Christian Pastor Arrested After Praying Against Trump Budget Cuts

A prominent Christian pastor was arrested April 28th in the Capitol Rotunda by police officers after praying in protest of looming budget cuts to the social safety net.

Rev. William Barber is a prominent progressive activist known for his “Moral Monday” sermons, which are nonviolent, faith-focused protests in Washington D.C. They are often critical of the reverend’s perceived failures in the federal budget, primarily cuts to services assisting the poor. 

During their prayers, Rev. Barber and two of his associates were removed from the Rotunda – which is typically open to the public – and charged with "crowding, obstructing, and incommoding.”

Now, some are leveling accusations of hypocrisy against the Trump administration, wondering why a Christian pastor is being arrested for nonviolent protest at the Capitol just days after President Trump’s taskforce seeking to hunt down “anti-Christian bias” in the federal government convened.

Arrested for Praying

“To think that we went in to pray – pray against the budget, but to pray nonetheless – and the order now is that, evidently, if you pray, you are seen as violating the rules of the Rotunda,” explained Rev. Barber. 

Rev. Barber was arrested alongside two other men, Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and Steve Swayne. They were there praying and protesting against the Republican-drafted budget, which makes significant cuts to services like Social Security and Medicaid, chanting “against the conspiracy of cruelty, we plead the power of your mercy.”

Things moved quickly; Within 15 minutes of beginning their protest, the three men were in handcuffs. Dozens of capitol police officers surrounded the men, emptied the Rotunda, and demanded they stop praying. 

“They were arrested for demonstrating inside the Congressional Buildings, which is not allowed in any form,” stated a Capitol PD spokesperson. “We gave them multiple warnings to stop or they would be arrested. Three people didn't stop.”

Rev. Barber says the protests – and even the arrests – are necessary.

“What we hope is that folks will see this and it will begin to remove some of the fear, and people will understand that this is the time – now – that we must engage in nonviolent direct action to register our discontent,” he said.

Hypocrisy? In Washington?

Some found it hypocritical that three men were arrested for nonviolent, faith-based protests less than a week after President Trump’s taskforce to exterminate “anti-Christian” bias in the federal government held their first meeting. 

“Arresting Rev. Barber and others at the Capitol after announcing a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias in government is an absolute travesty,” explained Anthea Butler, a professor of religion at the University of Pennsylvania. “Seems like this administration only wants Christians who are supporters of Trump to have access to pray in the Capitol and express their faith.”

CEO of Interfaith Alliance Rev. Paul Raushenbush cosigned that statement. “The arrest of Bishop Barber feels like the most clear example of hypocrisy of the Trump administration when they talk about anti-Christian bias,” he stated. “They are not interested in the broad expression of faith as exemplified by Bishop Barber, but rather only Christians approved of by the Trump administration.”

Rev. Barber says he’s unmoved by the arrest, and it’s simply the cost of bringing his message to the people. “Just as Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers, so we have to be willing to put our bodies on the line,” he said. “I pray that impacted people will (come), again, not to go to get arrested, but to arrest the attention of the nation.”

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