Hundreds of demonstrators were detained by police after they stormed the Hart Senate Office Building and staged a sit-in inside the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Schumer was said to have addressed the crowd with, “No matter how this goes, they cannot keep us down. We will win. A vote for Kavanaugh is a vote saying women don’t matter.”
Videos of Schumer’s arrest have circulated, with some showing an officer asking her if she wanted to be arrested, to which Schumer replied, “Yes.” Ratajkowski, who was also arrested, tweeted, “Today I was arrested protesting the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, a man who was been accused by multiple women of sexual assault. Men who hurt women can no longer be placed in positions of power.”
Today I was arrested protesting the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, a man who has been accused by multiple women of sexual assault. Men who hurt women can no longer be placed in positions of power. pic.twitter.com/nnwq1O4qk3
— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) October 4, 2018
The protests were concerning the potential confirmation of Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court ahead of today’s Senate vote. The federal appeals judge has been accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford and also by former Yale classmate Deborah Ramirez of sexual misconduct.
U.S. Capitol Police released a statement saying that 293 people were arrested and charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding during the protest at Hart Senate Office. Nine more were charged with the same offense after a demonstration at the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
“The individuals arrested are being processed on site and released,” the statement said via The Hill. “At this time, we are unable to confirm the names of those arrested due to the large number being processed.
Variety reported that those arrested were being cited and can pay a $50 ticket to have the charges dropped.