Women storm the Senate to demand release of children seized by Trump

Women led a protest in a Senate office building in Washington, D.C., demanding an end to the Trump policy of separating children and babies from their families at the border.

The event was billed as Women Disobey.

Political activist Winnie Wong explained the goal of the protest in a piece written for The Guardian: “We will put our bodies on the line to demand an end to the Trump administration’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy that automatically criminalizes undocumented immigrants. ”

“We will put our bodies on the line to demand the safety and freedom of the children being held in detention centers across the country. And we will put our bodies on the line until Congress sets in motion a plan to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency,” she concluded.

The new policy, announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions under orders from Trump, mandated prosecutions of all border crossers for the first time. This meant that children traveling with their parents would be separated from their families and detained.

Some of the children are infants and toddlers.

The protesters flooded into the main lobby of the Hart Senate office building, where all 100 U.S. Senators have their official offices.

They chanted “we care” and “where are the children.”

Speaking to the crowd, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), said, “What would it be like to have my breast-feeding child ripped away from me? This is deeply personal as a mother.”

There is at least one report of just that happening to a woman and her child. Trump has decried such reports as “phony stories of sadness.”

Immigration protesters taking over the Hart atrium. Capitol Police blocking reporters from getting close. pic.twitter.com/QIy5nwbk8L

— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) June 28, 2018

630 women in foil blankets are being arrested in Hart Office building now as they chant “Abolish ICE” and demand an end to family detention. #WOMENDISOBEY pic.twitter.com/k3J1lmqIPA

— Women's March (@womensmarch) June 28, 2018

Deafening chants of “We Care” and “where are the children” in Hart Senate building where 1,000 plus women are demanding action on family detention. #WomenDisobey pic.twitter.com/m6ZTckHRF5

— Molly Haigh (@mollyhaigh) June 28, 2018

Women are being arrested by the hundreds in Congress demanding an end to the criminalization of immigrants. #EndFamilyDetention #AbolishICE pic.twitter.com/ns5KC4FRlV

— Women's March (@womensmarch) June 28, 2018

Several Democratic officials supported the protesters, including Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal.

#WomenDisobey: Dems are showing up to support protesters. I’ve spotted @SenGillibrand, @SenMarkey, @RepJayapal, and @SenDuckworth – with her baby. pic.twitter.com/4hoOTWW5ix

— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) June 28, 2018

That’s Sen. Ed Markey meeting with protesters and cheering them on. Some are being arrested. Sen. Gillibrand and Rep. Jaya pal also in the crowd. pic.twitter.com/pBiefzQZie

— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) June 28, 2018

Republicans recently failed to pass legislation to address problems in the immigration system, while refusing to sign on to Democratic legislation addressing family separation.

Trump has referred to immigrants as “animals” and “rapists.”

American women are rising up in protest of his cruelty and brutality.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.