New York Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman was among approximately 30 protesters arrested on Thursday at the U.S. Capitol building during a demonstration over election reform.
“Today, Congressman Jamaal Bowman joined a voting rights non-violent direct action at the North Barricade of the U.S. Capitol Building and was arrested by the U.S. Capitol Police,” Bowman’s communications director Marcus Frias said.
“We will provide more information and updates as we gather them,” she added.
The Arrests
As @JamaalBowmanNY engages and thanks a group of of us fighting for voting rights outside the Capitol, @CapitolPolice cuff him and put him under arrest with the group. Thanks for always standing with the people! #VotingRightsNow @LetsUnpac @peoplefor pic.twitter.com/Py2YHNAMUL
— Markus Batchelor (@MarkusforDC) January 20, 2022
The arrests reportedly took place after the demonstrators blocked a driveway and failed to allow others to pass.
Just before 12:00 pm, demonstrators started blocking one side of the North Barricade outside the U.S. Capitol.
We have already issued them three warnings.
The demonstrators refused to move out of the driveway, so we are making arrests. pic.twitter.com/GqlmyGQ1KD
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) January 20, 2022
The Motive
The protest followed the failure to pass an agreement to change the filibuster rule in the Senate that would allow Democrats to pass a new voting rights bill that would federalize many state level voting requirements.
Hunger strikers in Washington, D.C., refusing to eat until Democrats pass election reform legislation, blocked a barricade outside the U.S. Capitol leading Capitol Police to arrest 23 protesters after three warnings. https://t.co/lnqc1x9WuG
— Newsmax (@newsmax) January 21, 2022
The protest marked a new move to bring ongoing attention to one of the Democratic Party’s top issues for 2022. The party facing sweeping defeats in the House in November according to most polls.
Now Democrats seem to be preparing the way to call the election illegitimate before it takes place.
Even Biden was caught using the words in response to a question from a reporter during his Wednesday press conference.
The arrest brings even more attention to the election rights issue as Democrats seek to make changes in opposition to conservative bills designed to decrease cheating in future elections.