Note: This footage was contributed by Ray Scheinman. She is not an employee of News2Share and the information and video provided have not been independently vetted. This article is based on Scheinman’s description of the events that occured and edited only for grammar.

Jan 18, 2017. Washington, DC, Dirsken Senate Building – Outside EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt’s Hearing

“Activists were not allowed to make noise inside the building and were not allowed to enter the hearing itself.”

About 75 people showed up Wednesday morning to protest the confirmation hearing of EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt. Protesters lined up for outside the hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, where speakers from the Sierra Club, 350.org, and Food & Water Watch came to speak. Three were arrested.

Activists were not allowed to make noise inside the building and were not allowed to enter the hearing itself.

A woman from the Lakota tribe spoke up, asserting that Pruitt’s efforts were in violation of a tribal treaty.

She began to pray publicly and was arrested for “disrupting the peace.” As she was arrested, a second activist attempted to hug her and was also arrested. A total of about six police officers were involved.

Minutes later, four police officers escorted Diane Wilson, a Texan shrimp farmer who says her career is jeopardized by Pruitt, out of the hearing. She described herself to the crowd as “basically a bankrupt shrimp farmer.” Others tried to get into the meeting, some with signs reading “STOP PRUITT.”

“We gained a nod of approval from not only Tim Kaine, but Lindsey Graham as well.”

Ray Scheinman told News2Share (written verbatim): “everything was chaotic and hectic, but it seemed like everyone waiting to have their voices in the hall agreed with us, as we gained a nod of approval from not only Tim Kaine, but Lindsey Graham as well. Some individuals lined up to sit in the room wore our stickers to demonstrate support in the room. It was evident that those trying to exercise their rights in a public hearing were not admitted or were promptly thrown out”

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