Capitol Police arrest 43 protesters at ‘die-in’ in Senate office building

WASHINGTON — U.S. Capitol Police arrested dozens of protesters objecting to cuts to Medicaid in the Senate Republicans’ health care bill.

Around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, disability rights activists staged a planned “die-in” in the Russell Senate Office Building, located a block away from the Capitol. The demonstrators filled the hallway outside the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Many of the protesters got out of their wheelchairs and blocked the hallway – an unlawful act, the Capitol Police noted. Capitol Police arrested 43 demonstrators after officers warned them they could not block the hallway, said police spokeswoman Eva Malecki.

More