Protestors who arrived the night before slept in the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church. Buses arriving Tuesday morning deposited their riders at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, which is two blocks from the Supreme Court. There, they were given instructions on committing civil disobedience (CD) and the potential consequences of getting arrested. For most, it’s simply a matter of standing in line to be processed and paying $50 cash for what is the equivalent of a traffic ticket. For others — juveniles, those with outstanding warrants, any who do not remain non-violent — the consequences were more costly. A legal support team was available to help those who needed it.
In the decade that Title VII was written, committing civil disobedience had major consequences. Today it’s something of a right of passage. Some protestors under 18 brought a parent with them in order to participate in CD because police will only release juveniles into the custody of a parent. Despite the overall youth of the crowd, there were many grey-hairs among the protestors; fewer among those arrested.
Pride at Work, an official constituency group of the AFL-CIO, e-mailed its activists to rally at 8:00 a.m. on the steps of the Supreme Court. It didn’t last long. When the police found two unattended packages on the sidewalk, everyone was moved two blocks away, including protestors, lawyers, those waiting in line to go inside, and counter protestors. It was mid-morning before they were allowed back on the sidewalk in front of the Court. Barricades kept them away from the steps.
There were only a couple dozen counter-protestors but they too came early. Half a dozen stood on a corner with signs saying "GOD STILL HATES FAGS" that quoted scripture. A different dozen joined the rally with signs saying "SEX NOT GENDER." They were mostly ignored.
As is usual when oral arguments in controversial cases end, lawyers and parties for both sides gathered on the Plaza for a press conference. Credentialed media were the only ones allowed up the steps. When the questions were finished and the photo ops over, the police shooed the press back down to await the next press conference.
After the rally ended, about 150 people sat in the street in front of the Supreme Court asking to be arrested. The Capitol Hill police obliged them. Each officer was given ten colored armbands to put on the wrists of arrestees after collecting IDs from each one. After each group was marched onto the Capitol grounds, a photo was taken of the arrestee and arresting officer. The numbers and composition of the group in the street shifted a bit as people changed their minds both ways. Once the arresting officer approached with armbands, the decision was made.
© 2019 Jo Freeman for SeniorWomen.com
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