Democratic Members of Congress Arrested During Abortion Rights Protest

Several Democratic members of Congress have been arrested during a protest in support of abortion rights held in front of the supreme court.

The US has been gripped by protests in the wake of the historic overturning of Roe v Wade last month, with Democratic lawmakers leading the calls for a reversal of the decision from within the halls of power.

Prominent progressives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush were among 35 arrested as a group of politicians blocked a street in front of the court building, having marched from the US Capitol.

Officers had warned the lawmakers they were at threat of arrest via a broadcasted message, before moving in to place them in handcuffs and lead them away.

In a statement, Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat from New York who was among those arrested, said: “I have the privilege of representing a state where reproductive rights are respected and protected – the least I can do is put my body on the line for the 33 million women at risk of losing their rights.”

California representative Jackie Speier posted on Twitter: “Proud to march with my Democratic colleagues and get arrested for women’s rights, abortion rights, the rights for people to control their own bodies and the future and our democracy.”

It has been less than a month since the supreme court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade ruling, which provided constitutional protection to the right to abortion. The reversal allows states to implement their own abortion laws, with a number of states having already passed outright bans whilst other consider the possibility.

Protests swept across the US following the ruling, including large protests in Republican-led states such as Missouri and Texas.