Eleven protesters from Arkansas were arrested outside Sen. John Boozman’s office in Washington D.C on July 10. There were 22 activists from Arkansas who protested the proposed healthcare bill, part of a larger action that included about 150 people from at least 18 states. At least 80 were arrested.
Groups of ten or more went to the offices of 13 senators and congressmen. The Arkansas group entered Sen. Boozman’s office and requested to speak with him, expressing frustration at not having been able to find him at his home offices during congressional breaks nor able to get him to hold town hall meetings.
When staffers said the senator was unavailable, members of the group began telling healthcare stories. Whoever was telling their story would say a sentence, pause, then the group would echo it loudly, and so on, until their story was done. Two staffers at their desks continued to work until one of the activists told them it was disrespectful not to listen to the people who came all the way from Arkansas to have their healthcare stories heard.
In between speakers, the group chanted “Kill the bill! Don’t kill us!” and “Trumpcare Kills!” After six or seven people told their stories, the group occupied the hall outside Boozman’s office, sat in a long line, and continued to chant and tell stories about how the proposed bill would be detrimental to their lives. Some spoke of how the bill would threaten their lives or those of their children and other family members.
Police and media arrived quickly, and within a few minutes, the police – despite using a bullhorn – fought to be heard over the protesters, ordering the group to clear the area. After several warnings, including warnings personally given to each protester, police arrested those who chose to remain.
About half of the Arkansas group was from Little Rock area. The others were from northwest and north central Arkansas, mostly members of Indivisible groups. Three of the 22 – Eureka Springs resident Harrie Farrow, Springdale resident Kati McFarland, and Sarah Bryan of Fayetteville – had also taken part in the June 28 protest action at Sen. Tom Cotton’s D.C office.
Bryan and McFarland were among the group from Arkansas who were arrested at the June event, and Farrow and McFarland were among those arrested July 10. Also arrested in July was Betty Adkins from the Eureka Springs area.
The arrests, for “obstructing, crowding, or incommoding,” took place in mid-afternoon. All 80 detainees were held in a mass group in plastic handcuffs in the center of the Capitol Police bus barn. The un-airconditioned space served as a makeshift processing center.
The only bathroom was a single port-a-potty out back. The Arkansas group – after receiving cold water throughout the afternoon and night – wasn’t released until shortly after midnight, after paying a $50 “post and forfeiture,” whereby a person charged with certain misdemeanors posts and simultaneously forfeits an amount of money, thereby obtaining full and final resolution of the criminal charge.