(RNS) — While arrests of protesters at the Capitol is not unusual, the response to Barber’s prayer was unusually dramatic: After issuing verbal warnings, dozens of officers expelled everyone in the Rotunda — including credentialed press.
The arrests occurred roughly 15 minutes after Barber, the Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Steve Swayne, director of St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, started praying in the Rotunda as dozens of police stood nearby, some prepared with plastic handcuffs. The three took turns praying, lamenting potential budget cuts to social safety-net programs such as Medicaid, often chanting together: “Against the conspiracy of cruelty, we plead the power of your mercy.
“When we cannot depend on the courts and the legislative power of human beings, we can still depend on … the power of your love and your mercy and your truth,” Barber said in the Rotunda as police began to surround him.
… and shut the doors, obscuring any view. Press and others were then instructed to leave the floor entirely.
Don’t leave when the cops say you can’t record them anymore! Stand your ground at least and let one of your colleagues get a picture of police roughing up a reporter. If necessary, get arrested yourself. You took a job that has an inherent role in democracy and now is the time it’s most important.
Don’t leave when the cops say you can’t record them anymore! Stand your ground at least and let one of your colleagues get a picture of police roughing up a reporter. If necessary, get arrested yourself. You took a job that has an inherent role in democracy and now is the time it’s most important.
I agree 100% with this.
Plastic handcuffs being zip ties?
I believe they are double zip ties, but yes.