Micki Witthoeft, the mother of Ashli Babbitt, killed by a United States Capitol Police (USCP) officer during the unrest that occurred on the January 6th ‘Stop the Steal’ rally, was arrested this week at the Capitol.
Videos on social media show Witthoeft being detained during a demonstration. Officers attempted to move protesters out of the road and onto the sidewalk in the videos.
“Move to the sidewalk. If you don’t move to the sidewalk, you’re going to be placed under arrest,” one officer tells the crowd. He also tells the group they are blocking traffic.
BREAKING🚨: The mother of Ashli Babbitt was just arrested by Capitol Police outside the US Capitol this afternoon.
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) January 6, 2023
The police gave the following statement after Witthoeft’s arrest:
“Around 1:45 p.m., the woman was arrested for two Capitol Traffic Regulations – §16.3.20 Obey An Order, and §16.3.40 Blocking And Obstructing Roadways. The person was identified as 58-year-old Micki Witthoeft.
As is typical for this charge, Ms. Witthoeft was processed and released this afternoon after being given a citation to appear in court at a later date.”
People sympathetic to Witthoeft were quick to say that police were being heavy-handed after she said she was arrested because she refused to get out of the street. The crowd can be heard jeering the officers after the woman accuses an officer of “laying” his hands on her. The crowd also expressed their support for Babbitt at another point.
BREAKING! Mother of Ashli Babbitt ARRESTED FOR JAYWALKING by DC Police! Haven’t you put this family through enough?? pic.twitter.com/9Ysin7zdyD
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) January 6, 2023
One user quipped that Witthoeft was ‘lucky’ that police officers didn’t ‘murder’ her like they did her daughter. At the same time, others also expressed outrage at Witthoeft being arrested for what amounted to jaywalking.
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🚨 BREAKING ‼️
They arrested Ashli Babbitt’s mom, Micki, for jaywalking!
I guess she’s lucky they didn’t murder her like they did her daughter.https://t.co/9e4LpovO5i https://t.co/4tbIsEMLiN pic.twitter.com/SrU7Y6znma— StopHate.com🛑 (@HelpStopHate) January 6, 2023
The arrest happened on the second anniversary of the January 6th rally, where roughly 20 demonstrators gathered to support January 6th prisoners.
While the protest was primarily uneventful, there were reportedly heated exchanges between protesters and counter-protesters. Some protesters dressed in bizarre outfits. One demonstrator was riding a hoverboard and wearing an Uncle Sam costume.
The group reportedly did not have a permit to protest on Capitol grounds, leading to police demanding that they vacate the area.
Roughly twenty MAGA protesters — including Uncle Sam on a hoverboard — have gathered outside the Supreme Court for the Jan 6 anniversary. pic.twitter.com/eIFimIxFT3
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) January 6, 2023
Babbitt’s mother has been an outspoken advocate of hers since the rally where she was shot and killed.
As she was being arrested on Friday, she was asked for comment and referred to Capitol using an expletive.
As Micki Witthoeft, mother of Ashli Babbitt, was put into a United States Capitol Police vehicle in handcuffs, I asked if she had anything to say.
"Yeah, Capitol Police suck ass!" she replied.
Her and her supporters chanted "Ashli Babbitt! Ashli Babbitt!" before she was taken. pic.twitter.com/gAp1UtXUa1
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) January 6, 2023
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High-profile Republicans, including Representative Matt Gaetz, R-Fl. and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., have taken up the cause of the January 6th defendants in the aftermath of the rally.
Greene said on January 6th that prisoners were being ‘mistreated and abused worse than we treat terrorists at Gitmo,’ referencing the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
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