Morning Roundup: Off To Jail Edition

Good morning, Washington. Last night, D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh was arrested along with several other women during a voting rights protest focused on the passage of H.R. 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. The demonstration, organized by DC Vote, saw Cheh and several others step onto Constitution Avenue, blocking access to the Russell Senate Office Building. (Councilmembers Yvette Alexander and Muriel Bowser were in attendance, but were not arrested -- Alexander reportedly missed the chance because she had to use the bathroom.)

“I am proud to join the people today and my colleagues on the Council who were arrested last month in standing up for Home Rule and against Congressional meddling in the District budget,” said Cheh in a statement released last night. “We must do everything we can at this critical juncture to oppose H.R. 3 and support the Budget Autonomy Act Delegate Norton has introduced.” The bill, which passed the house 251-175 with minimal Democratic support, doesn't appear to have much chance of getting out of the Senate, and the White House has already threatened to veto the measure should it do so. Cheh was released from Capitol Police headquarters around 11 p.m. More demonstrations are expected today, as 18 people previously arrested for similar civil disobedience make their court appearances. Our Martin Austermuhle has been tweeting updates from a rally outside the courthouse this morning.

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http://dcist.com/2011/05/morning_roundup_off_to_jail_edition .php

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