Like the prior serendipitously-recorded video, the new video documents protestors interrupting the court's proceedings -- just before arguments in a case involving the Fair Housing Act -- on Wednesday, Jan. 21, to protest the court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010
The protesters were able to get the camera into the courtroom despite enhanced security inspections implemented after the prior incident. Seven protestors were removed from the courtroom and arrested; one more person who had a pen with a video camera was also arrested. (Legal Times [regis. req'd] has links to the criminal affidavits.)
They were all charged under 40 U.S.C. § 6134, which makes it illegal to "make a harangue or oration, or utter loud, threatening, or abusive language in the Supreme Court Building or grounds." They were also charged under District of Columbia law barring "engag[ing] in a demonstration in an area where it is otherwise unlawful to demonstrate and to continue or resume engaging in a demonstration after being instructed by a law enforcement officer to cease engaging in a demonstration." D.C. Code § 22–1307(b)(1).
Kai Newkirk, who was arrested in the earlier incident, pled guilty to three federal misdemeanors and sentenced to time served. He was also barred from the court grounds for one year.
