Rep. Omar Among 17 Members of Congress Arrested During Abortion Protest Outside Supreme Court

Zachary StieberJuly 19, 2022

Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) were among 17 members of Congress arrested July 19 outside the Supreme Court in Washington.

“There is no democracy if women do not have control over their own bodies and decisions about their own health, including reproductive care,” Maloney, the chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement.

“Today I was arrested while participating in a civil disobedience action with my fellow Members of Congress outside the Supreme Court. I will continue to do everything in my power to raise the alarm about the assault on our reproductive rights!” Omar wrote on Twitter, sharing video footage showing her being escorted away by Capitol Police.

The U.S. Capitol Police said that protesters were blocking traffic in violation of the law outside the court, triggering three warnings.

When protesters ignored the warnings, officers began making arrests.

A total of 35 arrests were made. Seventeen of those arrested are members of Congress, the law enforcement agency said.

The specific law violated is D.C. Code 22-1307, which prohibits people, whether acting alone or with others, from crowding or obstructing the use of any street in the city.

Violators of the misdemeanor can be imprisoned for up to 90 days and fined up to $500.

Protest

Members and other protesters said they were voicing concerns with the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which prompted the court to strike down Roe v. Wade—the 1973 ruling that declared access to abortion a constitutional right—and a similar ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

“The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives,” Justice Samuel Alito, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote for the majority.

In the