Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, a prominent American pastor, social justice activist, and Yale Divinity School professor, was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police while praying inside the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. on April 28.

Barber was joined by two others-Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Steve Swayne, director of the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center-when authorities detained them for engaging in a prayer protest opposing Republican-led federal budget cuts that threaten programs such as Medicaid and Social Security.

The group had gathered to deliver a moral message against what they described as “immoral budget cuts” that would adversely impact poor and working-class Americans, children, women, and families. Earlier that day, Barber had preached a “Moral Monday” sermon on the Capitol steps and addressed an interfaith gathering at the U.S. Supreme Court. The prayer protest escalated from quiet prayer to praying aloud, at which point Capitol Police issued multiple warnings to cease or face arrest. When the warnings were not heeded, the three were handcuffed and charged with “crowding, obstructing, and incommoding,” violations related to unauthorized demonstrations inside congressional buildings.

“To think that we went in to pray – pray against the budget, but to pray nonetheless – and the order now is that, evidently, if you pray, you are seen as violating the rules of the Rotunda,” Barber told RNS. “What we hope is that folks will see this and it will begin to remove some of the fear, and people will understand that this is the time – now – that we must engage in nonviolent direct action to register our discontent.”

Recently, the Trump administration announced a task force aimed at investigating alleged anti-Christian bias in federal agencies. Republicans nationwide are also calling for prayer within schools.

Barber has been a long-standing progressive advocate, leading the Poor People’s Campaign and the Moral Monday movement, which have challenged policies from a moral and social justice perspective, even during the Biden administration.

Capitol Police emphasized that demonstrations inside the Capitol are strictly prohibited in any form, including sitting, kneeling, group praying, singing, or chanting. They noted that there are designated areas on Capitol grounds where such activities are allowed. Reporters covering the prayer protest were also warned to leave the Rotunda or face arrest.

In March 2023, evangelical worship leader and activist Sean Feucht led a high-profile worship service inside the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. The event, which took place in the evening after most of the building had cleared out, drew a small group of conservative lawmakers and their aides, including Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who knelt in prayer with arms outstretched as Feucht sang. Other Republican representatives present included Barry Moore (Ala.), Josh Brecheen (Okla.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Michael Cloud (Texas), Tracey Mann (Kan.), and Doug LaMalfa (Calif.).

Feucht promoted the gathering as a mobilization of an army of prayer warriors, but attendance was limited to a handful of legislators and staffers. The event was notable for its overt Christian nationalist messaging, with Feucht and his allies advocating for a vision of America where Christians are making the laws.