Rev William Barber arrested during 'unlawful' US Capitol protest against GOP spending cuts

WASHINGTON, DC: Civil rights firebrand Reverand William Barber landed in handcuffs Monday, June 2, inside the US Capitol.

The longtime anti-poverty crusader was leading a prayer protest inside the rotunda when Capitol Police cut it short, declaring the vigil an illegal demonstration.

“Your activity right now is taking the form of a demonstration,” warned Capitol Police Captain John Hersch. “It is unlawful to demonstrate in the Capitol Rotunda. If you do not cease your demonstration at this time, there is a possibility you will be placed under arrest.”

Barber wasn’t flinching. “We're going to pray. If they arrest us, that's on them,” he told the Independent just before the cuffs came out.

Minutes later, Barber and seven other protesters were arrested in front of a painting honoring women’s suffrage heroes.

Reverand William Barber slams GOP budget

The showdown wasn’t random. Barber was protesting the latest GOP-backed budget plan — a razor-thin 215-214 victory in the House — which he says would devastate the nation’s poorest by cutting Medicaid, food assistance, and other vital lifelines.

“This bill represents the worst kind of evil, which is the love of money … the root of all evil,” Barber said, as quoted by The Guardian. “This isn’t just about Trump. Two hundred and fifteen Republicans in the House voted for this bill – and now every senator is going to decide whether they’re going to vote for the ‘we’re all going to just die’ approach to politics.”

That last line was a dig at Republican Senator Joni Ernst, who courted controversy when she told healthcare cuts protesters, “Well, we’re all going to die.” She later clarified that she was responding to one of the demonstrators yelling, "People are going to die."

Barber was livid. “That’s the same language that slave masters used to tell slaves,” he said. “They would say: ‘Don’t fight for freedom, but believe in Jesus so that in the eternal life …’ It’s so cynical. What she said was one of the most contradictory misinterpretations of faith I’ve ever heard. It’s theological malpractice.”

“If Jesus did anything, he provided everybody he met free healthcare. He never charged a leper, or a sick person, or a blind person, for their healing," the pastor added.

Reverand William Barber's Moral Mondays movement

The prayer protest capped another chapter of Barber’s Moral Mondays — a grassroots campaign he kicked off back in 2013 in North Carolina to resist far-right policies. Since then, it’s grown into a movement of sermons-turned-sit-ins.

Earlier that day, Barber led about 2,000 people in a march to the Supreme Court, armed with gospel music and handmade signs.

Banners read, “Don’t cut SNAP for 40 million poor people” and “Slashing the safety net is moral murder.” He wore a white robe emblazoned with the words, "Jesus was a poor man."

This was Barber’s third protest at the Capitol since April — and his third arrest. His organization, Repairers of the Breach, is reportedly trying to derail what he calls a disastrous budget.

“Moral Monday is not a one-time event,” Barber said. “If this budget passes the way it is, it will have a negative impact on this country for 10 years. It could possibly not be fully reversed for up to 50 to 60 years. This is serious business,” he warned.

Reverand William Barber and Ezra Levin on voter mobilization

Barber isn’t the only one sounding alarms. At the rally, Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin also grabbed the mic. “People see us organized, and they say, wow, you are fearless,” Levin said. “Oh no. If you are fearless in this moment, you’re not paying attention.”

He claimed Republicans might appear confident, but they’re sweating bullets behind closed doors. “They’re terrified their voters are going to see what they’re doing. They’re terrified they’re going to lose their majority. And you know what? They should be terrified," Levin added.

Barber said the future belongs to the people — particularly poor and working-class voters. “Poor and low-wage people now represent 30% of the electorate in this country, and in battleground states, over 40%,” he pointed out.

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