to cease and desist via a prerecorded message played on a loudspeaker. After remaining in place for several minutes, officers began making arrests starting with US Representative Barbara Lee.
One has a moral responsibility to push back against unjust laws.
Today, I am standing up for reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy in solidarity with the millions who have had their rights stripped away by inhumane policies. pic.twitter.com/EnS8YEbc8t
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) July 19, 2022
Sixteen people were arrested in total, including Democrat Representative Jackie Speier, Chair of the House Oversight Committee Carolyn Maloney and US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ocasio-Cortez would later make light of the situation in an Instagram story about the experience.
“Today I got to scratch ‘get arrested with Barbara Lee’ off my bucket list,” Ocasio-Cortez posted.
The congresswoman would later add that the protest was “totally worth it”, posting a picture of the fine issued by officers which amounting to $50 in total.
Several Democrats arrested during the protests have made statements speaking to the significance of the demonstration, including Representative Carolyn Maloney who stressed the number of women who risked losing control over their bodies following the Supreme Court’s recent decision to defer abortion rights to the individual US States, rather than guaranteeing protection in the Constitution.
“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,” said Carolyn Maloney.
Organisers responsible for the protest have warned that more demonstrations will keep coming until women’s right to an abortion is legally enshrined in the US Constitution.
“Today, we sent SCOTUS & lawmakers a clear message that we won’t back down until our right to safe & legal abortions is guaranteed,” The Centre of Popular Democracy Action said in a Twitter post.