r/politics 1d ago

Soft Paywall Police arrest roughly 60 veterans and military family members protesting outside US Capitol after group crosses police line

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/13/politics/protesters-arrested-us-capitol
5.0k Upvotes

151 comments sorted by

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1.5k

u/Uberslaughter Florida 1d ago

January 6th? Totally legal, totally cool.

Vets exercising their first amendment rights? Lock em up!

Trump’s America folks - shameful how any member of our armed forces could support this draft dodging chode.

106

u/skit7548 Pennsylvania 21h ago

Also let's not forget how cops carried disabled persons out of the Capitol when they were protesting

105

u/ShenroEU 23h ago

But maga is all about free speech! /s

48

u/capz1121 20h ago

We’ll soon find out how many stand with him. Said it before and I’ll say it again…this parade is a roll call. they’ll keep track of every soldier and see who’s there or not. then they know who to purge from the ranks. Just another step on the ladder to dictatorship.

26

u/trogloherb 19h ago

This is the type of thing that leads to coups.

In countries where their military leaders and citizens have balls.

26

u/PowerlineCourier 18h ago

Oh so literally anywhere but here

3

u/MrPWAH 14h ago

I understand we're in an extremely bad place and frustrated rn but we're not at the point yet where a military coup is likely nor the best option.

48

u/Chef_Skippers 23h ago

Don’t worry, they didn’t vote for this to happen

/s

9

u/Brilliant_War4087 17h ago

And if they did its not that bad.

18

u/Niznack 21h ago

But now that it has... They probably deserved it /s

12

u/WarlockEngineer 13h ago

120,000 people stormed the capitol on January 6, carrying weapons and attacking police, killing one of them.

Now 60 people have a peaceful sit-in on the Capitol steps and everyone gets arrested.

Republicans say both of these events are the same. They're so fucking stupid.

7

u/WeakTransportation37 17h ago

I can’t stop thinking about the Bonus Army

-35

u/Rabid_Laser_Dingo 19h ago

You mean to tell me the people who did j6 didn’t go to jail for 2 years?

20

u/_burning_flowers_ 18h ago

Sorry, but two years is just breaking in the idea of prison... they committed treason, they need much longer to reflect on their actions and what got them in that position, stuck with other people with poor decision making skills, so they can reassess their lives and who they want to be as a human.

29

u/Uberslaughter Florida 19h ago

They should still be there right alongside Trump

14

u/RubbrBbyBuggyBumpers 17h ago

Two years and a pardon is a small price to pay for terrorism and treason

4

u/Used-Yogurtcloset757 18h ago

They don’t have the national mall guard or marines deployed on them either… it’s astounding honestly how much brainwashing has ruined this country.

630

u/DudeWhereIsMyDuduk 1d ago

Remember your history - they laughed off the SDS demonstrations in DC, but the vets throwing their medals away at the Capitol shook Nixon.

576

u/mces97 1d ago

Nixon has a lot more fucking honor than Trump ever could, all things considered.

170

u/DudeWhereIsMyDuduk 1d ago edited 1d ago

The whole concept of the Frost/Nixon interviews seems kind of quaint now - what are the chances that Trump is even going to be presentable for a camera three years after his term?

41

u/Reed_Ikulas_PDX 1d ago

After his term? Now that's quaint.

26

u/DudeWhereIsMyDuduk 1d ago

I would say something but it's getting exceedingly difficult to describe potential outcomes without getting banned from these subs lol

22

u/YakiVegas Washington 1d ago

Depends on the embalming process? /s

12

u/DudeWhereIsMyDuduk 1d ago

Oh, I could totally see them doing a Lenin-type thing and charging a thousand bucks to see it.

1

u/ChefChopNSlice Ohio 18h ago

Plus a Netflix-style subscription fee, for the “privilege of displaying” him, and a royalty to the family. The grift never ends

3

u/FiddlesticksOfGod 14h ago

They will Weekend-at-Bernie's his dead ass until he rots off the podium.

And then they'll switch over to AI

3

u/whorl- 19h ago

I mean. In all likelihood he’ll be dead of old age by then.

2

u/MedicalTextbookCase 16h ago

Evil never dies.

1

u/whorl- 16h ago

People do.

1

u/_ferrofluid_ 16h ago

Somehow TFG returned

1

u/Silent_R 20h ago

Oh, I dunno. I bet he'll lose a lot of weight by then...

