Des Moines Black Lives Matter said that some of its members arrested earlier this week at the Iowa Capitol were told they would be banned from the Capitol for one year.
“They are now facing felony charges, which would restrict their right to vote,” the group said in a release. “This is the same issue we are fighting against, and did not happen by coincidence.”
The group said it is “infuriated” by the actions of the Des Moines Police Department and Iowa State Patrol, as well as the “inaction” of elected officials in “reprimanding and investigating them.”
“Our organizers were targeted (Thursday), in a space where they should be given the security to practice their First Amendment right to protest. Gov. Kim Reynolds MUST issue an executive order reinstating voting rights to Iowans with felony convictions immediately,” they said.
Here are some clips from the incident on Wednesday at the Capitol:
