Protesters occupied part of the Russell Senate Office Building on Thursday shortly after the Senate accepted a pair of articles presented by House Democrats officially opening the impeachment trial against President Trump.
The demonstrators are a part of “Remove Trump,” a progressive group associated with Women’s March, March for Truth and Indivisible. They stood under the Russell Rotunda, a popular live shot location for TV reporters covering Senate hearings.
The originally silent protesters spread out a flag with the words “Remove Trump” and then began chanting. Protesters eventually made it inside Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) office.
Videos and images on social media showed Capitol Police confronting the demonstrators, though it’s unclear if any of them were arrested. In one image, Capitol Police allegedly singled out a disabled 85-year-old woman as they attempted to defuse another group of protesters in the Hart Senate Office Building.
According to Capitol Police, six people were arrested and charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding at the Russell building about 1 p.m. An hour later, police arrested five people at the atrium of the Hart building for similar charges.
Updated 4 p.m.