Hundreds of Protesters Arrested at US Capitol

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Police have arrested more than 400 protesters who were demonstrating by the U.S. Capitol in Washington against the role of money in politics, saying the protesters engaged in "unlawful demonstration activity."

Video of the protest Monday showed a police officer saying "If you don't want to be arrested, move on back to 1st street."

U.S. Capitol Police said the demonstrators are being processed using mass arrest procedures. Some of the protestors were led away from the east front of the Capitol in plastic handcuffs.

The protest was organized by a coalition of groups calling itself "Democracy Spring" which said on its website that the demonstration was held "to demand Congress take immediate action to end the corruption of big money in our politics and ensure free and fair elections in which every American has an equal voice."

The demonstrators chanted slogans like "money out of politics." Some of them had marched from Philadelphia to Washington over the past week.

Hundreds of Protesters Arrested at US Capitol

Yep, America becomes more of a f*cking joke every year.

Amendment I U.S. Constitution

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Democracy shut down by "champions of free speech and democracy"

US can be found in the dictionary under the word hypocrite.

It's a long walk from Philadelphia to Capital Hill, only to be arrested

Hundreds Protesting Political System Arrested On Capitol's Steps

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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.

More than 600 turned out for the protest, and more than 400 were arrested in the sit-in at the Capitol steps, U.S. Capitol Police reported. The nonviolent protest was led by Democracy Spring, a coalition of more than 100 progressive groups.

The protest was cheery and peaceful. Police blockaded the marble staircase with a chain and a cordon of officers. Demonstrators sat in front of the chain and on the plaza, talking, chanting, singing and taking pictures as police led them away one by one. Police, badly underestimating the potential crowd, initially brought a single bus to Capitol Plaza to haul the protesters away.

In a rally preceding the protest, organizer Kai Newkirk of the group 99Rise told the crowd that "we send a message — to everyone in our country who needs a government that represents us all — that this House is your House too, and now is the time to stand up and to take it back."

The coalition wants a "Congress of Conscience" to pass legislation limiting undisclosed and big-donor money, giving more clout to small donors; to restore powers in the Voting Rights Act; and to put an end to gerrymandered districts that insulate incumbent lawmakers from election challenges.

Newkirk has been campaigning to limit political money since 2014, when he interrupted a Supreme Court hearing to object to rulings that lifted restrictions on big donors.

Democracy Spring plans four more daily protests this week. April 16-18 it will be joined by another large coalition, Democracy Awakening, for a teach-in, speeches and another sit-down demonstration.

Democracy Spring Sit-In Protest Brings Hundreds To Capitol Steps : The Two-Way : NPR

Day two of the protest



Dozens of Senior Citizens Arrested at ‘Democracy Spring’ DC Protests

Dozens of elderly activists demanding campaign finance reform were arrested Tuesday for staging a sit-in outside the Capitol Building as part of the week-long Democracy Spring protests happening in Washington, DC.

According to the US Capitol Police, 85 activists were taken cheerfully and willingly into custody, on top of the more than 400 protesters who were arrested during a sit-in on Monday. Democracy Spring organizers have said that number was an all-time record for a mass arrest at the Capitol Building, and they plan to keep it up. More than 3,500 activists have pledged to risk arrest in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience over the week, organizers said.

The goal of the protest is to pressure Congress to pass four already-introduced bills dealing with campaign finance reform, public funding of elections, and increased voting rights, including introducing a constitutional amendment overturning the controversial Citizens United Supreme Court decision.

According to the Democracy Spring website, more than 100 progressive groups have sponsored the event, and its steering committee include 99Rise, Democracy Matters, Energy Action Coalition, the United States Student Association (USSA) and the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU). The action began with a ten-day march from Philadelphia to DC, and protests are scheduled to continue until April 18.

Tuesday was "elder's day," and the front of the march to the Capitol Building from Union Station was decidedly gray-haired. "We're here! We're elders!" the marchers chanted. "We're fearless! Get used to it!"

more Dozens of Senior Citizens Were Arrested at ?Democracy Spring? DC Protests | VICE | United States

Democracy around the world has been well in decline for decades. The US is seemingly not much like 'the American dream' and doesn't seem to uphold the ideals conveyed in 'American exceptionalism', sadly.

Good to see that folks are out there protesting, peacefully, for what they believe is right.

Maybe the American people are fine, maybe it's the governance?

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Originally Posted by BobR

ep, America becomes more of a f*cking joke every year.

Amendment I U.S. Constitution

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

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Seems rather at odds with your comments about prayuth a few minutes ago...

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Originally Posted by Dapper

Democracy shut down by "champions of free speech and democracy"

US can be found in the dictionary under the word hypocrite.

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Yep it is the Land Of The Free. But, oh wait...!

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Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Good to see that folks are out there protesting, peacefully, for what they believe is right.

Maybe the American people are fine, maybe it's the governance?

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A little over 100 years the government sold out to the private bankers with the Federal Reserve Act. Over the years corporate money has bought out the government.

Similar to Thailand where a few wealthy families own the military, just on a more massive scale in the USA, where science, medicine, agriculture, media and entertainment are under corporate control.
We are living in a brave new world.

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Originally Posted by VocalNeal

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dapper

Democracy shut down by "champions of free speech and democracy"

US can be found in the dictionary under the word hypocrite.

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Yep it is the Land Of The Free. But, oh wait...!

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The home of the oppressed?

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^What's the point of ^ photos, which have nothing to do with the DC protest, but are file photos from California?

America Land of the Fee and home to the Slave!

Bombing other countries in the name of freedom and democracy (oligarchy) is OK, just don't demand it at home or get arrested. See this story also getting very little mainstream media attention, so in all no surprises whatsoever.