Politics
AOC 'arrested' during pro-abortion protest in front of the Supreme Court
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other Democratic members of Congress were removed from the vicinity of the Supreme Court amid protests over the overturning of Roe v. Wade
July 19, 2022 4:17pm
Updated: July 19, 2022 5:31pm
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other Democratic members of Congress were escorted by police away from the U.S. Supreme Court after participating in a pro-choice protest on Tuesday.
AOC was seen alongside police as she walked with her hands behind her back, pretending to be handcuffed when she suddenly uncrosses them and raises her fists toward the other protesters in support, the Daily Mail reported.
Other members of Congress removed from the area included Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Sarah Jacobs (D-Calif. ), Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Andy Levin (D-Mich.), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Jan Schakowksy (D-Ill.), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Calif.).
"Multiple members of Congress, including AOC, being arrested by Capitol Police for blocking traffic outside the Supreme Court at abortion rights demonstration," tweeted Andrew Solender, a congressional reporter for Axios.
Multiple members of Congress, including @AOC, being arrested by Capitol Police for blocking traffic outside the Supreme Court in abortion rights demonstration: pic.twitter.com/fysQN1oBAw
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) July 19, 2022
Abortion rights protesters have gathered in front of the Supreme Court nearly every day since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June.
"It is against the law to block traffic, so officers will give three warnings before beginning to make arrests," Capitol Police tweeted moments before the arrests.
Demonstrators are starting to block First Street, NE.
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) July 19, 2022
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
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June 24, ruling in a 6-3 vote that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to abortion in its Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision.
The case found that "all pre-feasibility bans on elective abortions are unconstitutional," according to the SCOTUS blog. The six conservative justices voted in favor of the majority opinion, while the three liberal jurists dissented.
The new opinion is the Supreme Court's most important decision since the institution ruled on Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey in 1992 and is expected to dramatically change the legal landscape for women's reproductive rights in the United States.
The ruling affirms that the right to abortion will be determined by the states.
