Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Carolyn Maloney and More Arrested at Abortion Rights Rally

Reps. Carolyn Maloney (center left) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (far left) are arrested by Capitol police. (Courtesy of Rep. Maloney’s office)

Over 30 demonstrators, including at least 16 Democratic lawmakers were arrested Tuesday afternoon at a rally protesting the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade. Among the lawmakers detained were members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), who led the protest according to Axios.

The demonstrators were reportedly detained after blocking a street in Washington D.C., near the Court. Many wore green bandanas printed with the phrase “Won’t Back Down,” and chanted “The people, united, will never be divided" as they were escorted away from the sit-in by Capitol police officers per CNN.

“There is no democracy if women do not have control over their own bodies and decisions about their own health, including reproductive care," said Maloney upon arrest.

"The Republican Party and the right-wing extremists behind this decision are not pro-life, but pro-controlling the bodies of women, girls, and any person who can become pregnant," she continued. "Their ultimate goal is to institute a national ban on abortion. We will not let them win. We will be back.”

Also among the lawmakers arrested was Michigan's Rep. Andy Levin, who stressed the importance of protest as a form of resistance in the current moment. "Our country has never really made a big changes, not expanded rights, based on some senators and representatives having a lovely conversation in the Capitol," he said. "It happens because of social movements. It happens because people march, people protest, people organize, people get arrested."

In the wake of the Dobbs ruling, lawmakers have joined in with the multitude of protests that activists have led outside the Court. Last month, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) was also arrested after taking part in a pro-abortion rally at the Capitol.

Sign and share Ms.’s relaunched “We Have Had Abortions” petition—whether you yourself have had an abortion, or simply stand in solidarity with those who have—to let the Supreme Court, Congress and the White House know: We will not give up the right to safe, legal, accessible abortion.

Up next:

About

Oliver Haug is a social media editor and podcast producer with Ms. magazine. They are also a freelance journalist, focusing on LGBTQ+ issues and sexual politics. Their writing has previously appeared in Bitch Magazine, VICE, them.us, the New York Times' newsletter "The Edit," and elsewhere. You can read more of their work here, and follow them on Twitter @cohaug.