The House Democrat who introduced a bill to enshrine the right to abortion into federal law last year was one of more than 180 protesters arrested at a pro-abortion rights rally close by the Supreme Court.
California Representative Judy Chu was taking part in a civil disobedience demonstration on Capitol grounds. She was later arrested with other activists, her office stated in a news release.
Chu spokesperson, who described the demonstration as “sit-in,” stated that Chu was arrested at 1 p.m. and was the only member of Congress present at the rally.
Chu tweeted: “The decision was easy. I marched today for the young rape victim, the woman who can’t afford to travel to another country to receive critical care, and the mother with an unplanned pregnancy whose life may be in danger. “I came out to march in support of all of us.”
The U.S. Capitol Police announced on Twitter that 181 people were arrested for blocking an intersection near Capitol and Supreme Court.
NBC News asked Capitol Police to comment.
The rally was led in part by several groups that are active in abortion rights, such as the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Center for Popular Democracy.
After a Texas law that banned most abortions was repealed by the Supreme Court, Chu introduced the Women’s Health Protection Act.
According to the bill’s text, the measure would codify 1973 Roe v. Wade into federal law to “protect a person’s ability to decide whether to continue with or end a child” and to preserve health care providers’ ability continue to provide abortion services.
In September, the House passed the bill 218 to211. One Democrat joined all Republicans who opposed the measure. The bill was defeated by the Senate in February with 46 votes to 48. This vote failed to reach the threshold of 60 votes required to defeat a Republican-led filibuster.
Thursday’s statement by President Joe Biden indicated that he supports an “exception” to Senate filibuster rules in order to allow Democrats to adopt abortion protections.
