RNS: Rev. William Barber arrested in Capitol Rotunda after praying against Republican-led budget

[Dennis Donovan]

RNS - Rev. William Barber arrested in Capitol Rotunda after praying against Republican-led budget

(RNS) — While arrests of protesters at the Capitol is not unusual, the response to Barber’s prayer was unusually dramatic: After issuing verbal warnings, dozens of officers expelled everyone in the Rotunda — including credentialed press.

Jack Jenkins
April 28, 2025



WASHINGTON (RNS) — Prominent pastor and anti-poverty activist the Rev. William Barber and two others were arrested while praying in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday (April 28), an action he said would be part of a recurring series of demonstrations aimed at challenging the Republican-led budget bill.

The arrests occurred roughly 15 minutes after Barber, the Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Steve Swayne, director of St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, started praying in the Rotunda as dozens of police stood nearby, some prepared with plastic handcuffs. The three took turns praying, lamenting potential budget cuts to social safety-net programs such as Medicaid, often chanting together: “Against the conspiracy of cruelty, we plead the power of your mercy.

“When we cannot depend on the courts and the legislative power of human beings, we can still depend on … the power of your love and your mercy and your truth,” Barber said in the Rotunda as police began to surround him.


While arresting protesters at the Capitol is not unusual, the response to Barber’s prayer was unusually dramatic: After issuing verbal warnings, dozens of officers expelled everyone in the Rotunda — including credentialed press — and shut the doors, obscuring any view. Press and others were then instructed to leave the floor entirely.

/snip

[FirstLight]

1. No that doesn't look Authoritarian at all

Nothing to see here folks.. move along, we're just selling you down the river ...we have a mandate..

[Clouds Passing]

2. Who'd have thought capital police would arrest peaceful clergy, after being attacked by violent j6ers.

[dem4decades]

3. Are these the same cops that Trump's goons beat 4 years ago?

[Hekate]

4. They shoulda cleared their visit with the Faith Office & engaged in some speakin' in tongues ...

…and maybe a bit of holy rolling in the aisles praising their orange savior. No arrests needed, and I am sure $trump meme coins would have been passed around like communion wafers.

[Ms. Toad]

5. My guess is that it was a planned act of civil disobedience -

and that they expected that they might be arrested.

Good trouble, in the words of John Lewis.

[bottomofthehill]

7. Thank You Mrs Toad.

You are correct. Reverend Barber went with the expectation of being arrested.

[Crunchy Frog]

6. Weren't the republicans just whining about people in Europe

getting arrested for praying? Because it was some terrible infringement on free speech? (I think it was actually about abortion clinic harassment).

I guess it's OK now?

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Yeah. The whole article is worth reading; it notes that in 2023, the right held a service there

"far-right musician and activist Sean Feucht led an evening worship service that included participation from lawmakers such as Rep. Lauren Boebert"; "Feucht’s event was significantly longer than Barber’s brief prayer session, and while police occasionally spoke with participants, no one was arrested".

[electric_blue68]

9. Thank You Rev Barber & collegues.

[Meowmee]

10. Awful