Georgia’s Democrat Park Cannon rose to prominence this week after she was arrested in parliament while knocking on the door of Governor Brian Kemp’s office as he signed a controversial electoral bill.
Dramatic video showed the state congresswoman from the 58th district of Georgia being dragged by the police on Thursday.
“She was told that no one was in the office and that she would stop knocking on the door,” the soldiers wrote in a statement after the arrest, according to Atlanta’s FOX 5.
She was fined in prison on charges of obstructing law enforcement and preventing or interrupting sessions of the General Assembly or other meetings. The charge of obstruction carries a potential sentence of one to five years in prison, FOX 5 reported.
Cannon was released shortly before 11:30 pm EDT, and was greeted by protesters who asked for his release.
Cannon’s arrest sparked outrage among Democrats. “I think anyone who saw that video would be deeply concerned,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told a news conference on Friday. “The biggest concern here, obviously besides being dealt with in the matter that it was, is that law that was put into practice.”
STATE OF GEORGIA DEMENTED AS KEMP SIGNS THE ELECTION ACCOUNT
“I support Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon (@ Cannonfor58), who was arrested and LOADED WITH A FELÔNIO for … for what? “Senator Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., Wrote on Twitter.” For * knocking on Governor Kemp’s office door * while trying to observe the cowardly closed-door signing ceremony for the voter suppression law. “
“Arresting an effective member of a legislative body while in session for knocking on the governor’s door is savage and completely unacceptable,” Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Twittou. “Are there any laws against knocking on the governor’s door in Georgia? Why is she being arrested?”
Cannon was released from prison at about 11:30 pm on Friday.
“Hello everyone, thank you for your support. I was released from prison. I am not the first Georgian to be arrested for fighting electoral repression. I would love to say that I am the last one, but we know that it is not true. # SB202, “Cannon wrote on Twitter.
“And make no mistake, when I say hate, I mean white supremacy. The closed-door signature of # SB202 and the senseless murder of #AAPI Georgians are both products of a system of white supremacy. Different tactics, same goal: fear and control, “she continued.
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The bill in question requires a state-issued ID to request an absentee vote and limits the drop-down boxes to early voting periods, requiring them to be placed in early voting places and available only while the district is open. It prohibits outside groups from distributing food and water to voters waiting in line at the ballot box and allows the state to take over municipal elections or remove local election officials.