Speed Reads

civil disobedience

575 people arrested in Senate building during immigration protest

U.S. Capitol Police arrested 575 people at the Senate's Hart Office Building on Thursday during a protest against President Trump's immigration policy.

They were charged with unlawfully demonstrating. Most of the demonstrators were women, calling on Congress to end the separation of undocumented children from their parents at the border. The protest began at the Department of Justice, and some demonstrators carried signs that said "We Care" and "Don't have a heart of I.C.E.," while others wore mylar blankets like the ones distributed to immigrant children living in government facilities.

Several Democratic lawmakers visited the protesters, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) tweeted that she was among the demonstrators arrested.