Hundreds of 'Democracy Spring' protesters arrested at Capitol Hill sit-in
Story highlights
- "Democracy Spring" activists arrested outside U.S. Capitol
- Civil disobedience campaign is aimed at curbing influence of money in politics
(CNN)More
than 400 protesters staging a sit-in against the influence of money in
politics and congressional inaction to reverse it were arrested on the
steps of the U.S. Capitol Monday, the first day of what is expected to
be a week-long series of demonstrations.
"More
than 400 individuals have been arrested for unlawful demonstration
activity, and are being processed using mass arrest procedures," the
U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement early Monday evening. Those
taken into custody will be charged with "crowding, obstructing and
incommoding."
Beginning
on April 2 in Philadelphia, participants in the "Democracy Spring"
campaign marched nearly 150 miles south to Washington, where the
Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) said on Monday that rallies
and events have been scheduled through the weekend in an effort to
"draw attention to our corrupt campaign finance system and rigged voting
laws."
PCCC co-founder Adam Green,
one of dozens of liberal leaders taking part in the demonstrations, was
among those arrested on Monday.
"Today,
I join others in non-violent civil disobedience in order to help focus
the nation's conversation on these key democracy issues -- and the
public needs politicians to start acting now," he said in a statement.
On its website and in press
releases, "Democracy Spring" said "hundreds" have been arrested so far,
and reports that 3,500 people from 33 different states have pledged to
join the protests this week.
They are pushing for a series of legislative actions, including the passage of four bills aimed at reducing "the influence of money in politics" while seeking to "expand and protect voting rights."
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