Hundreds arrested at Capitol while protesting for voting rights, minimum wage
Monday s action on the Hill constituted one of the largest mass-arrest nonviolent protests at the Capitol in recent memory.
People participate in a Poor People s Campaign demonstration in Washington, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. RNS photo by Jack Jenkins
August 2, 2021
They screamed in unison: “Thank you! We love you!”
The lone protester nodded, fist raised. The crowd erupted in applause.
It was a moment that played out again and again over the course of the afternoon. According to Capitol police, more than 200 faith-led demonstrators were arrested while praying, singing and protesting in the street, hoping to draw attention to voting rights and a slate of other issues participants argued impact the poor and low-wage workers.