D.C. voting rights supporters protesting on the Hill today. Photo courtesy DC Vote.

Today on Capitol Hill, a number of D.C. voting rights activists protested a hearing on legislation that would ban the use of local D.C. taxpayer funds on abortions. The ban, which was lifted by Democrats in 2009, specifically applies to federal taxpayer funding of abortion, but also includes local D.C. funds because of the city’s standing as something of a federal colony.

According to DC Vote, which organized the protest, some 14 voting rights advocates were detained after they stood up during the hearing with gags on their mouths. The gags represented the fact that no D.C. residents were allowed to testify on the measure — even D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton was prevented from speaking at the hearing.

Antonette Russell, one of the protestors, tweeted after being detained: “I feel so disgusted!…and violated! A day in the life of a Washingtonian. Shit.” Yep, that about sums it up.