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Mary Cheh, Several Others Arrested At Capitol Hill Protest

By: Patrick Madden // May 5, 2011
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Eight women in all were arrested at the protest of the House bill banning D.C. from using local funds for abortions.
Patrick Madden
Eight women in all were arrested at the protest of the House bill banning D.C. from using local funds for abortions.

Council member Mary Cheh and seven other women were arrested right outside the U.S. Capitol Wednesday.

Its the latest attempt by city leaders to draw attention to D.C.'s lack of autonomy.

Hours after the Republican-led House of Representatives passed a bill permanently banning D.C from funding abortions, activists staged a protest on Capitol Hill.

The city's female leaders led the way. All three female members of the D.C. Council delivered impassioned speeches, including Ward 3 representative Mary Cheh.

"Now it's time to show that we are not going to be humiliated," Cheh said. "We are going to stand up for D.C. -- who will join me in the street?"

The council member led a group of seven other women onto Constitution Avenue to block traffic. Capitol police eventually arrested everyone.

Last month Mayor Gray and 40 others were arrested on Capitol Hill in a similar demonstration. Another protest is scheduled for next week.

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