Police at the U.S. Capitol arrested so many protesters, they had to stop for a while. Why?
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About 300 people were arrested as part of Democracy Spring’s protest against money in politics.
Police led dozens of protesters away in plastic handcuffs into a bus and shuttle vans, prompting cheers from the two groups of protesters, which were separated by a large police response.
The lead organizer for the movement, Kai Newkirk, says that the way that money dominates how the government is run is just wrong. Video of the protest Monday showed a police officer saying, “if you don’t want to be arrested, move on back to 1st street”.
Police arrested those who sat on the stairs of the East Front of the Capitol, the seat of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
From the conversation on Twitter, it seems many of those at the protests were proud supporters of Bernie Sanders, which isn’t all that surprising since campaign finance reform has been a benchmark of his presidential campaign.
“More than 400 individuals have been arrested for unlawful demonstration activity, and are being processed using mass arrest procedures.”
More than 2,000 people have pledged to participate in the organization’s sit-ins to “save democracy” following a 10-day march from the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia to the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Protesters hoisted a scarecrow-like effigy of a corporate lobbyist holding money bags and a sign reading, “Warning: Massive civil disobedience is next”.
According to its official website, the group is demanding that Congress “take immediate action to end the corruption of big money” in politics and has said that it plans to stay at the U.S. Capitol until change is made.
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Protest: Thousands march to the Capitol after a rally held at Columbus Circle.
