Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D (NY-16) who represents parts of the Bronx and Westchester counties, has been released following his earlier arrest on Thursday, Jan. 20, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington D.C., his communications’ team has confirmed to Norwood News. The congressman was arrested, alongside at least 20 others, including faith leaders and youth who have been hunger striking to protect the country’s democracy, amid the ongoing debate in Congress over the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

 

The congressman released the following statement on Friday, Jan. 21.

“Throughout the last year, my first year in Congress, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we, as a people, can defend ourselves from the insidious steps elected officials across this country are taking to deny us our right to not only the ballot box but to a better, safer, and more equitable future,” he said.  “I’ve thought about our elders, whose sacrifices and determination, fuel me. I’ve thought about our ancestors, whose blood runs through me. I’ve thought about everything Black people, generation after generation, have already put on the line for our freedoms and rights. I’ve asked myself, ‘what would Fannie Lou Hamer say and do in this moment if she were still with us?’ ‘What about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or John Lewis or Claudette Colvin?’

 

He continued, “More than anything, they’d want legislation passed and signed into law. Short of that, they’d want actions, sit-ins, and marches. They’d be proud to see activists from groups such as Un-PAC, Until Freedom, Our Black Party, The Workers Circle, and Black Voters Matter giving this fight their all. They’d also want to disrupt the country until our cries are heard. I honor their legacies and their work— the thousands of steps they’ve marched on tired feet and the countless times they put their lives on the line so that their sons and daughters could live to fight another day. Without them, there is no me — the first Black Congressperson to represent my district in American history. So one thing must be made clear: I will not stand by and I will not stay quiet while the fate of our democracy continues to hang loosely by a thread that the Senate is hellbent on tearing apart.”

The congressman added, “With everything that has already been fought over and for, there should be no reason people have to take to the streets, go on hunger strikes, or plead with our government to act in their best interest. But that isn’t the case. The House did its part to pass critical voting rights legislation and legislation like the Build Back Better Act that would completely transform every community in America, particularly communities of color that have been historically left behind. Still, there are 52 members in the Senate who are a direct threat to our democracy and are standing in the way of progress. I had no choice but to join people and activists outside the Senate this week who are also tired and frustrated with our government. On Wednesday, ahead of the Senate’s shameful decision to leave our democracy in peril, we stood in the cold for hours trying to talk to any Senator who’d listen and we read over the bills that have been enacted across the country to make voting harder.”

 

Bowman concluded, “Yesterday, I was arrested alongside over 20 people, including youth hunger striking for our democracy. And I will do it again and again and again. I will keep doing everything in my power to bring attention to the crisis we are in and ensure our democracy functions in a manner that represents the people. Voting rights are on the line along with everything else we stand for. Our failure to act and save our democracy will have a devastating impact on every generation from here on out. I intend to do my part to prevent that from happening. The Senate’s vote is not the end of this battle. If we all don’t stand up right now and fight for our democracy, we might lose it forever. Now is the time to put it all on the line. And not just for a season. For the rest of our lives!”

 

Marcus Frias, director of communication for Bowman, had previously issued the following statement on his behalf on Thursday evening after his release, writing, “Rep. Bowman has been released and is now home with his family. He was proud to stand alongside activists this morning at the Capitol in support of voting rights and will continue doing everything he can to amplify the urgent need to protect our democracy.”

 

In an earlier, issued statement, Frias had written, “Today, Congressman Jamaal Bowman joined a voting rights non-violent direct action at the North Barricade of the U.S. Capitol Building and was arrested by the U.S. Capitol Police. We will provide more information and updates as we gather them.”

 

The US Capitol Police posted the following Tweet on Thursday. “Just before 12 p.m., demonstrators started blocking one side of the North Barricade outside the U.S. Capitol. We have already issued them three warnings. The demonstrators refused to move out of the doorway, so we are making arrests.”

 

Just before 12:00 pm, demonstrators started blocking one side of the North Barricade outside the U.S. Capitol.

We have already issued them three warnings.

The demonstrators refused to move out of the driveway, so we are making arrests. pic.twitter.com/GqlmyGQ1KD

— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) January 20, 2022

 

By 12:55 p.m. the Capitol Police reported making “a total of 27 arrests for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding.”

 

We made a total of 27 arrests for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding (DC Code § 22–1307), and one for violating U.S. Capitol Police Traffic Regulation Section 16.3 (Crowd Control).

The demonstration activity is all clear.

— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) January 20, 2022

 

The congressman’s arrest came a day after two Democrats (Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona) sided with the Senate GOP in rejecting the filibuster rule change, a tactic under which Republicans and two Democratic senators oppose the voting rights legislation, thereby blocking the passage of the all-important and hotly debated John Lewis Voting Rights Act in the Senate.

 

At least one protest had been held in New York City in recent days amid the 48-52 vote shortfall.

 

According to media reports, including CNN, the demonstration was organized to bring more attention to the precarious situation regarding the country’s democracy and the failure to pass the proposed legislation.

 

We were already starting to organize. Remember the Every Vote Counts/Count Every Vote protests? We had a protest here in NYC that was a couple of blocks long and went from Columbus Circle to the Flatiron Building a few days after Election Day. pic.twitter.com/kaVqSxglhz

— Mary Likes Postcards (@Marypostcards) January 19, 2022

 

Norwood News has reached out to the congressman’s office to ask if he anticipated getting arrested when he joined the protestors.

 

Bowman, a former teacher, who holds his seat for about a year now, had just announced, earlier on Thursday, the introduction of the Heating & Cooling Relief Act, saying, “The Heating and Cooling Relief Act introduced today by me and @SenMarkey will end energy poverty, clear utility debt, promote energy & climate justice and even save lives. We need this bill passed now so that people can save on utility costs and maintain their energy use.”

 

Join me and @SenMarkey now for our introduction of the Heating and Cooling Relief Act! https://t.co/U4BlWPvVoz

— Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) January 20, 2022

 

 

People should not be forced to use a space heater or a stove to stay warm during the winter. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of @RepBowman and @SenMarkey's Heating and Cooling Relief Act that will provide #EnergyRelief for our communities. pic.twitter.com/Q7diWEaPBr

— Congressman Chuy García (@RepChuyGarcia) January 20, 2022

 

Also on Wednesday, Jan. 19, the congressman announced the passing of his amendment to the Micro Act, saying “My amendment to the Micro Act passed in @HouseScience. Microelectronics are in almost every electronic device, yet the industry is mostly white. This amendment will not only expand research programs, but it will also work to grow and diversify the microelectronics workforce.”

 

My amendment to the Micro Act passed in @HouseScience.

Microelectronics are in almost every electronic device, yet the industry is mostly white. This amendment will not only expand research programs, but it will also work to grow and diversify the microelectronics workforce. pic.twitter.com/XurSznGugN

— Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) January 19, 2022

 

As reported, the congressman hosted U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at the state-of-the art, Edenwald YMCA center in the Northeast Bronx during her visit to the borough, at his invitation, on Friday, October 22, 2021. The vice president was in the Bronx to promote the Biden administration’s Build Back Better agenda, and was accompanied on the trip by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra.