Protesters Arrested At Trump Tower After Supreme Court Pick

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Seven protesters were arrested Monday night in front of Trump Tower following President Donald Trump's nomination of D.C. Court of Appeals Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court, an NYPD spokesman said.

Four men and three women were arrested shortly after 9 p.m. when they blocked the road in front of the Fifth Avenue skyscraper, an NYPD spokesman said. The people arrested were charged with disorderly conduct, the spokesman said.

Among the people arrested was City Councilman Jumaane Williams, who is currently running to be the next Lieutenant Governor of New York State, according to reporters at the scene. The councilman's communication director tweeted photos of Williams being taken into custody wearing a "resist" t-shirt and a "stay woke" pin.

Other protesters held handmade signs with messages such as "reclaim SCOTUS," "dissent is patriotism" and "affirm LGBTQ rights," according to reports from the scene.

Trump nominated Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on Monday night to fill the vacant seat following the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kavanaugh, 53, a federal appeals court judge who was a former aide to President George W. Bush, has a conservative record, top qualifications and deep connections with Republican legal groups, The New York Times reported. When Bush nominated him 15 years ago to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Democrats balked, saying he was too biased in favor of Republicans. He faced a tough confirmation hearing and was ultimately confirmed three years later.

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