Congressman Hank Johnson Arrested At Voting Rights Protest In DC

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, a Democrat representing Georgia's 4th Congressional District, was among several men arrested during a voting rights protest Thursday afternoon outside a U.S. Senate office building.

He was taken into custody — along with nine others — after Capitol Police warned them they were demonstrating without a permit and blocking the entrance to the building.

"Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) was arrested along with a group of Black male voting rights activists protesting against Senate inaction on voting rights legislation and filibuster reform," his office said in a statement. "It was also in response to voter suppression bills and laws throughout the county, including Georgia, that target students, the elderly and people of color."

.@BlackCaucus I was arrested today protesting against Senate inaction on voting rights legislation & filibuster reform. In the spirit of my dear friend and mentor – the late Congressman John Lewis – I was getting in #goodtrouble pic.twitter.com/JjN51mRpaC
— Rep. Hank Johnson (@RepHankJohnson) July 22, 2021

Johnson is the second House Democrat to be arrested for participating in a demonstration advocating for voting rights in the last week. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), the Democratic chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, was arrested July 15 after participating in a voting rights protest that ended in a march inside the Senate Hart Office Building atrium, CNN reported.

Johnson was speaking at a rally organized by the Black Voters Matter group, aimed at pressuring Congress to pass two federal voting rights bills: the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Eva Malecki, Capitol Police's communications director, told USA Today that 10 people were arrested for "unlawfully demonstrating" outside of the Hart building and that each was charged with crowding, obstructing or causing an inconvenience.

"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," Johnson's office said.