Democratic Rep. Judy Chu arrested during protest against abortion rights outside US Capitol

Rep. Judy Chu (D-California) was arrested Thursday for participating in an abortion rights protest outside the U.S. Capitol following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade.

Chu was among 181 people arrested by Capitol Police for “blocking the intersection of Constitution Avenue, NE and First Street, NE,” which is also near the Supreme Court.

“When I think of all these women – and more – the decision to join a peaceful protest to make it clear that we will not allow backtracking on abortion rights was easy,” Chu said in a statement. “We are in this together and we will not back down or be silenced.”

The protest was organized by the Center for Popular Democracy Action and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, according to the Washington Post. It comes almost a week after the High Court delivered its verdict in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case centered on a Mississippi law banning abortion at 15 weeks.

The judges decided to overturn both Roe and a subsequent case, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, effectively removing the Americans’ constitutional right to abortion.

Democratic activists and lawmakers are pushing for further action to protect abortion rights.

“Every major right we have in this country — voting or women’s rights — was born because of the protests,” Chu told The Post in an interview. “That’s what changed things in America for the better.”

Chu sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify abortion access. While the bill was approved by the House in September 2021, it failed in the Senate.

President Joe Biden said Thursday he supports an “exception” to the filibuster to codify Roe, which Democrats, including Chu, are calling for.

“I think we need to codify Roe v. Wade into law and the way to do that is to make sure Congress votes to do it,” Biden told reporters in Madrid, where he was attending a summit. NATO.

“And if the filibuster gets in the way — it’s like the right to vote — we should require a filibuster exception for that action to address the Supreme Court’s decision,” Biden continued.

Meanwhile, the fight against abortion has shifted to the United States. A Florida judge ruled on Thursday to block a controversial 15-week abortion ban, saying it “violates the secrecy provision of Florida’s constitution.”