A chaotic scene erupted in the Rayburn House Office Building on Tuesday afternoon when a crowd of mentally and physically disabled protesters attempted to storm the House Energy and Commerce Committee markup of the Trump-backed “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Nancy Salandra, an activist with ADAPT, told The Gateway Pundit prior to the chaos,” We’re fighting for health and community-based services under Medicaid, housing, and wages for attendance.” She continued, “The Republicans are trying to destroy disabled people’s lives and put them back in institutions like nursing homes, instead of living in the community and becoming citizens that pay taxes.” Salandra said the activists in wheelchairs came from “all over the country” to attend the hearing.
On the back of her head, she wore a cardboard sign that compared nursing homes to “jail.”
Other groups were in attendance, including planned parenthood and Popular Democracy in Action were also in attendance.
Republicans argue that any changes to Medicaid are meant to strengthen the program and ensure that Medicaid isn’t going to illegal aliens, ineligible people, or able-bodied adults who choose not to work. Instead of cutting Medicaid, as the protestors allege, Republicans hope to strengthen protection for those who actually need it.
Here’s a clip of the people who attended the demonstration:
These disabled individuals, many of whom are mentally disabled, have been brainwashed by the Democrats and are being used as pawns.
It’s abusive and wrong.
When the doors to the committee hearing opened on Tuesday, they began shouting at the lawmakers, “Don’t cut Medicaid,” and began to storm the entrance as staffers placed chairs to barricade the entryway.
Some individuals began moving the chairs, and a Capitol Police officer eventually warned everyone, “If you do not cease and desist, you will be subject to arrest.”
WATCH:
Eventually, one protester began blowing a whistle as police surrounded the crowd and announced, “If you’re not getting arrested, then go.”
Police later began arresting those who refused their commands. Additional protesters who began shouting inside the committee hearing room as the hearing began are seen being wheeled out of the room, chanting “No cuts to Medicaid!”
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Capitol police announced less than an hour later that 25 arrests were made and more were being made. “It is against the law to protest inside the Congressional Buildings,” they said in a statement.
Capitol Police say 25 people have been arrested in connection with the protests in the House Energy and Commerce markup, and “more arrests are being made.” ⁰⁰“Around 2 p.m., 25 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating in the Rayburn House Office Building. They were…
— Emily Brooks (@emilybrooksnews) May 13, 2025
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