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Several Democrats were arrested at the Supreme Court, including Squad members Democrat New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Ortez and Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar along with Democrat North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams, during a protest for abortion rights.
“Today, Rep. AOC was arrested along with other members of Congress outside the Supreme Court for protesting in support of abortion rights,” her staff said on her Twitter account.
Today, Rep. AOC was arrested along with other members of Congress outside the Supreme Court for protesting in support of abortion rights. #AbortionRightsAreHumanRights pic.twitter.com/gvj9J1o5ic
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) July 19, 2022
“This is Congresswoman Adams’ staff. She was just arrested protesting for abortion rights and reproductive justice at the Supreme Court. More information as it develops,” Rep. Adams staff said from her Twitter account.
This is Congresswoman Adams’ staff. She was just arrested protesting for abortion rights and reproductive justice at the Supreme Court. More information as it develops. pic.twitter.com/Z8Ioi8D7Og
— Rep. Alma Adams (@RepAdams) July 19, 2022
It came after the Capitol Police issued a warning to protesters that they were going to take action.
“Demonstrators are starting to block First Street, NE. It is against the law to block traffic, so officers are going to give our standard three warnings before they start making arrests,” the police said.
Demonstrators are starting to block First Street, NE.
It is against the law to block traffic, so officers are going to give our standard three warnings before they start making arrests. pic.twitter.com/GBaz4wk8Lx
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) July 19, 2022
“We have already given our standard three warnings. Some of the demonstrators are refusing to get out of the street, so we are starting to make arrests,” they said.
We have already given our standard three warnings.
Some of the demonstrators are refusing to get out of the street, so we are starting to make arrests.
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) July 19, 2022
After the arrests they tweeted again.
“We made a total of 34 arrests for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding (DC Code § 22–1307). That arrest number includes 16 Members of Congress,” they said.
UPDATE: We made a total of 34 arrests for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding (DC Code § 22–1307).
That arrest number includes 16 Members of Congress.
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) July 19, 2022
This comes after California Democrat Rep. Judy Chu was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police during a pro-choice protest for crowding, obstruction, or incommoding.
The department said that protesters blocked the intersection of First Street and Constitution Avenue beside both the Capitol and Supreme Court buildings. Capitol police arrested 181 people after giving multiple warnings to demonstrators.
“The decision to march today was easy—I came out to march for the young rape survivor, the woman who cannot afford to travel to another state to access critical care, the mother with an ectopic pregnancy whose life is in danger. I came out to march for all of us,” Chu said in a tweet following her arrest.
WATCH:
Proud to join activists and community leaders today to say loud and clear – we WON’T back down. We will NOT go back. #bansoffourbodieshttps://t.co/c9UOQNywFu
— Judy Chu (@RepJudyChu) June 30, 2022
Last week, the Supreme Court released its decision in the highly-anticipated case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
The court voted in favor of overturning Roe v Wade, the landmark case that legalized abortion.
In early May, a draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito was leaked to Politico and it set off a firestorm.
“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” Alito wrote in the leaked draft.
“We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” he wrote in the document. “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives. We, therefore, hold the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. Roe and Casey must be overruled, and the authority to regulate abortion must be returned to the people and their elected representatives.”
Shortly after the May 2nd leak, Chief Justice Roberts ordered the marshal of the court to probe the incident and find out who was responsible for it. At the time, Roberts said the intent of the leak was to “undermine the integrity of our operations.”
“It will not succeed,” he pledged.
Since the Dobbs v Jackson draft was leaked, pro-abortion activists have:
-Vandalized 16 churches
-Vandalized at least 16 pro-life pregnancy centers
-Firebombed 4 pro-life pregnancy centers and offices
-Attempted to assassinate a Supreme Court JusticeWhere’s the outrage?
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) June 24, 2022
Crazy how they still haven't found that Supreme Court leaker yet… especially with the extremely limited amount of people who would have access to that document.
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) June 29, 2022
So… we catch the Supreme Court leaker yet?
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) June 25, 2022
“This leak was intended to intimidate the justices and threaten the whole institution of the Court. Now the Court is facing an all-out assault from the left with an assassination attempt on a sitting justice and elected Democrats declaring an entire branch of government ‘illegitimate,’” Missouri GOP Sen. Josh Hawley said.
“Thankfully, the leak did not change the outcome of this monumental case, but we need to get to the bottom of what happened and ensure it never does again,” he added.
“I would hope that the Chief Justice is treating the investigation with great urgency given that the current clerks are nearly done with the term and he will soon lose whatever leverage he currently has,” Judicial Crisis Network President Carrie Severino said.
There has been no update or disclosure from the Supreme Court on the identity of the individual who leaked the draft opinion nearly two months ago.
