Rev. William Barber Arrested While Praying Against Budget Cuts in Capitol

Prominent pastor and civil rights activist Rev. William Barber II, along with Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Steve Swayne, was arrested in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda after praying in protest against a Republican-led budget proposal that they said would drastically cut social safety-net programs like Medicaid and school lunches. The demonstration, organized by Barber's advocacy group Repairers of the Breach, was intended to launch a series of Moral Monday protests highlighting the moral implications of proposed budget cuts on low-income Americans. Capitol Police charged the trio with crowding, obstructing, and incommoding, stating that demonstrations—including group praying—are prohibited in congressional buildings. The arrests came about 15 minutes after the group began praying, with police issuing multiple warnings before detaining them and clearing the Rotunda, including credentialed press. Barber, who has a history of nonviolent protest, described the police response as unusually dramatic but remained committed to continued action. He emphasized the protest's focus on compassion and justice, aiming to draw public attention to the impact of the proposed cuts.