Five abortion rights protesters accused of painting handprints on the outside of the Riverside Historic Courthouse remained jailed Sunday.
The demonstration occurred at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at 4050 Main St. and was organized by the Inland Empire chapter of Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights.
Protesters were demanding that the federal government restore legal abortion nationwide in the wake of a Supreme Court overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.
Organizers of the demonstration said that around 20 people showed up to the “small peaceful” protest. Footage taken at the scene shows Riverside County sheriff’s deputies handcuffing several people on the steps of the courthouse.
Organizers of the demonstration said protesters used washable green paint to place the handprints on the walls of the courthouse and chalk to write messages on the pavement around it.
“Our downtown courthouse is a beautiful piece of history and art,” Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco wrote in a statement responding to the demonstration. “When you damage, deface or destroy property you are no longer a protester, you are nothing more than a common criminal.”
Bianco said five people were arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism.
“These charges are excessive and outrageous,” said Olivia Merritt, an organizer with Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights. “Last night, a small group of protesters used temporary chalk and kid’s paint to make a political statement: Forced Motherhood Is Female Enslavement! These messages were easily removed. Calling people gathering for a protest a conspiracy is aimed at suppressing political speech. When people everywhere need to be demanding Abortion On Demand and Without Apology, no one should accept this.”
Merritt said a total of 13 people were detained and held overnight.
Those still jailed were being held on $10,000 bail, protest organizers wrote on social media.
The organizers shared photos of the chalked messages and handprints being washed off Sunday morning.