On June 25, 2025, Capitol Hill became the stage for a powerful and deeply symbolic protest. Dozens of senior citizens and disability rights advocates were arrested—many zip-tied in their wheelchairs—after staging a peaceful demonstration inside the Russell Senate Office Building. Their message was simple but urgent: “Don’t cut Medicaid.”

The protest was organized in opposition to the proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping piece of legislation passed by the House earlier this month. Critics say the bill contains deep cuts to Medicaid, threatening healthcare access for millions of Americans—especially those who are elderly, disabled, or living below the poverty line.

Photos and videos from the protest quickly went viral, showing Capitol Police zip-tying demonstrators as they chanted and held signs that read “Medicaid Saves Lives” and “Senate Republicans Don’t Kill Us.” For many, these images were haunting reminders of past protests—such as the 2017 ADAPT sit-ins—when disabled activists made national headlines in similar acts of civil disobedience.

According to U.S. Capitol Police, 34 protesters were arrested for “crowding, obstructing, or incommoding”—a common charge used during demonstrations in restricted areas of government buildings. No violence occurred, and the protest remained peaceful throughout.

Many of those arrested were affiliated with national advocacy groups like Center for Popular Democracy Action and ADAPT, who have a long history of nonviolent protest around disability and healthcare rights. Their concern is that the bill’s Medicaid provisions would force people out of their homes, institutions, or life-saving treatments.

The bill’s defenders argue that reforms are needed to reduce government spending and streamline healthcare programs. But critics say the proposed changes could roll back essential protections for vulnerable Americans, effectively balancing the budget on the backs of those least able to bear the burden.

While lawmakers debate the future of Medicaid in Senate chambers, the actions of these elderly protesters raise a powerful question: who is truly being heard in the halls of power?

My Thoughts

: When I first heard that seniors in wheelchairs were zip-tied for protesting, I knew I had to write about it right away. It hit me hard—not just because it was shocking, but because I don’t think this will be the last time something like this happens. I was raised to respect my elders and to value their voices. Maybe that’s just the way I grew up, but to me, it doesn’t seem right at all.

People with disabilities need Medicaid. They rely on daily services—home care, therapy, equipment—that are only possible because of it. Without Medicaid, those services wouldn’t exist, and people would be left behind. The fact that the government is considering cutting something so essential makes me feel like they just don’t care. If they did, they’d be working on real solutions that protect people, not take away the little support they already have.

I think the people who protested knew that if they didn’t do something—anything—the government would just push this bill through without thinking about the real consequences. And if they stayed silent, they’d lose the services they rely on. That’s why I’m honestly really impressed. As a person with a disability myself, I wonder if I’d be brave enough to risk arrest like they did. I probably would, but it’s a big thing to think about. It shows how desperate and determined they must have felt to stand up like that.

And clearly, lawmakers aren’t listening. If they were, these people wouldn’t have to protest in the first place. Protest is what you do when no one hears you—when your voice is ignored. If elected officials were actually listening, they’d sit down and have real conversations with the people who depend on Medicaid and understand why these cuts are such a terrible idea.

It’s being heard now, but who’s to say it will lead to lasting change? People have protested about things like this before, and I haven’t seen real, long-term shifts—especially not in how policymakers interact with the people who actually depend on the decisions they’re making.

If I could speak directly to the people who were arrested that day, I would thank them for standing up—not just for themselves, but for an entire community that couldn’t be there. Their courage speaks for so many of us who rely on these services but often go unseen and unheard.

A Question to Consider:

If the people most affected by legislation—especially the elderly and disabled—are willing to risk arrest to be heard, what does that say about the accessibility of our democracy?

My Sources:

    1.    The Daily Beast – Cops Zip-Tie Elderly Anti-Trump Protesters in Wheelchairs (https://www.thedailybeast.com/cops-zip-tie-elderly-anti-trump-protesters-in-wheelchairs/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)     2.    NPR – 34 Arrested at Capitol During Medicaid Protest Led by Seniors (https://www.npr.org/2025/06/25/seniors-arrested-capitol-medicaid-protest)     3.    NBC News – Disabled and Elderly Activists Arrested on Capitol Hill Protesting Medicaid Cuts (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/seniors-disabled-arrested-medicaid-protest-capitol-rcna155840)