Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., were mocked on Tuesday afternoon after pretending to be handcuffed after they were arrested for blocking traffic at a pro-abortion protest.
“We made a total of 35 arrests for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding (DC Code § 22–1307),” the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement posted to Twitter. “That arrest number includes 17 Members of Congress.”
The other lawmakers who were arrested are Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Rep. Madeline Dean (D-Pa.), Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Assistant Speaker of the House Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.).
As Omar and Ocasio-Cortez were escorted out of the area, they both held their hands behind their backs as if they had been handcuffed. A gesture that may have fooled some had AOC not raised one of her hands in a fist as she was led away.
Brit Hume, political analyst for Fox News, called Ocasio-Cortez “the queen of gestures.”
Conservative host Steven Crowder tweeted a video of the incident, writing “We can all see you’re not really in cuffs, dummy.”
Fox News Digital Editor Cameron Cawthorne posted a similar video of Omar following suit.
“Gee, as a lawmaker and representative of law in this country, I would have expected you to understand that you are entirely free to protest in support of abortion rights—as long as you aren’t blocking traffic while doing so. But go ahead, be proud of your childish arrest,” wrote Wikipedia cofounder Larry Sanger.
“AOC, while being calmly escorted by an officer, holding her hands behind her back pretending she is handcuffed is the most @AOC thing ever,” said Harry Khachatrian of the Washington Examiner.
“Politicians are ultimately all just failed actors,” wrote Grabien founder Tom Elliott.
Statistician Josh Jordan wrote, “Compare the video of AOC and Omar above showing they were clearly not handcuffed with the photos going viral on social media if you’re wondering why they pretended to be in handcuffs. And that’s why I’m cynical of just about everything these days… it’s all a show.”
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
