Today, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known by her initials AOC, was arrested along with other members of Congress outside the Supreme Court during a planned “civil disobedience” abortion protest.
Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most outspoken progressive Democratic lawmakers in America, has been extremely vocal about her support for abortion rights following the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn the longstanding Roe v. Wade decision, which had solidified access to abortion nationwide.
Abortion rights protesters have gathered outside the Supreme Court nearly every day since the overturning of Roe in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in June.
A video showing Ocasio-Cortez being escorted away from the court by police was posted to Twitter by Douglas Blair from The Daily Signal. Many others quote-tweeted the video adding their own observations.
Republican communicator Matt Whitlock tweeted: “Have to wonder if any of the protesters alongside her ever thought ‘wait .. aren’t you an elected member of Congress with the power to pass legislation on this issue? Why are you over here protesting? Pass a bill!’”
“Why was she pretending like she was handcuffed?” asked Elijah Schaffer from The Blaze.
“The fake handcuffs are everything,” said conservative strategist Natalie Johnson.
“She pretends to be handcuffed, raises her fist in a salute, and then goes back to pretending to be handcuffed,” tweeted strategist Greg Price.
In the video, Ocasio-Cortez was seen walking escorted away by police with her hands crossed behind her back as if she were in handcuffs, but she was not.
At one point she holds her hands behind her back then lifts one fist in the air, shakes it, and then again places it behind her back.
You can watch the video below:
The Capitol Police finally revealed whether they arrested AOC and the rest of “the Squad” and said in a tweet that 34 people were arrested for “crowding, obstructing or incommoding” — including 16 members of Congress. Demonstrators had been given three warnings to stop blocking a street, the police said.
From the video, we can tell that Ocasio-Cortez’s hands were never restrained while she was being escorted by the police on Tuesday, other videos and photos of the event seemingly show that her hands were free at least some of the time as she raised her hands.
The initial group of lawmakers and activists were released from custody at approximately 2:30, Jennifer Shutt with the States Newsroom reported, adding that Dean said they were charged with “crowding, obstructing or incommoding and need to pay a $50 fine.”
Video below:
Final members of congress, including @AOC, are let out after being arrested at abortion rights rally outside Supreme Court @itvnews pic.twitter.com/hBYSkGEbri
— Fred Dimbleby (@freddimbleby) July 19, 2022
If she was arrested then we have this!
18 USC 1507
“Whoever, with the intent of interfering with, obstructing, or impeding the administration of justice, or with the intent of influencing any judge, juror, witness, or court officer, in the discharge of his duty, pickets or parades in or near a building housing a court of the United States, or in or near a building or residence occupied or used by such judge, juror, witness, or court officer, or with such intent uses any sound-truck or similar device or resorts to any other demonstration in or near any such building or residence, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.“