U.S. Capitol Police say 302 people were arrested Thursday for illegally protesting inside Senate office buildings against the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh.
The protesters had originally planned to protest on the Capitol steps. But after police blockaded the steps, protesters headed to the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building.
The vast majority of the arrests — 293 — took place on the Hart atrium floor. Another nine people were arrested for another demonstration on the fourth floor of the adjacent Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Videos posted on social media showed comedian Amy Schumer, who spoke earlier at an anti-Kavanaugh rally, apparently being arrested. Model Emily Ratajkowski said on Twitter that she was also detained and arrested.
The rallies come a day before senators are set to vote on Kavanaugh's nomination following an FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations waged against him by Christine Blasey Ford.
After a rally at the Supreme Court, more than a thousand demonstrators trekked to the Hart Senate Office Building, where they engaged in prolonged chants of "this is what democracy looks like!" and "our voice!" Some of the Senate offices posted signs in their windows in support.
At the Supreme Court rally, demonstrators cheered as it was announced that Heidi Heitkamp, a North Dakota Democrat facing a tough reelection battle in a red state, will vote no on Kavanaugh.
"No matter how this goes, they cannot keep us down," Schumer said earlier at the protest. "We will win. A vote for Kavanaugh is a vote saying women don't matter."
"Do not give up in this moment. Do not grow weary," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), told the crowd, gathered on what is an unseasonably hot and humid day in Washington.
Shaunna Thomas of UltraViolet says the Trump "Access Hollywood" tape is being run on a screen on the National Mall on Thursday.
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