Jago Times "English Edition" Best Online Newspaper
Related Articles
Seventeen House Democrats, including one from Texas, were arrested outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday for civil disobedience during an abortion rights rally.
U.S. Capitol Police said they issued three warnings to stop blocking a street near the court and arrested those who failed to comply. Police made a total of 35 arrests, according to a tweet.
El Paso Rep. Veronica Escobar was among those arrested.
“My arrest today for civil disobedience was a small act in the centuries-long battle to ensure every woman has the freedom to make personal decisions with those they love and trust without politicians trying to control them,” Escobar wrote in a statement.
Today my colleagues and I made #GoodTrouble.
Read my statement here👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/zsVbV2nBgy
— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) July 19, 2022
Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat, also participated in the demonstration but was not arrested, according to The Texas Tribune.
Others arrested include members of the group of lawmakers known as the “Squad”: Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Cori Bush of Missouri, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
The lawmakers are expected to be fined and released.
The arrests come weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe vs. Wade, removing the constitutional right to abortion. Several states have enacted abortion bans with few exceptions, while others are facing court challenges over proposed bans.