Asia-Pacific

Washington mayor arrested at protest over budget

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-04-13 10:33

Protesters shout slogans in front of the US Capitol Police maintenance yard in Washington April 11, 2011, where Washington Mayor Vincent Gray, along with 40 protesters, were being processed after their arrest on Capitol Hill while protesting the city's potential loss of funds for abortion services in the federal budget deal that averted a US government shutdown. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - Leaders in Washington DC, including the mayor, took to the streets to protest congressional control of the US capital city, blocking traffic and getting arrested over a federal budget deal expected to impose renewed restrictions on the city.

Related readings:  WH says Obama regrets vote on debt limit  US budget battle  Obama to lay out spending plan  Obama, Congress make budget deal, avert shutdown

Angry that Congress appears ready to take away autonomy granted to the city in the last several years, Mayor Vincent Gray and six Council members, including the chairman, were among 41 people arrested Monday outside the Capitol while protesting the changes. Seven hours later, they were released from jail.

DC has a city government, but its budget and laws are subject to Congressional review. Congress has had control over the city since it was founded. District officials say Washington was used as a pawn in last week's budget bargaining, with new restrictions part of the price of a deal.

The district restrictions that were part of the budget deal reached Friday were "completely unacceptable," Gray said.

"We needed to make a statement," Gray said after his release from jail.

The city will likely be unable to spend its own tax dollars on abortions for low-income women. It may also be banned from spending city money on needle exchange programs believed vital to curbing the spread of HIV in the district, where the disease is considered an epidemic. Also back: a school voucher program favored by Republicans.

Washington had enjoyed more freedom in the past four years when both the House and Senate were controlled by Democrats, the party traditionally more friendly to pleas of autonomy from the heavily Democratic city.

When Republicans took control of the House in January, the city readied for changes. Still, city leaders said they are outraged that Washington appears to have been used as a bargaining chip.

"If this isn't taxation without representation, I don't know what is," the mayor said before being arrested.

He and Council members, dressed in business attire, sat down in the street outside a Senate office building. US Capitol Police arrested them, cuffing their hands behind them with plastic loops, and loaded them into police wagons to cheers from the crowd.

They were cited for blocking the street with an unlawful assembly, a misdemeanor that can be resolved by paying a $50 fine.

Gray said after he was released that he was proud to be part of the demonstration and would continue to fight the restrictions, but wasn't specific.

Gray became the second DC mayor to go to jail while advocating for home rule. Sharon Pratt Kelly was arrested during a statehood protest in August 1993. Gray also was a council member before becoming mayor, so he is familiar with the home-rule fight.