Rosario Dawson Arrested During Democracy Spring Protest
Actress and celebrity Bernie Sanders supporter Rosario Dawson was among the dozens arrested on Friday (April 15) for crowding and obstruction during protests and sit-ins at Democracy Spring.
According to The Guardian, the actress was given a $50 fine and will not face any criminal charges. Dawson was present on Capitol Hill for the movement known as Democracy Spring, a bipartisan group that pushes for fair voting and for Congress and removal of laws that complicate the voting process such as the much-debated court decision for Citizens United. In 2010, the Supreme Court upheld the use of corporate expenditures for political candidates in the case Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission.
Dawson said she and the other protesters were treated with respect before and after the arrest. She was also warned multiple times not to cross police lines as she took part in a sit-in on the Congress steps.
“The police were really great with us, really lovely,” she said. “I have to say that is not the case for so many people: Dreamers, Black Lives Matter activists, so many people are not seeing this kind of courageousness … I hope that officers across the nation can take heed of that and recognize that the peaceful protests that are going around the nation should also be treated in the same way as we are being treated today.”
Dawson who has been vocal in her support for Bernie Sanders, took part in the Democratic candidate’s rally in Manhattan earlier this week. The actress is also standing behind the importance of one person, one vote debate.
“We’re putting ourselves on the line for what a lot of people across America and I think across the planet really want to be able to see happen in America, which is one person, one vote, and to really take the money out of politics so that we can have fair elections where … we can have true options for our leadership, which we have not been able to see,” she said.
Up to 400 Democracy Spring protestors were arrested on Monday (April 11) as they called for equal representation in Congress and the end of voter suppression. The group’s journey began last month with a 140-mile march from Philadelphia to Washington.
