As Republican lawmakers prepare to slash $1.5 trillion from the federal budget—cuts that would likely target Medicaid, food assistance, and housing programs—Rev. William Barber II brought a moral message to the heart of Washington: prayer, protest, and persistence.
On April 28, Barber, a nationally recognized pastor and anti-poverty activist, was arrested in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda alongside Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Steve Swayne, director of the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center. The three men were detained while praying against proposed budget cuts they believe will disproportionately harm poor and low-income Americans, especially women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
“We went in to pray—pray against the budget, but still to pray,” Barber said after his release. “Evidently, if you pray now, you are seen as violating the rules of the Rotunda.”
The arrests came just 15 minutes after the trio began their prayer, taking turns to speak and chant, “Against the conspiracy of cruelty, we plead the power of your mercy.” Though peaceful, their action drew an unusually forceful response: Capitol police cleared the Rotunda of all visitors, including credentialed members of the press, and closed the doors to block visibility. The three were charged with “crowding, obstructing, and incommoding”—a common charge for unauthorized demonstrations inside congressional buildings.
Barber, who lives with a chronic illness that makes mobility difficult, described the police interaction as “cordial” but physically painful. Still, he emphasized that discomfort is a small price to pay when lives are on the line. “This is the time,” he said. “Now is when we must engage in nonviolent direct action to register our discontent.”
The Capitol protest followed a rally outside the Supreme Court, where Barber and other religious leaders addressed a crowd of federal workers and concerned citizens. Organized by Repairers of the Breach, the demonstration marked the launch of a new “Moral Monday” campaign—weekly actions meant to pressure lawmakers into rejecting cuts that threaten the well-being of vulnerable Americans.
“Forty-three percent of women and nearly half of all children in the U.S. are poor or low-income,” Barber told the crowd, citing Economic Policy Institute data. “Somebody’s got to say something. Somebody’s got to challenge this budget.”
Speakers at the rally included leaders from multiple faiths and advocacy groups: Rev. Teresa Hord Owens of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Sheila Katz of the National Council of Jewish Women, Imam Talib Shareef of Masjid Muhammad, Marc Morial of the National Urban League, and Sarah Anderson of the Institute for Policy Studies. All echoed concerns that proposed Republican cuts would devastate struggling communities while shielding corporations and the wealthy from higher taxes.
Despite the moral framing of the protest, the stark difference in law enforcement response to similar events raised eyebrows. In March 2023, Christian musician and right-wing activist Sean Feucht held a worship service in the Rotunda with members of Congress, including Rep. Lauren Boebert. No arrests were made, and Capitol Police have declined to clarify whether Feucht’s event was formally approved.
“I’m not sure why some citizens are allowed to pray in the Rotunda and others aren’t,” Wilson-Hartgrove said. “But I pray as part of my pastoral responsibilities.”
Barber’s arrest also struck many as ironic given former President Donald Trump’s stated desire to eliminate “anti-Christian bias” in government. Critics say the administration only supports public expressions of Christianity when aligned with its political ideology.
“This administration seems to favor Christians who support Trump,” said Anthea Butler, professor of religion at the University of Pennsylvania. “Arresting Rev. Barber is a travesty.”
As Congress continues budget negotiations behind closed doors, Barber and his allies remain undeterred. Their message is rooted in faith, not politics: defending the poor, challenging injustice, and calling for a “moral budget” that prioritizes human dignity over tax breaks and austerity.
“You have to have redemptive hope,” Barber said. “If I didn’t believe my worst enemy could become my best friend, I’d stop preaching. I wouldn’t wear robes or crosses. What would be the point?”
Though the path ahead is uncertain, Barber is committed to returning week after week. His goal is not simply to be arrested, but to arrest the attention of the nation.
