Hundreds of protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol steps Saturday afternoon, and more than a dozen made it into the Senate chamber where they shouted at senators voting to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
“I do not consent!” shouted one protester.
Others were more personal.
“You’re a coward Flake, you’re a total coward,” one man in a white sweatshirt yelled at Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican who’d withheld his support for the nomination until the last day.
And a young man shouted “Texas will remember,” at Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican who’s up for re-election next month. As the young man shouted, the older woman with him grabbed his shirt and dragged him out of his seat.
Police said 14 protesters were arrested from within the chamber, and 150 people were arrested outside the Capitol, including from the steps, where they had broken through a police line and started a sit-in.
Betty Baumgertner came to the District from a Virginia suburb to voice her concerns about Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
“It makes me sad, actually, how things have changed in that we are not exactly voting for the person’s integrity to me it’s more political, which it should never be for the Supreme Court,” she said.
There were a few supporters of President Trump and Judge Kavanaugh mixed in the crowd, but they were overwhelmingly outnumbered by ’resistance’ activists.
Tracy Thompson and her husband came from Georgia to the District for their 20th wedding anniversary, but decided to attend the protest.
“They are so many and we are so few,” she said. “I felt like it’s our right too — I have opinions too and I wanted to represent another side.”
Protests have been ongoing throughout the Capitol grounds and Senate office buildings over the past few weeks since Christine Blasey Ford came forward with her allegation of sexual misconduct against the president’s nominee.
Roughly 100 people were arrested on Friday ahead of the Senate’s procedural vote moving forward on Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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