Outrage is spreading across the country after a video surfaced showing Capitol Police zip-tying elderly, disabled protesters—some in wheelchairs—during a peaceful protest against Republican plans to slash Medicaid.
The viral clip shows Capitol Police arresting a group of wheelchair users inside a Senate office building. Some of the protesters were seniors. Their wrists were bound with plastic zip ties as officers escorted them away.
They were protesting cuts to Medicaid in Donald Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” now being debated in the Senate. Protesters chanted “No cuts to Medicaid” while others briefly held up a banner that read “DON’T KILL US.” Police tore it down almost immediately.
The protest, organized by advocacy group Popular Democracy, was entirely non-violent, according to Scripps News. Yet Capitol Police still arrested 33 people inside the building and another person outside for crossing a police line.
In a statement, Capitol Police defended the arrests: “It should be noted that there are other places on Capitol Grounds where people can lawfully demonstrate without issue.”
That explanation didn’t fly with the public. Social media exploded with anger after footage of the arrests went viral.
“Jesus Fucken Christ…what is this shithole country coming to ? Arresting seniors in wheelchairs!! Despicable,” wrote @GracielaBerton4.
“Can you imagine being elderly and disabled, showing up for yourself and your community only to be ziptied and arrested! This is on anyone who votes in favor of trumps disgusting discriminatory bill!” posted user @bridget123goooo.
“Zip ties? How on earth did they think a disabled person confined to a wheelchair would attack them? Run over their foot?” wrote @burrell_barney.
“Why would you zip tie elderly people in wheelchairs? One guy looked fully quadriplegic. WTF?” added @martijon.
Another user didn’t hold back: “I can’t say on this site what I wish on Mitch the scumbag.. for every Republikkkan attempting to harm seniors, kids, poor people & hard working immigrants..I wish the same.”
The message from protesters was simple: don’t gut Medicaid. But the response from authorities raised serious questions about how far police are willing to go to silence dissent. Watch the full video coverage from Scripps News below.
