— Washington Wednesday, three people were arrested and charged with violating two federal laws pertaining to Supreme Court proceedings and the administration of justice after they disrupted oral arguments before the high court to protest its June ruling that erased the constitutional right to an abortion.
Patricia McCabe, court spokeswoman, stated that the three are currently being processed at the Supreme Court and will then be brought to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Central Cell Block. They are accused with breaching a federal law that prohibits “making a harangue or oration” in the Supreme Court building and a second law that prohibits demonstrating with the aim to obstruct the administration of justice.
A press announcement named the activists as Emily Paterson, Nikki Enfield, and Ronalde Baker of Virginia, Arizona, and Arizona, respectively.
The disturbances happened at the beginning of the Bank Secrecy Act case’s oral arguments. The preceding audio contains a woman stating, “The right to choose will not be taken away.”
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade prompted widespread indignation and protests from abortion-rights supporters, but Wednesday’s event was the first to take place within the courtroom. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, the building has been off-limits to the public, though persons may attend oral argument sessions.
While demonstrations are common outside the Supreme Court, interruptions during oral arguments are uncommon. In 2015, a group of activists stopped oral arguments to express their objection to the Citizens United judgment on campaign finance. On the fifth anniversary of the judgement, seven protesters were arrested during a demonstration.