Alexandria Ocasio Cortez along with Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar were arrested on Tuesday during an abortion rights protest at the Supreme Court.
According to the U.S. Capitol Police “demonstrators” blocked a street, prompting officers to issue “three standard warnings” before making arrests. Police shared an update roughly an hour later and said that 35 people were arrested “for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding.” This included 17 members of congress as People stated.
According to CNN, protestors wore “Won’t Back Down” bandanas during the fight for abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Since they eliminated constitutional right to an abortion last month.
Protestors started at the Capitol prior to heading to the Supreme Court. But officials arrested the protestors for disobeying a “cease and desist.”
Soon after videos of Members of Congress with hands behind their backs circulated. Reps. included, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Barbara Lee of California, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, Cori Bush of Missouri, Carolyn Maloney of New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Alma Adams of North Carolina, per several outlets.
But looking closer into the footage some claim it was all for a show. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz upped the ante. “I can’t believe we live in a country where AOC gets fake handcuffs put on her before Hillary Clinton gets real handcuffs,” he said on Fox News. AOC hasn’t issued any response to detractors. However, as Indy100 reported, “It is unclear if Capitol Police requested the congresswomen put their hands behind their back or if it was a personal choice.” Meanwhile, ACLU protest arrest guidelines recommend, “Stay calm. Make sure to keep your hands visible.”
But AOC responded to the speculations via Twitter.
No faking here. Putting your hands behind your back is a best practice while detained, handcuffed or not. Additionally, explaining, it avoids escalating charges like resisting arrest.
Along with the explanation she shared Nancy Mace’s post. As well as saying but given how you lied about a fellow rape survivor for “points,” as you put it to me, I don’t expect much else from you.
No faking here. Putting your hands behind your back is a best practice while detained, handcuffed or not, to avoid escalating charges like resisting arrest.
But given how you lied about a fellow rape survivor for “points,” as you put it to me, I don’t expect much else from you. pic.twitter.com/lUc1TPS21D
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 20, 2022
