| Women Disobey | |
|---|---|
| End Family Detention · Abolish ICE Part ofProtests against the Trump administration family separation policy | |
.jpg) Protestors as they march towards the US Capitol | |
| Location | |
| Methods | Protest march, masscivil disobedience |
| Lead figures | |
| Arrests | |
| Arrested | 575–630 |
Women Disobey was a protest in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 2018. Theprotests against the Trump administration family separation policy were organized byWomen's March.[1] They took place in the streets around theRobert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building and inside theHart Senate Office Building. Following acts of masscivil disobedience, 575 people were arrested.[2][3]
The event was organized by several groups led by the organizers of the2017 and2018 Women's March.[1] Among the organizations involved in planning the protest were theBlack Women's Roundtable,CASA de Maryland,Center for Popular Democracy,MPower Change, and theUndocuBlack Network.[4]Linda Sarsour was one of the organizers of the event.[5]
In the lead-up to the event, organizers held direct action training sessions.[5]
Participants in the event were estimated to number in the thousands.[6] Organizers claimed that 2,500 women from 47 states were present at the protest.[4] They blocked streets around theRobert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building as they demanded "abolish ICE", theU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.[7]
Protesters began their march at theFreedom Plaza, continued to the Kennedy Building, and ended near theUS Capitol.[2] As they passed theTrump International Hotel, they shouted "Shame! Shame! Shame!"[1] Several politicians showed their support for the protests including SenatorElizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, SenatorKirsten Gillibrand of New York, RepresentativesNydia Velázquez of New York,Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, and SenatorTammy Duckworth of Illinois, who spoke while holding her 11-week-old daughter.[2][4]
Some of the protesters organized asit-in at the foot ofAlexander Calder'sMountains and Clouds sculpture located in the atrium of theHart Senate Office Building.[8] The protesters wore silver thermal blankets reminiscent ofmigrant children in detention.[2] TheUnited States Capitol Police arrested about 575 protesters,[9] including RepresentativePramila Jayapal ofWashington and actressSusan Sarandon.[4][10] Around 3 p.m. local time, police began arresting protesters in groups of about a dozen and escorted them out of the building.[3] It took nearly an hour for police to clear the building.[9] Participants in the event were inside the building for more than two hours.[8] Women's March announced that the total number of arrests was 630.[2]
