22 Arrested Outside Senate Building Before Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation Hearings

Published: 10/13/2020, 4:12:52 PM EDT

22 Arrested Outside Senate Building Before Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation Hearings — Protesters get arrested by U.S. Capitol police after blocking the entrance of Hart Senate building on the first day of the nomination hearing for President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett in Washington on Oct. 12, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

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Several people were arrested Monday during protests before Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings to the Supreme Court, according to The Washington Post.

Groups of people supporting Barrett’s nomination and those opposed gathered outside the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Monday morning, the Post reported. Contentious shouting between people in the two groups and anti-Barrett nomination protesters staged a sit-in protest at the Senate building, according to the Post, before several people were arrested.

Eva Malecki, communications director for the U.S. Capitol Police, told the Daily Caller News Foundation: “At approximately 8:35 a.m., United States Capitol Police responded to unlawful demonstration activities outside of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.”

Twenty-one individuals face misdemeanor charges of crowding, obstructing, or incommoding, and one person faces a charge of unlawful conduct, Malecki said.

Protesters get arrested by U.S. Capitol police after blocking the entrance of Hart Senate building on the first day of the nomination hearing for President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, in Washington on Oct. 12, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) — Protesters get arrested by U.S. Capitol police after blocking the entrance of Hart Senate building on the first day of the nomination hearing for President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, in Washington on Oct. 12, 2020. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

Protesters against Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court chanted, “Let the people decide” and a Barrett-supporting protester with a “Confirm Amy” poster yelled back, “They already did! In 2016!” according to the Post. Protests took place at entrances to Senate office buildings and on the Supreme Court steps Monday.

Almost half of voters, 46 percent, polled between Oct. 2 through Oct. 4 said they support for judge’s nomination to the Supreme Court, according to a Morning Consult/Politico poll released last week. Nearly half, 43 percent in that time compared to 39 percent on Sept. 26 said yes that there should be an immediate vote on Barrett’s confirmation despite who wins the 2020 presidential election.

Small crowds were gathered outside the Supreme Court on Monday, according to a Daily Caller News Foundation video filmed around 12:30 p.m.

Protesters inspired by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) had marched on Capitol Hill in demonstration after President Donald Trump nominated Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, according to Fox News. Police said around 300 protesters were arrested during one of Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings and charged for unlawful demonstration in Senate offices, Fox News reported.

Prior to that October 2018 hearing, research psychologist Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her more than 30 years ago, the Post reported at the time. Kavanaugh denied the accusations in a statement the White House provided to the Post after Ford made the allegations.

Trump nominated Barrett to the Supreme Court on Sept. 26. If the Senate approves Barrett‘s nomination, she would take the seat vacated by late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

By Mary Rose Corkery

From The Daily Caller News Foundation

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