Virginia Protesters Arrested: More Than 30 Protesting Anti-Abortion Legislation Arrested At State Capitol

RICHMOND, Va. -- More than 30 activists have been arrested for refusing to leave the Virginia Capitol steps during a protest of anti-abortion legislation.

Virginia Capitol Police Capt. Raymond Goodloe says 31 protesters were arrested Saturday. The demonstrators were some of an estimated 500 people who had gathered to protest legislation like a bill that passed the General Assembly earlier in the week that requires an ultrasound before an abortion.

The group had a permit to rally at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square, but Goodloe said rallies are not allowed on the Capitol steps.

Comments

[tonylaz]

09:41 AM on 03/26/2012

When a disruptive or violent offence associated with a political motivation has been perpetrated, it's a 9 to 1 safe bet that it was done by some "moderate" or "liberal".

[RC32789]

02:00 PM on 03/06/2012

H.R. 347.....Look it up. While they were distracting us with the whole Rush Limbaugh fiasco, Congress passed a bill making it illegal to peacefully protest in public. If MLK was alive today he would become a felon. Do you all still think that these public servants that WE PAY with our tax dollars, have our best interest in mind? They know that revolution is coming. That's why they are passing all of these bills. NDAA, SOPA and H.R.347 to name just a few. If they are so frightened of a revolution.....maybe we should show them one!!

[Isabella Valentine]

03:18 PM on 03/05/2012

Virginia has some explaining to do. Women in Colorado could vote in 1893. Virginia didn't follow through to let women vote until 1920. Twenty-seven years later! That's extra six presidential elections in which Virginian lawmakers decided, "No woman should vote," meanwhile Colorado women were allowed the privilege and right. Virginia has a history of repressing women for as long as they can humanly hold out. The Virginia Police Dept. owes the men and women an apology for protesting on the steps of the Capitol which taxpayers PAID for.

Women's Rights is NOT a luxury. Women will vote in the 2012 election. Stop taking away our rights. We say "No to insertion!" and "No to ultrasounds against our wills." Women are pro-freedom.

[Iris Silver]

06:12 PM on 03/05/2012

f&f

[InfinteShibumi]

12:53 PM on 03/05/2012

McDonnell is SO not going to be Romney's VP candidate. In his heart of hearts I bet he wishes he could take back all that transvaginal ultrasound nonsense.

Oh, and Rubio too. That Blunt Rubio amendment went right into the no-fly zone.

Gee, who's next at bat..? I guess Thune is looking better and better.

[VA Jill]

10:50 AM on 03/05/2012

Since when is peaceful assembly grounds for confrontation by riot police and arrest?

[thefreetradejoke]

01:05 PM on 03/05/2012

Since they figured out we're not all sheep, and that's a problem for them.

[bepa]

09:32 AM on 03/05/2012

Suggestion to activists:

Schedule two groups of protestors...one praying on the capitol steps at the same time that others are sitting there..If the police take them all..then its suppression of religion.

The Civil Rights groups in the 60's linked up with religious groups..do the same...Most Americans respect religious people...and there are definitely Christians on the left

[TheMilesHome]

09:20 AM on 03/05/2012

Protesters are being hauled off to jail at an alarming rate.

So, if I'm to believe the GOP, the 1st Amendment is only about religious freedom and that lil' speech thing was just fluff?

[Prankster]

07:39 AM on 03/05/2012

The puritans have returned, and you will all REPENT!!!!!

[gingerlilly]

05:23 AM on 03/05/2012

I think as a mass protest that women should drop all the zygotes that that these politicians think have person hood status on their door steps and offices for them to take care of and in the congress halls let me see what they would do. I think that American women of all colors, class, faith and walks of life need to organize a massive protest march to let these politicians know that they are tired of this onslaught of attacks on their basic freedoms and rights as citizens and human beings. I think come November we as women need to send a strong message to these politicians. If we sit back and say this does not affect me we are doomed we will all loose in the long run.

