Today marks the 7th Day of the ongoing peaceful protest organized under the name Democracy Spring.
The sit-in has taken place in front of the Capitol building and has garnered attention due to the rising number of arrests by US Capitol police. The sit-in began on April 11 and was organized after a 10 day, 140 mile march from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.
The Democracy Spring movement seeks to protest the presence of big money in American elections and to incite change in policy. Their website states,
We will demand that Congress listen to the People and take immediate action to save our democracy. And we won’t leave until they do — or until they send thousands of us to jail, along with the unmistakable message that our country needs a new Congress, one that that will end the legalized corruption of our democracy and ensure that every American has an equal voice in government.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Images
Through Saturday, police have arrested over 900 protesters, according to USA Today. Among those arrested were actress Rosario Dawson, and Harvard law professor and former Democratic presidential candidate Larry Lessig.
The issue of campaign finance reform has been at the forefront of the primary elections. Many protestors held signs decrying the ruling that passed Citizens United, which lifted restrictions on campaign fundraising. Democracy Spring is also holding a rally and concert at Columbus Circle, in front of Union Station in Washington, D.C. today.
