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On Friday, June 24, the United States Supreme Court issued their majority opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, upholding a 2018 Mississippi state law banning most abortions after 15 weeks.
In doing so, the SCOTUS overturned the 1973 decision on Roe v. Wade which afforded people reproductive choices with minimal government interference or restrictions.
While the May leak of the draft of the majority opinion mobilized many reproductive rights proponents, the official release of the decision lead to more widespread protests across the United States.
At a protest in Washington DC, California Democratic Representative Judy Chu drew cheers from the gathered pro-reproductive rights crowd as she was arrested by the Capitol Police.
\u201cRep. Judy Chu, who introduced a bill last year to enshrine abortion rights into federal law, was among more than 180 protesters who were arrested Thursday at a pro-abortion rights rally near the Supreme Court.\u201d— Kyle Griffin (@Kyle Griffin) 1656685800
\u201cA few photos. Rep. Judy Chu also joining the abortion rights sit-in today.\u201d— Alejandro Alvarez (@Alejandro Alvarez) 1656606598
You can see footage of her arrest here:
Representative Chu is a leading sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act which would safeguard reproductive healthcare including abortion, contraception and tubal ligation.
Chu said in a statement:
"When I first heard Roe was overturned, I immediately thought of who would be most harmed by this decision: a young girl who is a survivor of rape, a woman who cannot afford to travel to another state to access critical care, an expecting mother with an ectopic pregnancy whose life is in danger because she cannot have an abortion."
"So, when I think of all these women—and more—the decision to join in a peaceful demonstration to make clear we will not allow the clock to be rolled back on abortion rights was easy."
The Women’s Health Protection Act passed in the House.
The act is stymied in the Senate by the Republican filibuster on all Democratic sponsored legislation.
\u201cIn a statement following her arrest Chu said: "I am ramping up my calls to abolish the Senate filibuster & actively exploring every option to ensure we pass my bill, the Women\u2019s Health Protection Act, which establishes a federal right to abortion care & have it signed into law."\u201d— Cassie Semyon (@Cassie Semyon) 1656622124
Chu remarked:
"We are in this together and we will not back down or be silenced."
"I am ramping up my calls to abolish the Senate filibuster—and actively exploring every option to ensure we pass my bill, the Women’s Health Protection Act, which establishes a federal right to abortion care, and have it signed into law."
“Lives are at stake and this fight is far from over."
\u201cCalifornia Rep. Judy Chu among 181 arrested at D.C. abortion rights protest #SmartNews so ok to arrest women for their rights, no violence, trumps crazies stormed, killed n tried to kill others as the destruction continued for Hours, no one was arrested! https://t.co/2oGRfuwoUF\u201d— julie long (@julie long) 1656637600
\u201cAh yes, arrest peaceful protestors, but help those like Writtenhouse and allow rioters to walk right in\u2026 #Stunned #ExpandTheCourt https://t.co/UsRcNeFQmh\u201d— Malea (@Malea) 1656671114
\u201c@CBSNews The #GOP (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei), their voters, and the #SCOTUS #war against: #women, #Children, #minorities, people with #disabilities, the #LGBQT community, #teachers, the media, #religiousfreedom, and our #democracy, is sadly, in full swing!\u201d— CBS News (@CBS News) 1656620112
\u201cBREAKING: Democratic Rep. Judy Chu and over 100 other people are arrested in Washington D.C. for bravely and peacefully protesting for abortion rights after the Republican-controlled Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. RT IF YOU SUPPORT CHU AND THE PROTESTORS!\u201d— Occupy Democrats (@Occupy Democrats) 1656622855
\u201cThank you Judy Chu.\u201d— Barbara Malmet (@Barbara Malmet) 1656688548
\u201cRep. Judy Chu, who sponsored the Women's Health Protection Act which the Senate blocked twice, was arrested at an abortion rights protest in DC. https://t.co/3JQd6c6qnY\u201d— Alanna Vagianos (@Alanna Vagianos) 1656679978
\u201cNEW: Democratic Rep. Judy Chu was Arrested At Abortion Rights Protest Outside U.S. Capitol. If you agree with Rep. Chu tweet emoji \ud83d\udc99. Please RT\u201d— #TheyReallyDidIt!!!!! (@#TheyReallyDidIt!!!!!) 1656688479
\u201cRep. Judy Chu #CA27 was arrested today while protesting the overturning of Roe v. Wade. \n\nImma need more elected officials to sit in the middle of those kettles and support those community activists.\u201d— InMinivanHell (@InMinivanHell) 1656613699
\u201cRep. Judy Chu, representing Chinese Americans in the very best way - thru political activism and championing human rights. Proud of my sister.\u270a\ud83c\udffchttps://t.co/1nhV2ru1H7\u201d— Changfucius (@Changfucius) 1656682883
The peaceful rally was organized by Planned Parenthood.
Capitol Police arrested 181 people outside the Capitol on Thursday for "crowding, obstructing, incommoding or blocking a main intersection."