Breaking--> 5 US reps arrested - Including John Lewis

[Undercurrent]

TV MSNBC

[mikelgb]

1. no shit?

[Raine1967]

2. For what?

[TheDebbieDee]

4. Protesting outside the Sudanese Embassy......

to bring media attention to the plight of the Sudanese people.

[Undercurrent]

3. All I know so far

is that was Darfur related

[Ian David]

5. See also: Several members of Congress arrested moments ago outside Sudanese embassy in DC

Several members of Congress arrested moments ago outside Sudanese embassy in DC (Video coming)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3850693&mesg_id=3850693

[Soylent Brice]

10. saw your original thread. can't access twitter here

good job staying on top of all these.

any other links available yet?

[Ian David]

17. Just got an AP link

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5glagPfQrgk97YDrUwT0cfRWd1RaAD97QSR5O0

[Soylent Brice]

24. sorry about the delay.

stupid work.

thanks for the link!

[Undercurrent]

6. deleted

error about where they were arrested...

[Clio the Leo]

7. "Well have you been to jail .... certainly Lord!"

"Will you fight for freedom? Certainly, certainly certainly lord!"

That's my hero!!!











Certainly Lord

Do you want your freedom?
"Certainly, Lord"
Do you want your freedom?
"Certainly, Lord"
Do you want your freedom?
"Certainly, Lord"
Certainly, Certainly, Certainly Lord

Will you march for your rights?
"Certainly, Lord"
Will you march for your rights?
"Certainly, Lord"
Will you march for your rights?
"Certainly, Lord"
Certainly, Certainly, Certainly, Lord

Will you go to jail?
"Certainly, Lord"
Will you go to jail?
"Certainly, Lord"
Will you go to jail?
"Certainly, Lord"
Certainly, Certainly, Certainly, Lord

Jail over bail?
"Certainly, Lord"
Jail over bail?
"Certainly, Lord"
ail over bail?
"Certainly, Lord"
Certainly, Certainly, Certainly, Lord

[Undercurrent]

8. Thank you for the photos.

I love John Lewis. He is a hero to me, and millions of others.

[Clio the Leo]

9. Wait, I forgot one....

[jefferson_dem]

18. And mine.

Actually, I got to shake his hand (again) at a local neighborhood parade on Saturday. I'm sad to hear about this latest brush with the heavy-handed authorities.

[Raine1967]

11. He's my Rep! Others arrested too, LA Times has a link...

I saw him Saturday Afternoon!

Thank you Mr. Lewis for all you do!

From http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-darfur-protest,1,3567107.story

Eight activists protesting the expulsion of aid groups in Darfur have been arrested in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington.

Humanitarian leaders and U.S. lawmakers, including Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison and Maryland Rep. Donna Edwards, were led away from the embassy in handcuffs Monday after crossing a police line.

[babylonsister]

12. I heard Lynne Woolsey's name, too. nt

[Raine1967]

15. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA)

No confirm yet...

[Clio the Leo]

13. He's my rep too!!!

Well ... except I live in TN, but I can share him, right? lol

[Raine1967]

14. Indeed we can share!

When I moved down here, I really wanted to move into his district... That actually a pre-requsite!

[Undercurrent]

16. Thank you so much for the info.

I've been in and out of the house, and have missed any TV updates that may have occurred.

[jefferson_dem]

20. I just commented that I saw him on Saturday too.

I love the Inman Park Festival... :)

[Raine1967]

22. you too?

I didn't know that you were here in the ATL!

[Fleshdancer]

19. Arrested for protesting? Why?

I want to know what the charges are.

ON EDIT: I found out it was because they crossed a police line. Good for them. :thumbsup:

[Undercurrent]

21. More...

After a brief series of speeches in front of the Sudanese embassy, the Massachusetts Democrat and four other members of Congress stood quietly and refused to move to the other side of yellow police tape -- a deliberate act they knew would get them arrested. After giving the small group of demonstrators three chances to move, police approached the lawmakers and activists and bound their wrists loosely behind their backs with plastic restraints...

McGovern -- forgoing a tie and belt, which would have been confiscated before his lock-up -- noted that he had been arrested three years ago for demonstrating for action in Darfur, where millions have died from sectarian violence and where the State Department has declared a genocide is underway.

The lawmakers -- who also included Democratic Representatives John Lewis of Georgia, Donna Edwards of Maryland, Lynn Woolsey of California, and Keith Ellison of Minnesota -- want the Sudanese government to allow international aid organizations back into Darfur to ease the escalating humanitarian crisis there. Further, the group wants President Obama to pressure the international community -- including China, which has influence in Sudan -- to force the Sudanese government into action...

The protestors were taken to a police station in northwest Washington, where they were expected to be fined $100 and released within a few hours.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/04/mcgovern_other.html

[handmade34]

23. news

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Washington police arrested five US lawmakers Monday during a protest outside the Sudanese embassy over the humanitarian crisis in Sudan's Darfur region.

Organizers said the five, who included Democratic representative John Lewis, a leading veteran of the US civil rights movement, were detained for civil disobedience after refusing a police order to disperse.

The protestors called on the government of Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir to reverse a recent decision to expel international humanitarian groups from Darfur and end what they called his use of starvation as a weapon of war in the region.

"President Beshir has a choice," said another Democratic lawmaker, Jim McGovern, before the group was arrested.

"He can choose to let the humanitarian groups return, he can choose to end the violence and the killing, and he can choose serious negotiations for a just and lasting peace, or he can continue to commit crimes against humanity," he said.

The other detained lawmakers were Donna Edwards, Keith Ellison and Lynn Woolsey, all members of President Barack Obama's Democratic Party.

[crimsonblue]

25. This occurred in DC?!

Maybe I'm completely off base here, but I thought that Congressman were immune to arrests for petty things while they were acting in an official capacity. Wouldn't this qualify?