Over a dozen transgender activists were arrested Thursday for illegally protesting in a women’s bathroom near the office of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) on Capitol Hill, Axios reported.
The protest comes in response to Johnson’s Nov. 20 announcement prohibiting biological males from using women’s "restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms" at the Capitol.
Demonstrators held a sign that read "Flush Bathroom Bigotry" while chanting, "Speaker Johnson! Nancy Mace! Our bodies are no debate!" and "Democrats, grow a spine! Trans rights are on the line," videos show. Capitol Police arrested the activists for violating Washington, D.C., code against crowding, obstructing, or incommoding.
"Speaker Johnson! Nancy Mace! Our bodies are no debate!"
"Democrats grow a spine! Trans lives are on the line!" pic.twitter.com/m80IIlOTYM
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) December 5, 2024
The Gender Liberation Movement, which organized the sit-in, said the protest "sets an example of the righteous defiance and solidarity needed under a second Trump administration."
HAPPENING NOW: DOZENS OF TRANS ADVOCATES AND ALLIES STAGE 'BATHROOM SIT-IN" ACROSS SPEAKER JOHNSON OFFICE FOR IMPLEMENTING MACE’S BIGOTED BATHROOM POLICY WITH BANNERS THAT SAY 'STOP PISSING ON OUR RIGHTS" AND 'FLUSH BATHROOM BIGOTRY" DEMANDING AN END TO ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION. pic.twitter.com/OvbjH6pMJi
— GENDER LIBERATION MOVEMENT (@genderlib4all) December 5, 2024
Rep. Nancy Mace (R., S.C.) first introduced the resolution, which she said was prompted by the arrival of Representative-elect Sarah McBride, a biological man who identifies as a female.
"Protecting women and girls isn’t bigotry. It’s common sense," Mace said. "I will stand in the brink to protect women’s rights from the far left radicals trying to erase us."
"We're not anti-anyone. We're pro-woman," Johnson said when announcing the policy. "I think it's an important policy for us to continue. It's always been, I guess, an unwritten policy, but now it's in writing."
McBride slammed Mace’s resolution as "a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing," although McBride later agreed to follow Johnson’s policy.