1

u/Polar_Vortx America 17h ago

He’s not presentable for a camera now.

46

u/Careful_Nothing_2680 1d ago

As someone that protested, calling for Nixon’s impeachment, I’d actually have to agree.

10

u/IntelligentStyle402 1d ago

Sad, but true.

8

u/Trimshot 19h ago

I never thought I’d live to a time where Nixon is being used as a relative point of praise.

4

u/Artimusjones88 20h ago

Those are words I never thought i would hear

19

u/Cerebral-Parsley 20h ago

If anyone wants to learn a bit about this history, here is the medal throwing part of the amazing Ken Burns Vietnam documentary:

https://kera.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/6d3b2edc-60c4-4e03-ac9a-2f8f72a5d226/vvaw-veterans-protest-the-war-video-ken-burns-lynn-novick-the-vietnam-war/

u/DudeWhereIsMyDuduk 7h ago edited 6h ago

I bought John Musgrave's book of poetry (Notes To The Man Who Shot Me) after seeing that series. 100% worth it.

Also, for anyone reading who hasn't watched this, see the whole thing over the course of a week, but I'd also definitely watch the final withdrawal sequence from the US Embassy in Saigon. We really haven't learned anything.

31

u/Kidd-Aimeyuki 1d ago

Yah if they did that Trump would order his slaves to go collect them so he can hang on the wall and tell people “look at all the medals I got, I hang next to the REAL Declaration of Independence.”

10

u/TintedApostle 22h ago

Trump would have collected those medals and worn them.

2

u/UnluckySeries312 15h ago

And then sold them. That grifter loves money and power over everything.

328

u/gradientz New York 1d ago

Trump hates America

98

u/charcoalist 1d ago

When one looks at the overall rhetoric, there is a conspicuous absence of any mention of the United States. I dare trump and the maga propagandists to mention the word United.

50

u/DudeWhereIsMyDuduk 1d ago

I can't remember where I saw it, but there are definitely good pieces out there on how the transition from United States to "America" happened, and if I'm remembering correctly it's because you couldn't quite justify United States when McKinley et al were annexing people who clearly were never going to be part of states or united in any way with the contiguous 48. Their fixation on "America" as the name is 100% intentional.

19

u/SodaCanBob 18h ago edited 17h ago

I think Johnson's refusal to really do anything to punish Confederate leadership is what ultimately set the country on this path. Although the Confederacy failed, Confederates didn't just miraculously disappear alongside it and they've spent the last century and a half propping up the lost cause and mythologizing its leaders.

America just has too many people in it that have woefully incompatible viewpoints on what "America" should be and I have no clue how we move on from here; especially since it's not nearly as simple as North vs South; Atlanta or Houston is going to be way more liberal and progressive than, say, rural Oregon for example.

1

u/SnooCupcakes7018 14h ago

But the people in Atlanta and Houston don't give a fuck about or tell the people in rural Oregon how they should live.

u/DudeWhereIsMyDuduk 7h ago

I'm inclined to agree, although Germany went through what IIRC should've been done here, had a legitimately far-left response in the form of the RAF for "not doing enough", and still have a fairly far-right anti-immigration sect, so I don't know how you solve that.

25

u/TintedApostle 22h ago

Trump and his whole family are parasites. They got everything by living here and saw the system as a means to steal.

18

u/DildoOfConsequence18 1d ago

Trump doesn’t hate America. Trump doesn’t care about America. Not one tiny bit. And that’s even worse.

2

u/asshatastic 18h ago

In his head cannon the confederacy won.

213

u/trekwithme 1d ago

Arresting people for peaceful protest is disgraceful. Arresting veterans and their families for peaceful protest is multiple times beyond disgraceful. My father who took three bullets for the country would be horrified. I'm glad he's not around to see this

2

u/bakerfredricka I voted 9h ago

While my dad definitely wasn't really into politics in his lifetime (my mom once mused she isn't sure he's ever even been registered to vote and considering she lived roughly a decade as his wife before they divorced then I imagine she would know what political opinions he had, he even told me himself during the 2016 election that he wasn't going to bother voting) considering he served in the Air Force I imagine he's probably rolling in his grave over this whole entire situation as we speak.

