Georgia Senator Arrested at State Capitol Building During #CountEveryVote Rally

Georgia Sen Nikema Williams was among several people arrested at the Capitol building in Atlanta on November 13 during a protest calling for every vote to be counted in governorship race between Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp.

Williams, senator for Georgia’s 39th District, was detained by Capitol Police inside the building, telling reporters: “I stood peacefully next to my constituents because they wanted their voices to be heard, and now I’m being arrested.” Williams said she was being arrested because she did not disperse and leave the floor, adding that she had been there since 9 am as the legislature was in special session.

Fox 5 reported that Williams was among at least 15 people arrested at the protest. She was held in Fulton County Jail for more than six hours, according to the National Domestic Workers Alliance, a non-profit for which Williams acts as deputy political director.

Williams was released from custody later in the evening and told media: “I showed up at the Capitol today for a special session to take care of the citizens of Georgia. I saw I had constituents protesting for their voices to be heard. There are countless Georgians who cast their ballots and still don’t feel like their voices are heard. I joined them down on the floor, and I was singled out as a black female senator standing in the rotunda with constituents."

She added that she was “incredibly proud” and would "stand with the citizens of Georgia to demand that their votes be counted.” Credit: National Domestic Workers Alliance via Storyful