Women Disobey

Summary

Women Disobey was a protest in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 2018. The protests against the Trump administration family separation policy were organized by Women's March.[1] They took place in the streets around the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building and inside the Hart Senate Office Building. Following acts of mass civil disobedience, 575 people were arrested.[2][3]

Women Disobey
End Family Detention · Abolish ICE
Part of Protests against the
Trump administration family separation policy
Protestors as they march towards the US Capitol
Location
MethodsProtest march, mass civil disobedience
Lead figures
Arrests
Arrested575–630

Planning edit

The event was organized by several groups led by the organizers of the 2017 and 2018 Women's March.[1] Among the organizations involved in planning the protest were the Black Women's Roundtable, CASA de Maryland, Center for Popular Democracy, MPower Change, and the UndocuBlack Network.[4] Linda Sarsour was one of the organizers of the event.[5]

In the lead-up to the event, organizers held direct action training sessions.[5]

Participation edit

 
Woman with a sign demanding the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Participants in the event were estimated to number in the thousands.[6] Organizers claimed that 2,500 women from 47 states were present at the protest.[4] They blocked streets around the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building as they demanded "abolish ICE", the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.[7]

Protesters began their march at the Freedom Plaza, continued to the Kennedy Building, and ended near the US Capitol.[2] As they passed the Trump International Hotel, they shouted "Shame! Shame! Shame!"[1] Several politicians showed their support for the protests including Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Representatives Nydia Velázquez of New York, Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, and Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, who spoke while holding her 11-week-old daughter.[2][4]

Some of the protesters organized a sit-in at the foot of Alexander Calder's Mountains and Clouds sculpture located in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building.[8] The protesters wore silver thermal blankets reminiscent of migrant children in detention.[2] The United States Capitol Police arrested about 575 protesters,[9] including Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington and actress Susan Sarandon.[4][10] Around 3 p.m. local time, police began arresting protesters in groups of about a dozen and escorted them out of the building.[3] It took nearly an hour for police to clear the building.[9] Participants in the event were inside the building for more than two hours.[8] Women's March announced that the total number of arrests was 630.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Brice, Makini (June 28, 2018). "'Say it loud': Women march through Washington to protest immigration practices". Global News. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kirby, Jen (June 28, 2018). "Nearly 600 women arrested at immigration protests in Senate building". Vox. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Lang, Marissa J. (June 28, 2018). "'We will not obey': 575 arrested as hundreds of women rally in D.C. to protest Trump's immigration policy". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Chokshi, Niraj (June 29, 2018). "Hundreds Arrested During Women's Immigration Protest in Washington". The New York Times. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Ayers, Emma (June 28, 2018). "Women's March organizer Linda Sarsour leading women in 'mass civil disobediance [sic]' against Trump immigration policy". Washington Examiner. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  6. ^ "'Where are the children?' Women march on Washington in act of 'civil disobedience' to protest family separations". USA Today. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  7. ^ Thomsen, Jacqueline (June 28, 2018). "#WomenDisobey march shuts down DC streets to protest Trump immigration policies". The Hill. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Hundreds Arrested in DC Protesting Trump Immigration Policy". The New York Times. AP News. June 28, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Reints, Renae (June 29, 2018). "Nearly 600 Arrested in Washington #WomenDisobey Protest". Fortune. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  10. ^ Mendez, Maria; Mendez, Maria (June 29, 2018). "Jayapal Among Nearly 575 Women Arrested at Immigration Protest". Roll Call. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

External links edit

  • Women's March website
  • Center for Popular Democracy website
  • CASA de Maryland website