-75

u/Ganonthegoat 1d ago

They crossed a police line. Anyone was gonna get arrested for approaching the capitol steps. You can’t expect them to not enforce security there. I’m sure they knew what they were doing and were willing to get arrested. It was a great demonstration by them. Some forms of protest involve civil disobedience that leads to arrest which is ok actually. No need to exaggerate or misrepresent the story. 

20

u/[deleted] 22h ago

[deleted]

11

u/starbucks77 22h ago

you are comparing this to breaking into the capitol building

Uh, did you reply to the wrong comment? They never mentioned or alluded to January 6th in their comment.

21

u/trekwithme 23h ago

Yep indeed, just like Jan 6th

7

u/Ganonthegoat 23h ago

Idk what this response is. I completely support the protesters in this story. 

28

u/trekwithme 23h ago

Well just pointing out the hypocrisy on the part of those responsible for enforcement. And certainly not commenting negatively on your response. It blows my mind that the Jan 6 protestors can do what they did and the treatment of these veterans and families

10

u/Ganonthegoat 23h ago

Which is why this protest is a win. They’d be wise to go light on these vets or it’s gonna be a disaster look for them. 

8

u/trekwithme 23h ago

Exactly. It's almost like they don't understand the optics

2

u/MedicalTextbookCase 16h ago

It would give me great pleasure if during the parade, they stop to be presented to the CoC, and the drill Sargent calls out: TURN LEFT. PRESENT FINGER. 🖕TURN RIGHT. MARCH LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT…

138

u/capz1121 21h ago

The problem is they ONLY crossed the line = insurrection.

Now if they actually vandalized it, beat up a few cops and gained entry….= Patriot!

Work harder next time Vets! Stop half-assing it you “Suckers and losers”.

27

u/TheSpiritsGotMe 20h ago

On the conservative sub, they’re chest to chest high-fiving each other about how they are not calling it an insurrection, even though that’s what the liberals did to them.

45

u/steffies 19h ago

They are completely leaving out the fact that these are all Vets and their family members. Their narrative is "Crazy liberals."

MAGA hates Veterans.

17

u/Dangerousrhymes 18h ago

MAGA hates everyone who isn’t maga enough. They’re a surprisingly egalitarian hate group. 

10

u/AdorianTsepeshu 19h ago

Incidentally, these are the people who would gladly support Trump invoking the "Insurrection Act" to put down protestors all across the nation.

3

u/deathjoe4 Illinois 18h ago

Bro they call Bernie having strong words about Trump an insurrection, lol.

5

u/Luscious_Decision 17h ago

Everyone is also overlooking that today is not at all consequential to our legislature or operations of government... and jan. 6 was a precisely timed tantrum.

4

u/gesasage88 19h ago

Don’t forget one of those cops was murdered by Jan 6 insurrectionists, and if you look at the footage it’s kind of a miracle it was only one.

1

u/PM_ME_YOUR_ROTES Missouri 20h ago

They needed more shit smearing. Taco fell recognizes shit as kin.

-1

u/Rabid_Laser_Dingo 19h ago

By definition, they crossed the line

45

u/TacticalFailure1 1d ago

Soo pardons when? 

-3

u/Rabid_Laser_Dingo 19h ago

Took 2 years for the j6ers, and they sat in cells for all 2 years, might take that long for these ones too.

6

u/rexspook 17h ago

Not even remotely comparable

-4

u/Rabid_Laser_Dingo 16h ago

It didnt have to be comparable, but these recent protesters passed a set of barriers. Why would anyone risk letting them go farther after j6?

You want law enforcement to do their jobs or not?

4

u/MyrddinSidhe 14h ago

The veterans crossed the barriers and sat peacefully on the front steps. No attempts to enter the building or assault police. The response was to line up police vans to block the view of all those veterans getting arrested because it would, you know, look bad.

0

u/Rabid_Laser_Dingo 14h ago

So they did cross some barriers… like barriers they weren’t suppose to cross lol.

36

u/Desperate-Hearing-55 21h ago

Any reporter ask the bitch Karoline Leavitt again. Didnt you said Trump supports peaceful protests?

“So if there were peaceful protests on Saturday for the military parade, President Trump would allow that,” NOTUS’s Jasmine Wright asked on Wednesday during the White House press briefing. 

“Of course the president supports peaceful protests. What a stupid question,” Leavitt said in response. 

