Nearly 200 pro-abortion protesters are arrested after blocking street near the Supreme Court following decision
NEARLY 200 pro-abortion protesters have been arrested after blocking a street near the Supreme Court amid the Roe v. Wade decision.
The US Capitol Police announced the arrest of 181 protesters on Thursday afternoon, charging them with crowding, obstructing or incommoding.
Capitol police initially claimed they took 221 people into custody; however, they later clarified that the number was inaccurate and, in fact, 181 protesters were arrested.
Cops say the activists were blocking the intersection of Constitution Avenue, NE, and First Street, NE, in Washington DC, just steps from the Supreme Court.
The demonstration, organized by the Center for Popular Democracy Action and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, continued a trend of days of protests over the court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last week.
Protesters wearing green bandannas gathered shortly before noon and marched - behind a large banner that said “We won’t back down” - to their sit-in site near the Supreme Court.
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“This is about a woman’s right to her own body,” actress Alysia Reiner said at the protest.
“We need to stand up for bodily autonomy in the face of a government that cares so little about our rights.”
US Capitol Police gave the activists three warnings to disperse before making arrests.
On Tuesday, two women were arrested after they scaled a construction crane near Capitol Hill and unfurled a banner slamming President Joe Biden following last week's Supreme Court decision.
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The banner read "BIDEN PROTECT ABORTION".
The activists were identified as Rachel O'Leary Carmona, Women's March Executive Director, and Tamika Middleton, Women's March Managing Director.
In a press release, the group wrote: "Biden needs to secure the reelection, will scale a crane in Washington D.C. to send the President a clear message: we will not go back.
"Fight to protect the women that brought you to power or step aside and elect someone who will. It’s as simple as that," Carmona said.
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"You have the power to codify reproductive rights through executive action and you have the power to expand the court. Use it and stop hiding from your own shadow."
The women were taken into custody by DC Metro police.