Jason Watson was arrested today at the US Capitol after standing on the steps with a sign calling for Donald Trump to be impeached, removed, and convicted. Watson, an active US Air Force officer, took part in what was described as a nonviolent act of civil disobedience.
The protest came as Free Speech For People said its impeachment campaign has gathered more than 1.1 million petition signatures since Inauguration Day. The group also said it has documented hundreds of impeachable offenses across 27 separate grounds.
US Capitol arrest
Before his arrest, Watson called on every Member of Congress to follow the leadership of Representative Al Green and support articles of impeachment against President Trump. He also urged Americans to keep protesting peacefully until Congress fulfills what he described as its constitutional duty.
At a press conference organized by the Removal Coalition, Watson was joined by Jessica Denson, Al Green, members of About Face Veterans, Bruce Fein, Defenders of Our Republic, and other advocates. The gathering connected the arrest to a wider campaign that has pressed Congress to act since Inauguration Day.
Free Speech For People campaign
John Bonifaz said in a statement from Free Speech For People, "Major Watson demonstrated today the kind of courage our democracy demands," and added, "He honored the same oath that every Member of Congress has taken—to support and defend the Constitution." He also said, "His willingness to risk his own freedom stands in stark contrast to those who continue to look away as President Trump commits unprecedented abuses of power."
Bonifaz said, "Congress has both the authority and the constitutional obligation to act to impeach and remove Donald Trump from public office," and added, "This is an existential moment for our nation and our democracy. We either have a Constitution, or we don’t," before saying, "Donald Trump has already engaged in multiple abuses of power."
Congress and Jason Watson
The arrest gave the impeachment campaign a public image tied to a serving US Air Force officer, while the demand itself remained aimed at Congress. Free Speech For People said it wants elected officials to begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump, and Watson’s protest put that demand directly in front of lawmakers at the US Capitol.
What Congress does next was not stated in the materials behind the protest, leaving Watson’s arrest as the immediate event and the impeachment demand as the unresolved pressure point.