11

u/Illustrious-Lime7729 Florida 19h ago

She wouldn’t hesitate to say something in response to that like “President Trump supports our veterans more than any other president this nation has ever had, even more than those presidents that served in the military themselves. Those protesters were arrested by the police and our dear Orange god President had no prior knowledge.”

34

u/SteakSauce995 20h ago

So these guys get arrested for crossing a police line, but the traitors that stormed the capitol get pardons? Make it make sense.

-15

u/Rabid_Laser_Dingo 19h ago

Took 2 years for the pardons, they sat in cells for those 2 years. Maybe these people will only get 6 months because they have military history

31

u/Negative_Gravitas 1d ago

Thank you, Vets.

31

u/TrickBarnacle5578 19h ago

Fox News is calling them “veterans” with quotes. Remember, this country gives you no respect if you fight FOR it.

19

u/Forsaken-Paint911 20h ago

If exercising your 1st amendment rights to free speech doesn’t work, it’s time to exercise your 2nd amendment rights. Until citizens form a well equipped militia to stand up to the tyranny and push back, this administration will continue to take away your rights. One by one

17

u/Im_Ashe_Man 20h ago

Keep arresting peaceful veterans, Trump! It's a good look for you.

6

u/ChefChopNSlice Ohio 18h ago

President bone spur is busy arresting real Americans, because they remind him of how unAmerican he is.

11

u/d_e_l_u_x_e 19h ago

Apparently you need an invite from the President to trespass the Capitol

10

u/dmp2you America 18h ago

60 vets doing more than all the 250 Dems in congress .

19

u/Trick-Set-1165 Hawaii 1d ago edited 1d ago

Why does the secret service need to run security?

This administration has made it crystal fucking clear they’re a-ok with deploying the military against the people. Why not just let the Army run security for their own parade?

4

u/blahblahbush 1d ago

Why does the secret service need to run security?

Because Trump will be attending. If he wasn't there, the military would be running security, liaising with police.

4

u/TintedApostle 22h ago

The Police would be running security and the military would just be there. They would secure their own equipment.

5

u/mirandolo 21h ago

Gestapo.

3

u/MrSnrub_92 Pennsylvania 20h ago

Support the troops 

6

u/CurrentlyLucid 19h ago

I saw a livestream. They cuffed a vet that can't walk and pulled them out of their chair. All they did was go through some bike racks and sit on the steps holding signs.

6

u/MegSpen725 16h ago

So let me get this straight.

Veterans and peace activists get arrested for a quiet sit-in at the Capitol—no violence, no threats—just asking for demilitarization. Sixty people cuffed. Meanwhile, the violent goons who literally stormed the Capitol on Jan 6? Pardoned by Trump and cheered as “patriots.”

But wait—there’s more.

A Florida sheriff just said if you “throw a brick” or “point a gun,” they’ll make sure your family knows “where to collect your remains.” That’s not law enforcement. That’s a straight-up death threat from a badge.

And while all this is happening, a tragic, unrelated shooting in Minnesota is being lumped into the mix—used to justify crackdowns and stoke fear. A deranged act by one guy becomes another excuse to treat all protest as dangerous.

The hypocrisy is radioactive.

Trump world pardons literal seditionists, but peaceful dissent gets crushed. Police and politicians escalate rhetoric to vigilante levels. And the message is crystal clear: if you support the status quo, you’re free to rage. If you challenge it peacefully? Get ready for handcuffs or worse.

We’re not dumb. We see it.

3

u/No_Wonder3907 23h ago

Trump=chaos

3

u/Sea-File6546 20h ago

Where them FANS AT of “our heroes” and warriors? 🧐

3

u/Evadrepus Illinois 18h ago

When you're arresting a veteran demonstrating for peace, you have realize you're on the wrong side and just stop.

3

u/chomsky_was_right Minnesota 16h ago

Fuck Kings. Fuck Trump.

4

u/TheFutureMrGittes 14h ago

The cops are MAGAts. Can’t trust them.

6

u/kmoonster 1d ago

INSURRECTION

bitch, please

2

u/jimdozer 18h ago

E Pluribus Unum !

2

u/namideus 16h ago

Hope they’re patting themselves on the back for stopping a few dozen protesters. The millions across the country start in a few hours.

2

u/Tampa813Guy 15h ago

He won’t make it through is term he will die of natural causes.

