Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was arrested at an abortion rally in the wake of the Roe v Wade ruling, but while many people have praised the politician, others have accused her of faking the bust.
AOC and a number of Democratic Congress members took part in a demonstration outside of the US Capitol yesterday, July 19, before heading to the Supreme Court building to protest against the loss of abortion rights.
As reported by The Guardian, the group – which included Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush, among others – sat down in the street as 'an act of peaceful civil disobedience' before police descended on the scene.
A clip of AOC being taken away by authorities was shared online, with the 32-year-old activist writing on Twitter: "Today, Rep. AOC was arrested along with other members of Congress outside the Supreme Court for protesting in support of abortion rights."
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US Capitol Police also confirmed arrests had been made, writing: "We made a total of 35 arrests for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding (DC Code § 22–1307). That arrest number includes 17 Members of Congress."
While there's plenty of evidence to support the claim, many people have taken to social media to accuse AOC of faking the arrest due to the fact that she raised her fist in the air as she was taken away despite initially appearing to wear handcuffs.
"How were you able to wave to the crowd at about 10 seconds in, if your hands were tied?" wrote one commenter, while another said, "Those invisible handcuffs are literally terrifying."
A third added, "You almost had me fooled till you raised your fist and I realised you were just trying to make it look like you were arrested. So fake!"
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However, people were quick to point out that she could have either placed her hands behind her back while walking away or been asked to do so my the officers.
"Where did anyone claim her hands were bound?" asked one, while a second wrote, "You don’t need to be cuffed to be arrested."
Just in case that weren't enough for the accusers, AOC also shared a picture of the arrest paperwork on her Instagram Story – take a look:
The incident arrives less than a month after the US Supreme Court overturned the 50-year-old Roe v Wade ruling that granted millions of women the legal right to abortion.
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The decision is one that has long been condemned by pro-choice groups, who argue abortion should be viewed as a human right.
In a statement released following the court's ruling, Planned Parenthood wrote: "The Supreme Court has taken away our right to abortion and overturned Roe v Wade, opening the floodgates for states across the country to ban abortion.
"The court has failed us all — but this is far from over."
Following this week's protest, a number of Congress members who were arrested also expressed their feelings about the ongoing situation.
That includes Omar, who wrote on Twitter: "Today I was arrested while participating in a civil disobedience action with my fellow Members of Congress outside the Supreme Court.
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"I will continue to do everything in my power to raise the alarm about the assault on our reproductive rights!"
Meanwhile, Carolyn Maloney said: “I have the privilege of representing a state where reproductive rights are respected and protected – the least I can do is put my body on the line for the 33 million women at risk of losing their rights."
Topics: Politics, US News, Social Media
