Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) was among the more than 180 abortion rights protesters arrested outside of the Supreme Court.
The Washington Post reported that the protesters were arrested after sitting and blocking an intersection near the court.
The outlet noted the protest was organized by the Center for Popular Democracy Action and Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
According to the Post, the protesters wore green bandannas and carried a large banner that said, “We won’t back down.”
Police reportedly began arresting protesters at about 12:30 p.m. on Thursday.
U.S. Capitol police said 181 people were arrested for obstructing the intersection.
Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) was arrested along with other protesters by D.C. police while protesting for abortion rights by blocking an intersection near the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/zSB6VsNEc6
— in lemon color ? (@Seth_Lemon) June 30, 2022
She told the Post during an interview, “Every major right we have in this country — voting or women’s rights — came about because of protests.”
Chu added, “That is what changed things in America for the better.”
At 1:22 p.m. D.C. police tweeted that “the demonstration has concluded and all traffic closures are reopened.”
UPDATE: The demonstration has concluded and all traffic closures are reopened.
— DC Police Traffic (@DCPoliceTraffic) June 30, 2022
Actress Alysia Reiner also joined the demonstration and told the Post, “This is about a woman’s right to her own body.”
She added, “We need to stand up for bodily autonomy in the face of a government that cares so little about our rights.”
During a press conference in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday, President Joe Biden did not hold back on his criticism of the court following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, as IJR reported.
“The one thing that has been destabilizing is the outrageous behavior of the Supreme Court of the United States in overruling not only Roe v. Wade, but essentially challenging the right to privacy,” Biden said.
He continued, “We’ve been a leader in the world in terms of personal rights and privacy rights. And it is a mistake in my view for the Supreme Court to do what it did.”
