United States Capitol Police arrested at least 21 protesters who demonstrated outside the Dirksen Senate Office building in Washington, D.C., early Monday morning, less than an hour before Judge Amy Coney Barrett's first Supreme Court confirmation hearing commenced. Barrett, an Appeals Court judge in Indiana, would become President Donald Trump's third nominee to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court since Trump assumed office almost four years ago.
Barrett appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee during the first of four confirmation hearings due to take place throughout the week. Joined by several members who participated virtually, members of the committee gathered inside the Hart Senate Office building for Monday's hearing. The Hart and Dirksen offices are located in adjoining buildings.
Protesters were arrested for "unlawful demonstration activities" prior to Monday's hearing, according to Capitol Police, and one individual was charged with unlawful conduct.
"At approximately 8:35 a.m., United States Capitol Police responded to unlawful demonstration activities outside of the Dirksen Senate Office Building," Capitol Police said in a statement sent to Newsweek early Monday afternoon. Individuals taken into custody were charged with crowding, obstruction for incommoding, in addition to the individual arrested and charged with unlawful conduct.
Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court came soon after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg's death on September 18, and just weeks before November's general election. Senate Republicans have been criticized for the decision to move forward with Barrett's confirmation hearings so close to an election, despite blocking Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland in 2016 because it was an election year. Meanwhile political figures and members of the public alike have expressed concerns about how Barrett would handle critical decisions about health care, reproductive rights and marriage equality.
Photos and videos posted to social media ahead of Monday's hearing showed protesters demonstrating in opposition to, as well in support of, Barrett's Supreme Court appointment. Those opposing her confirmation held signs advocating for the continuation of Obamacare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many fear Barrett's appointment to the Supreme Court could jeopardize the law, which Trump has pledged to overturn for years. The court is expected to hear cases that could threaten the future of the ACA one week after November's election.
"The American people are afraid, and they're angry and for good reason," said Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut, in his remarks about Barrett's potential influence over the ACA's continuation Monday morning.
"It's a break-the-glass moment," he continued. "Americans must use their voices to...stand up and speak out to protect their own health, public health, and the health of our democracy."
With the future of other critical Supreme Court decisions, such as Roe v. Wade, which established women's right to choose to have an abortion, potentially at risk, protesters also highlighted fears about how Barrett's induction to the court could influence access to reproductive care. On Sunday, a group of demonstrators gathered outside the Supreme Court building dressed as characters from The Handmaid's Tale, a dystopian novel, later adapted for television, in which women lose their reproductive freedoms.
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