American trans activists arrested in Oklahoma State Capitol after allegedly assaulting lawmaker, trooper

The trooper followed the activist down the stairwell and detained the protestor, who became physical and allegedly hit the trooper in the shoulder.

By Edward Era Barbacena

On Tuesday, a transgender activist was arrested inside the Oklahoma State Capitol after the protestor allegedly hurled water at a Republican state representative and an Oklahoma State Trooper, and allegedly assaulted the trooper. 

The arrest came after the state’s House voted 80-18 to pass HB 2177, which bans healthcare professionals from prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones and performing sex changes on minors. The bill now heads to the Senate. 

According to KFOR, as lawmakers were leaving the House floor, one trans activist draped in a rainbow flag with the word "equality" written on it allegedly threw water at State Rep. Bob Ed Culver.

The activist was escorted away by an Oklahoma State Trooper.

On the southwest side of the building at the fourth-floor stairwell, the activist threw water at the trooper, after which the trooper went in for an arrest.

The trooper followed the activist down the stairwell and detained the protestor, who became physical and allegedly hit the trooper in the shoulder.

Culver has decided to press charges against the activist.

In response to the activist getting arrested, Oklahoma Trans Crowd Funding started a GoFundMe page, listing Ari Ross as the beneficiary, "to raise money for legal counsel for our community member that was arrested at the Oklahoma capitol, shortly after the house passed HB 2177." 

As of Wednesday afternoon, the fundraiser has received $6,688 of its $15,000 goal.

GoFundMe’s terms of service state that the platform cannot be used for "the legal defense of alleged financial and violent crimes," as well as content that "reflects, incited or promotes … violence."