May 14 (UPI) — Capitol Police arrested a group of protesters calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
At least eight people face charges of crowding, obstructing or incommoding during the the demonstration in the Canon House Office Building, a representative for the Capitol Police told The Hill.
The protesters from By the People — an activist group seeking Trump’s impeachment — carried large signs saying “If Congress won’t defend the Constitution, we the people will,” and wore T-shirts that read “Congress do your job.”
“Wow, it took police less than 2 minutes to arrest all the protesters. We’ve been waiting over two full years for Congress to do its job and impeach Trump,” the group wrote on its Twitter account. “No more excuses. No more delays.”
About 2 hours after the arrests, By the People issued an update stating all the protesters had been released.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., condemned the arrests as “ridiculous” on Twitter.
“This is the people’s House and they have every right to demand accountability of this lawless president,” she wrote.
In another tweet, Tlaib praised the protesters for their decision to call for Trump’s impeachment.
“This is how we take back our democracy. When the people lead, Congress and those in power will follow,” Tlaib wrote. “Today, I uplift the brave fighters who are demanding accountability of this lawless president. Our future and country depend on it.”
