Dozens of protesters were taken into police custody for refusing to leave the steps of the Capitol building, bringing the total number of arrests made this week to about 800.
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They also took turns to address the crowd, targeting big corporation and interests groups as well as mainstream US media that have paid little attention to their dissatisfaction and demands. A video provided by the group ended when Capitol Police advised them they would be arrested because demonstrations inside the Capitol are prohibited.
Police needed most of Monday afternoon to arrest all of the sit-down protesters outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington at a demonstration in favor of changing the rules on political money, voting rights and redistricting.
Thirteen activists zip-tied themselves to the scaffolding in the Capitol rotunda Friday as part of a weeklong civil disobedience action protesting the corrupting role of money in politics and attacks on the right to vote.
While Dawson is the first high-profile celebrity to be arrested at the event, other such as Spotlight actor Mark Ruffalo, Law and Order actor Sam Waterston, an Transparent’s Gaby Hoffmann have expressed support for the movement. Additional arrests are expected at today’s events, which coincide with DC Vote’s Tax Day Protest and March for Equality.
The Democracy Spring rallies have been going on all week in D.C.to protest all sorts of causes.
Speaking to The Young Turks, Dawson said: ‘We are putting ourselves on the line for what people in this country and around the globe really want to see happen in America.
“No, I’m absolutely sure, I’m the deputy campaign manager for “Democracy Spring” we have received zero dollars and zero cents from George Soros”, said one activist. “When hundreds of people are being arrested day after day at the Capitol, we need our elected officials and those running for office to stand up and speak out to end legalized political corruption and voter suppression”.
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BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS Dawson has been an outspoken supporter for Bernie Sanders.
