Today, during the Senate's committee vote on the GOP tax cuts bill, Republicans refused to hold any hearings. Therefore, American citizens demanding to have their voices heard exercised their constitutional rights and peaceably protested. The committee's chair, Senator Enzi immediately ordered the Capitol Police to remove the protestors. As disinterested Senators, Democrats and Republicans, looked on in annoyance, Capital Police following orders began pulling people from their chairs and wheelchairs, drug them across the floor and out the door.
Protesters can be heard saying, "Don't kill me. Kill this bill." It is expected that this bill will gut social programs for all Americans but will hit the disabled and those on Medicaid especially hard. Virtually every review of the bill has found that it will increase taxes on the poor and middle class, reduce assistance programs and give that money to the top 1% of earners, like the president, only to explode the deficit.
The only media outlet I could find this video from was TIME. The only television coverage came from The Rachel Maddow Show. Without proper coverage of these protests, most Americans might be under the impression that there is support for this bill.
What I can't get past is the visual of a Senator ordering Capital Police to forcibly remove American citizens for speaking against them. Thank you to TIME and Maddow for showing us the truth. Shame on those Senators who silenced their voices and on those who sat there and did nothing. That goes for you Democrats as well. You should have gotten out of your seats and joined the protest and demanded the forcible removal be stopped.
