Representative Hank Johnson arrested during protest for the right to vote

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Johnson can be seen in the video with his hands tied behind his back while participating in a chant with other protesters shouting, ‘Whose streets are? Our streets. Whose house is it? Our house. He is one of 10 people who were arrested by Capitol Hill police for “unlawful protest” outside the Hart Senate office building and charged with crowding, obstructing or embarrassing.

“Today Congressman Hank Johnson was arrested along with a group of black suffrage activists protesting the Senate’s inaction on voting rights legislation and filibuster reform,” he said. Johnson’s office said in a statement to CNN.

The protest, the statement said, was also in response to restrictive voting laws across the country “which target students, the elderly and people of color. In the mind of his dear friend and mentor – the late member of the Congressman John Lewis – Rep. Johnson was in “good trouble” fighting and protecting the civil and voting rights of all Americans. “

Two prominent black activists were also arrested during the demonstration on Capitol Hill. A Color of Change spokesperson confirmed that Rashad Robinson, the organization’s president, had been arrested, and a Black Voters Matter spokeswoman confirmed that co-founder Cliff Albright had also been arrested.

Robinson said in a statement Thursday that “it was worth taking the risk of using our power to demand the protection of the voting rights of black people and all communities in our country.”

Johnson is the second lawmaker to be arrested in as many weeks while demonstrating for the right to vote. Representative Joyce Beatty, Democratic Chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus, was arrested on July 15 by Capitol Hill police after participating in a voting rights protest that culminated in a march inside the Senate atrium Hart Office Building.

Both protests focused on protecting voting rights and passing the For the People Act. Democratic legislation was passed by the House earlier this year, but was blocked by Republicans in the Senate in late June. Democrats pushed for the bill as a way to address the series of voting restrictions put forward by lawmakers in GOP states nationwide.

Eighteen states have enacted 30 new laws that make voting more difficult, according to a new tally from the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, which tracks state activity through July 14.

Among the most common provisions, according to the Brennan researchers: measures in seven states that expand the ability of officials to purge voters from registration lists or put voters at risk of having their names inappropriately removed. These laws were enacted in Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas and Utah, according to the center.

Three of the 18 states with new restrictions have passed general omnibus bills that cover a wide range of voting activities: Florida, Georgia and Iowa.

Biden and Democrats in Congress, Robinson said Thursday, “won their election on the promise of restoring access to voting rights and protecting black votes. But more than six months into this administration, we have yet to see real, meaningful action on voting rights. “

This story was updated with additional information on Thursday.

CNN’s Fredreka Schouten contributed to this report.

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