Capitol Police on Monday arrested 80 people in Washington, D.C. during protests against the GOP’s Senate bill for repealing and replacing ObamaCare, according to Sinclair-affiliate WJLA.
WJLA reported that 59 people were arrested at the Senate Office Buildings while 21 more were arrested at the House.
Capitol Hill Police reportedly took away some of the demonstrators in zip ties and pushed some reporters back from protest areas in the Senate hallways.
“Paul Ryan don’t you dare take away our Medicare,” protesters chanted outside Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) House office.
Photos of the protests posted on Instagram Monday showed demonstrators holding signs that read “Trump-care = death.”
Some Twitter users on Monday praised the protesters, who largely targeted Republican senators with their dissatisfaction.
Jail support for all the #Healthcare heroes who were arrested in the #KilltheBill protests across DC today. #ProtectOurCare pic.twitter.com/MmeqsZMjma
— Chloe Wildner ❄️ (@chloewildner) July 10, 2017
Sadly, this is what we need: Health care protests erupt at Republican senators' Capitol Hill offices - CNN https://t.co/8sgcU3rRI2
— Ken Hunt (@kenvhunt) July 10, 2017
Other people on the social media platform shared videos from the protests, which began the same day Congress returned from its latest recess.
LOUD protests against GOP health care bill outside Senate offices right now, this one outside @JeffFlake's office. Arrests appear imminent: pic.twitter.com/n4yZCi4cj4
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 10, 2017
Protests and arrests outside of Speaker's office. #Healthcare #Wealthcare #Trumpcare pic.twitter.com/X2yNf2fnQ4
— Owen Dodd (@ODodder) July 10, 2017
WJLA reported that more than 100 people from 21 states were expected to participate in Monday’s protests, according to a press release about them.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) on Monday said that Senate Republicans hope to unveil a new draft of their Obamacare repeal and replace legislation this week before a vote next week.
“We’re just trying to get a good picture of what the alternatives are, and hopefully we’ll be prepared to take the bill up and vote on it,” he told reporters, according to The Hill.
Republicans have a 52-seat majority in the Senate and can only lose two of their party’s senators and still be capable of having Vice President Mike Pence breaking a tie.
About 10 GOP senators have said they will oppose the current version of the bill, and no Democrats are expected to vote in favor of it.
