WATCH: AOC Pretends To Be Handcuffed As Police Arrest 17 House Dems Outside SCOTUS | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire. The author of this post is Mary Margaret Olohan.

    Police arrested at least 17 House Democrats on Tuesday for blocking traffic outside the United States Supreme Court during a planned "civil disobedience" abortion protest.

    Democrat Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Carolyn Maloney of New York, Cori Bush of Missouri, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, Nydia Velazquez of New York, Barbara Lee of California, Jackie Speier of California, Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, Sara Jacobs of California, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Andy Levin of Michigan, Alma Adams of North Carolina, Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, Veronica Escobar of Texas, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois were arrested, Axios reported.

    Video footage captured by The Daily Signal's Doug Blair and Bernadette Hassan shows police escorting a smiling Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez away from the court as lively band music can be heard in the background.

    The New York Democrat holds her hands behind her back as if she is handcuffed, then lifts one fist in the air, shakes it, and then again places it behind her back. Her office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Daily Wire.

    The move prompted quick amusement from her critics online.

    Republican communicator Matt Whitlock tweeted: "Have to wonder if any of the protesters alongside her ever thought 'wait .. aren't you an elected member of Congress with the power to pass legislation on this issue? Why are you over here protesting? Pass a bill!'"

    "She pretends to be handcuffed, raises her fist in a salute, and then goes back to pretending to be handcuffed," tweeted strategist Greg Price.

    Omar's office had alerted media of the planned "civil disobedience" shortly before it took place.

    Omar, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, can be seen in a video captured by Hassan sitting on the ground outside the court.

Earlier here is @IlhanMN smiling as she waits to be arrested outside the Supreme Court as part of a pro abortion protest. pic.twitter.com/ge0ovx0VXX

— Bernadette Hassan (@bernadetteh1776) July 19, 2022