A number of people were arrested for disorderly conduct Tuesday on Capitol Hill, whether they were hauled out of the Senate Judiciary Committee room itself or were located elsewhere in the building.
The anti-Brett Kavanaugh chorus reached a crescendo before the hearing even began, and it was quite a scene to behold.
We've had motions to halt and delay Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing, and several screaming protesters in the audience. We haven't even started.
Hold on folks, it'll be a bumpy ride.
— Ronn Blitzer (@RonnBlitzer) September 4, 2018
The Hand Maids have arrived. Posted on both sides of the Judiciary Committee hearing room entrance pic.twitter.com/n2ZUHOXfXI
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) September 4, 2018
There was plenty of yelling, screaming and interrupting throughout the day, which resulted in a reported 70 arrests by Capitol Hill police. Twenty-two were forcibly escorted from the premises within the first hour.
22 protesters arrested in first hour of Brett Kavanaugh hearing https://t.co/3xar5XCEMi pic.twitter.com/v29HldGrRJ
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 4, 2018
Other charges included crowding, obstructing, unlawful demonstration activities and incommoding (inconveniencing).
US Capitol Police report arresting 70 people for demonstration activities during 1st day of Brett Kavanaugh hearings. 61 charged w/ disorderly conduct. *BUT* – US Capitol Police arrest reports are not subject to #FOIA and are not publicly released
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) September 4, 2018
U.S. Capitol Police made 70 arrests today for protests during the Brett Kavanaugh hearing and in other parts of Capitol Hill.
— Kristen Holmes (@KristenhCNN) September 4, 2018
This is @HeidiSpeaks engaging in civil disobedience. This is patriotism. This is protecting our fundamental right to bodily autonomy. We can #CancelKavanaugh. Call now to #BlockBrett: 855-765-1382 pic.twitter.com/71ndl64syC
— #VOTEPROCHOICE (@VoteChoice) September 4, 2018
#CancelKavanaugh disruptions were planned, says the Women’s March official Twitter account.
We're disrupting the Kavanaugh hearings every few minutes, with hundreds of women prepared to get arrested to prevent these hearings from moving forward.
Make a donation today to support the brave women organizing to #SaveSCOTUS and #CancelKavanaugh!https://t.co/z8qeZlrJHt
— Women's March (@womensmarch) September 4, 2018
You may recognize a couple of the people arrested. Women’s March leader Linda Sarsour and actress Piper Perabo were both arrested.
I was just arrested for civil disobedience in the Kavanaugh hearings.
Many citizens before me have fought for the equal rights of women. I can’t be silent when someone is nominated to the Supreme Court who would take our equal rights away.#StopKavanaghpic.twitter.com/f3SG7gmVam
— Piper Perabo (@PiperPerabo) September 4, 2018
Coyote Ugly star Piper Perabo is arrested at Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Kavanaugh https://t.co/G7R5d3WNfM
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) September 4, 2018
Women’s March Leader Linda Sarsour Arrested At Kavanaugh Hearing https://t.co/LESIAcB8wn pic.twitter.com/0Lj1gqHFaZ
— The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 4, 2018
I will be able to tell my daughters and future grandchildren that I STOOD UP. I was not and will not be silent when our bodies and rights are on the line. #CancelKavanaugh https://t.co/Av2G3fhDWT
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) September 4, 2018
According to VICE, 61 people were removed from the room and nine other were arrested on the second floor.
Much of the #CancelKavanaugh rhetoric can be traced to fears about how his nomination to the Supreme Court may tip the scales on the issue of abortion, now that retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is out of the picture.
This was only day 1 of Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, so you can expect to see more of the same.
BuzzFeed’s Zoe Tillman said that the maximum penalty for these misdemeanors is 90 days of jail time.
Per US Capitol Police, 61 people were removed from Kavanaugh's hearing and charged w/ disorderly conduct; 9 were removed from a Senate building and charged w/ crowding, obstructing, or incommoding. Both are misdemeanors, max penalty of 90 days in prison https://t.co/3lLA2v1RsL
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) September 4, 2018
The Women’s March responded to the news that 70 had been arrested, claiming that the reason why is that President Donald Trump is “under federal investigation.”
70+ people were arrested disrupting the #KavanaughConfirmation hearings today.
Why? The president is under federal investigation. He’s used executive privilege to keep the Senate from reviewing Kavanaugh’s record.
These are extreme circumstances. They require extreme responses.
— Women's March (@womensmarch) September 4, 2018
“70+ people were arrested disrtuping the #KavanaughConfirmation hearings today,” the tweet began. “Why? The president is under federal investigation. He’s used executive privilege to keep the Senate from reviewing Kavanaugh’s record.”
Trump himself responded to the Kavanaugh disruptors by saying it is “truly a display of how mean, angry and despicable the other side is.”
The Brett Kavanaugh hearings for the future Justice of the Supreme Court are truly a display of how mean, angry, and despicable the other side is. They will say anything, and are only….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
….looking to inflict pain and embarrassment to one of the most highly renowned jurists to ever appear before Congress. So sad to see!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
Several Republicans at the hearing said Democrats were using the hearing as another failed attempt to undo the 2016 presidential election. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) vowed to keep the hearing on track tomorrow.
Democrats on the Committee also submitted motions to shut down the hearings several times, citing what in their view is a lack of transparency concerning records pertaining to Kavanaugh’s work in the White House. Grassley denied a number of motions to suspend the hearing pending the release of those documents.
[Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images.]