Seventeen members of Congress were among those arrested Tuesday during an abortion rights demonstration outside the Supreme Court, according to the U.S. Capitol Police. U.S. Capitol Police said they made a total of 35 arrests for crowding, obstructing or incommoding, which included 17 members of Congress.
Protesters had perched themselves on First Street NE near the Capitol building, blocking the street.
Capitol Police said they issued their standard three warnings before beginning the arrests.
A spokesperson for Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts also confirmed multiple arrests of members of Congress, and said Pressley was among those arrested.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney's office also announced she was among the Democratic Women's Caucus members arrested near the Supreme Court.
Representatives Andy Levin (D-MI) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) are detained during an abortion rights protest outside of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 19, 2022.
Democrats are hoping to enshrine abortion access protections into law, but such a measure lacks support in the Senate under current rules. »