Rep. Hank Johnson among demonstrators arrested at voting rights protest

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) was arrested on Thursday, along with other demonstrators, at a voting rights protest outside the Capitol.

Johnson was arrested outside the Hart Senate Office building while attending the “Brothers Day of Action on Capitol Hill” votings right protest organized by Black Votes Matter, The Washington Post reported.

Johnson’s spokesperson Andy Phelan confirmed the arrest to The Hill and told The Post that Johnson was protesting “voter suppression bills and laws throughout the country, including Georgia, that target students, the elderly and people of color.”

“In the spirit of his dear friend and mentor — the late Congressman John Lewis — Rep. Johnson was getting in ‘good trouble’ fighting for and protecting civil and voting rights for all Americans,” Phelan added.

The demonstration was in support of the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Democrats are trying to get both measures through Congress and say the acts are meant to protect voting rights.

U.S. Capitol Police told The Hill that people at the protest were arrested for “unlawfully demonstrating outside of the Hart Senate Office Building.”

The ten people who were handcuffed were charged with “crowding, obstructing or incommoding,” according to police.

Johnson is not the first representative this month to be arrested while protesting for voting rights.

Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) was arrested last week after she took a group of protesters into the Senate building.

Both Johnson and Beatty were heard chanting “the filibuster must go” before their arrests. 

Beatty was only arrested after the group was asked three times to disperse by police.

“We will not be turned around. We will keep walking. We will fight for freedom. We will fight for our right to vote!” Beatty tweeted on that day.

-Updated 1:52 p.m.