Photo courtes of #allofus2016

Photo courtesy of All Of Us 2016

A dozen demonstrators were arrested this morning at a sit-in that took place at Speaker Paul Ryan’s office. Twenty-five people showed up to demand that Ryan “publicly reject Donald Trump and disown the 50 years of dog whistle racism that led to Trump’s nomination,” according to a release from the group.

The protest began at 9:45 a.m., according to Todd Zimmer, a spokesperson for the group.

“For decades now the Republican Party’s electoral strategy has played on voters’ fears and prejudices,” said Waleed Shahid, founder of All Of Us 2016, a new campaign that’s hosting the sit-in. “They use coded racial appeals to divide us. They point the finger at immigrants, Muslims, black youth, and anyone else they can scapegoat. And while we’re blaming each other, a ruling class of oligarches and billionaries have been rigging the system to benefit only themselves.”

The Capitol Police said that 12 demonstrators were arrested and charged with crowding, obstructing, or incommoding. According to Zimmer, they “refused to move from in front of Paul Ryan’s door when asked” by the Capitol Police. Those who moved were not arrested, but officials cleared everyone from the Longworth Building by 10:35 a.m., Zimmer said.

Ryan has yet to respond to the group, according to the release.

Filed Under: demonstrators, donald trump, paul ryan, protest, sit-in, trump,