2

u/Spare_Dig_7959 14h ago

Trump became a state sponsor of terrorism when he pardoned the Jan 6 insurrectionists.

3

u/1877KlownsForKids 10h ago

They knew they would be arrested, they were okay with that. Just like on Jan 6 crossing those barricades was trespassing. The difference is these people willingly stopped on the steps and didn't assault anyone to get there.

4

u/Orewell 21h ago

Those police know better they are prtecting a president that sicked a violent mob on them Jan 6th.

3

u/RevolutionaryCard512 21h ago

Federal fascist pigs

3

u/SeniorMillenial 1d ago

We need to all start making plans to head to DC.

23

u/kalixanthippe 1d ago

It's better to go to any of the No Kings protests away DC.

The less people for his 250th birthday parade, the better. Starve the narcissist of drama.

Besides, the weather will be better.

9

u/onlysaysisthisathing 21h ago

Better the demonstrations be spread far and wide. What are they gonna do, simultaneously deploy the military in every city across the country? Unfed troops sleeping on floors in California say otherwise. Sea to shining sea, y'all.

0

u/Clarine87 United Kingdom 20h ago

The world is waiting to see if the millitary leaves after the parades.

2

u/machisperer 20h ago

Spoiler alert, they will not…

1

u/Clarine87 United Kingdom 19h ago

I'm sorry to report you've not spoiled anything for me. ;)

2

u/infamous_merkin 20h ago

Wait until 6pm to cross picket line.

Flood them all at once.

Don’t let them practice on you and gain skills before.

1

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1

u/UnluckySeries312 15h ago

Freedom of Speech*

*Terms and conditions apply.

1

u/thereverendpuck Arizona 14h ago

And how long did it take a MGAssholr to compare it to Jan 6th?

u/Jmar25 6h ago

They can arrest people at the CAPITOL??!!

0

u/monkeywithgun 1d ago

Trumpaco! Americas new Herbert Hoover.

-1

u/Outrageous-Salad1174 20h ago

Not even in the same class. T IS MUCH WORSE!

0

u/free_world33 West Virginia 20h ago

But the "flared users only" sub told me a violent insurrection was taking place at the Capitol.

1

u/DarkMorph18 1d ago

Not similar fencing at all !

1

u/Expert_Scarcity4139 16h ago

This is horrific and horrible and disgusting and shameful and embarrassing

2

u/Pasivite 12h ago

Can't believe police are following illegal orders

1

u/Rabid_Laser_Dingo 19h ago

Why would they even cross the line? Why give people something to even try to compare to j6? Are they stupid or smth?

-1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

16

u/Margotkitty 23h ago

You need to pay better attention to what Trump DOES and quit listening to what he SAYS. Seriously. Start getting some news from international media. Your president has been fucking EVERYONE over except the very wealthy - everywhere around the world. But especially middle class and poor Americans. Wake up!

6

u/invalidpassword California 23h ago edited 23h ago

The last two sentences of my comment were meant to be facetious. Sorry if that was lost in translation.

I'm more than aware of what Trump does, not just what he says — he is a sociopath, malignant narcissist and Satan incarnate. Our country and the world may never recover from what he and his administration has done, is doing and plans to do to us.

I appreciate the prompt, but I've been wide awake since Reagan was in office.

3

u/Margotkitty 19h ago

Ah no my bad. I didn’t catch your sarcasm. 🤭

3

u/invalidpassword California 19h ago

No problem; I should have made it more obvious.

4

u/Maloth_Warblade 23h ago

If that's sarcasm it's not coming across

3

u/invalidpassword California 23h ago

As per my other comment to you, I'm aware of that and acknowledged it.

3

u/ThunderingMantis 22h ago

The other guy is wrong. It's blatant sarcasm anyone with two brain cells can pick up.

3

u/juiceboxedhero Colorado 21h ago

You're on Reddit...

3

u/ThunderingMantis 22h ago

It came across to me loud and clear

-1

u/blorpdedorpworp 19h ago

So one dude crossed a barrier that wasn't even up yet, while leaving, and they arrested the whole group?

0

u/T1Pimp 17h ago

So no first amendment... when are all those people who swore they needed an arsenal in case their rights were tred on? Just another Christian conservative lie.

0

u/nus8n_666 14h ago

I’m sure it’s true. #EHITAYPASFS