In the feverish, desperate last flurry of protests against Brett Kavanaugh, police arrested more than 500 activists, the Capitol Police told PJ Media Saturday. The Senate voted to confirm Kavanaugh, 50 to 48, this afternoon, and he was sworn in after 6 p.m.
Before that, police arrested 164 people. “At approximately 12:45 p.m., on the Rotunda Steps on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol, 150 individuals were arrested and were charged with D.C. Code §22-1307, Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding,” the Capitol Police said in a statement.
Around 2:30 p.m., one woman was arrested in the Senate gallery in the U.S. Capitol Building. An hour later, 13 more protesters were arrested in the Senate Galleries, for “crowding, obstructing, or incommoding.”
The final wave of protests began Thursday, and police arrested 302 people that day. Activists had taken over Hart Senate Office Building, and most of them had to be arrested. On Friday, the count dropped to 101.
“The individuals are being processed offsite and released,” the police told PJ Media.
Some of them may not be released until Tuesday. “Capitol Police say protesters arrested today for the 2nd time will not just be released after paying a fine,” CNN correspondent Ryan Nobles tweeted, crediting CNN reporter Kristin Wilson Keppler. “The repeat offenders will be booked and jailed without the opportunity to be released until Tuesday because Monday is a holiday.”
Capitol Police say protesters arrested today for the 2nd time will not just be released after paying a fine… The repeat offenders will be booked and jailed without the opportunity to be released until Tuesday because Monday is a holiday. via/ @TheOtherKeppler
— Ryan Nobles (@ryanobles) October 6, 2018
While liberal protesters affiliated with many different groups marched against Kavanaugh, the Women’s March organized protests on Thursday and Saturday. More than 1,000 people said they would attend the Thursday “Cancel Kavanaugh” event posted on Facebook, and even more said they would attend the event Saturday.
“If you caught our livestream on facebook, you know we just organized thousands of women, survivors, and allies to flood the Capitol, climb over police barriers, and take over the Capitol Steps. We estimate over 250 were arrested,” the group tweeted.
If you caught our livestream on facebook, you know we just organized thousands of women, survivors, and allies to flood the Capitol, climb over police barriers, and take over the Capitol Steps. We estimate over 250 were arrested. #CancelKanavaugh https://t.co/fvJ4m2Zfvf pic.twitter.com/MghLvr8WgJ
— Women's March (@womensmarch) October 6, 2018
During the original Senate hearings for Kavanaugh, 212 protesters were arrested for obstructing the process and interrupting the hearings. Muslim Women’s March leader Linda Sarsour herself got arrested in the opening moments of the hearings. The Women’s March did not necessarily hire protesters, but they have agreed to pay legal fees and reimburse other costs of protesting.
The protests have failed, but the liberals will certainly find another cause to energize their base. Ironically, their activism has worked up Republicans, sparking new hope for the midterm elections this November.
When the sexual assault claims against Kavanaugh started to fall apart, Democrats pivoted away from saying the judge didn’t deserve to be considered “innocent until proven guilty” and started concocting a ridiculous perjury inquisition. Meanwhile, Kavanaugh choked up remembering how his daughter Liza wanted to pray for his accuser, and his wife delivered cupcakes to reporters besieging their house.
America began to see what 200 women had testified, that Kavanaugh is a good man, in addition to being an excellent legal mind with a stellar judicial record.
Hundreds of women may be willing to be arrested, protesting against this judge because they fear he will overrule Roe v. Wade. But hundreds more wept along with his wife when he took the stand, explaining what it was like to be accused of gang rapes and to be considered guilty without evidence or eyewitnesses. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who herself received threats and bribes to vote against Kavanaugh, explained why senators should confirm this stellar nominee, despite uncorroborated accusations.
These 567 protesters should listen to Susan Collins, rather than yelling at her. The 567 people cannot overrule the millions who want to see Kavanaugh confirmed. America is divided on this, and this country has elections every November where people can make their will known.
When some of those 567 people stormed the Hart Senate Office Building, it reminded me of the darkest days of the French Revolution. A tiny but vocal minority of the country demanded their will be done, the system and the voters be damned. That’s not how America works.
This incivility is not what America stands for. America stands for the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” America stands for justice for the true victims of sexual assault — when evidence makes it clear the accused is guilty. America stands for the Constitution, whose original meaning Brett Kavanaugh has a proven record of defending.
Liberals couldn’t stand seeing that America come through. At least 567 activists were willing to go to jail rather than see a Supreme Court justice defend the Constitution. They stood with the lynch mob without evidence or eyewitnesses, and Democrats leapt on board. Let’s remember that in November.
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