The U.S. Capitol Police arrested 130 protesters in the Cannon House Office Building Tuesday as they called for a ceasefire between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas.
A group called Mennonite Action posted photos and videos on social media Tuesday afternoon as dozens of members gathered in the Cannon building’s rotunda. The House notably canceled votes for the day due to inclement weather.
According to the group, its members were praying and singing in the rotunda before the arrests began.
“A group of people legally entered the Cannon House Office Building after they went through screening,” a Capitol Police spokesperson told the Washington Examiner in a statement.
However, the spokesperson noted, “demonstrations are not allowed inside Congressional Buildings, so when they started to protest and refused to stop, we began arresting them. Arrests are ongoing.”
Police said about 130 people were arrested after illegally protesting.
“That’s right! Even as Mennonites are getting arrested in the Cannon building, we are continuing to sing in police custody!” the activist organization shared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, around 1:30 p.m.
Mennonite Action’s website summarizes its plans on Tuesday to “peacefully demonstrate for a permanent ceasefire” while delivering a petition to the House.
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The war between Israel and Hamas, which was prompted by the latter’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israeli civilians, has lasted more than 100 days.
The demonstration comes as a group of congressional and federal agency staffers prepare to engage in a walkout Wednesday to mark the “100th day since Israel laid siege to Gaza.” The walkout will serve as a “Day of Mourning,” according to an anonymous group of congressional staffers.