[cat09tails]

10:05 AM on 03/05/2012

We already have- it's called Unite Against the War on Women and is going to be held 4.28.2012 in DC and in all Capital cities. Check it out on UniteWomen.org

[edenooch]

01:51 AM on 03/05/2012

they want to save those fetuses so these abortion survivors can grow up in broken homes in poverty. these right to lifers could care less when the kid hits pre school

[Thaag Tidestalker]

07:28 AM on 03/05/2012

they want to save those fetuses so these abortion survivors can grow up in broken homes in poverty. these right to lifers could care less when the kid hits the birth canal

Fixt4u

[edenooch]

01:46 AM on 03/05/2012

i dont care about the anti abortion movement..people have no business inside a womans uterus...
what enrages me is that everytime theres a protest of anykind cops just love to arrest people....america the police state

[sallybutt45]

12:27 AM on 03/05/2012

I admit to having read the comments before posting. It really amazes me that we don't consider the ramifications of children having children. So, according to Mr.Sanders, if a female "opens her legs" she should be forced to carry the child and deal with it until age 18. Because a 14 or 15 can not be trusted to use good judgement, we don't give them a driver's license, or allow them to drink, or vote or, in most cases to handle a cash register, or let them handle a firearm. Yet they should be forced to carry a pregnancy to term, and raise a child, though Ill-prepared to do so. Perhaps it is a just punishment to many, and it's as simple as "you play, you pay", yet, if that same person commits a crime, we hesitate to try them as an adult, and try them as what they are, a child.
----
A baby should be a blessing, not a curse, and how many unwanted children end up abused as well as unwanted---------go visit any prison, and find out how many of the inmates started off as an unwanted pregnancy and went through life being reminded that they were a mistake on a daily basis.

[edenooch]

01:43 AM on 03/05/2012

hey lady. no one controls being born. but those inmates controlled their own destiny into jail.
just because some one comes from a broken home dont mean they wont make somethnig of them selves...the struggle is real and hard but not impossible

[sallybutt45]

01:59 AM on 03/05/2012

Hey, mister, I didn't say that some people don't overcome hardships, what I am saying is that why mess up a kid because somebody forced you to have it!

[kbeth]

06:01 AM on 03/05/2012

People who are mature, responsible and ready to raise a child will usually raise a mature responsible adult. People who are not often raise kids who end up in prison, Much better to have a child because you want it and are prepared to care for it.

[Thaag Tidestalker]

07:32 AM on 03/05/2012

"A baby should be a blessing, not a curse"

Amen. Babies are not "punishment" but PEOPLE. Something that these "personhood amendment" proponents seem to miss. The pro-life movement has a ton of money. They should be preventing abortions through pouring money into contraception, comprehensive sex education, and the support of single mothers and their children. They are not pro-life. They are pro-suffering. They hate women and don't even consider us to be fully human.

[sallybutt45]

07:46 AM on 03/05/2012

Excellent observation. I have often, throughout the years, realized how little women and children (once they've left the womb) are honored in our society. Every time they cut programs that help women get on their feet, they are hurting both women and their children and offer nothing in the way of improving their lot. They hate any kind of welfare for the poor, and the working poor, but just love Corporate Welfare-------------someone explain it to me.

[CathrynF]

11:57 PM on 03/04/2012

This little info blurb doesn't give the full story. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, police in riot gear hauled off peaceful protesters. Article and video here:
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2012/mar/04/tdmain07-hundreds-demonstrate-for-womens-rights-at-ar-1738569/

[Devin DeWeil]

12:50 AM on 03/05/2012

Yup because peaceful protesters make them look bad.

[MosesDidItBest]

11:43 PM on 03/04/2012

Let the witch trials begin.

I suspect everyone knows how well prohibition worked. The war on drugs a dismal failure.

This will only lead to horrendous stories of back alley abortions with tragic results.

[MosesDidItBest]

11:41 PM on 03/04/2012

In the 21st Century the GOP is making 13th Century arguments and passing 17th Century laws.