Activist protesters stormed and occupied House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's office in the Capitol on Monday, demanding that he help pass a five-year reauthorization of PEPFAR, the "President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief." 

BREAKING: Activists are occupying @SpeakerMcCarthy’s office demanding a full 5 year reauthorization of PEPFAR, which some Rs are opposing. Background: https://t.co/nQVnCxPDE0 pic.twitter.com/wCZx4Z6wzu

— Alice Miranda Ollstein (@AliceOllstein) September 11, 2023

PEPFAR has been renewed since George Bush's time in a bipartisan way, but some Republicans alleged that the Biden administration is putting some of the $7 billion annual budget toward abortion providers; they want a provision to prevent that from happening. The Biden administration denies it.  

.@housingworks and @HealthGAP demonstrators are about to be arrested pic.twitter.com/zxwmPIsUB2

— Alice Miranda Ollstein (@AliceOllstein) September 11, 2023

Ultimately, six people were arrested. They were lined up and zip-tied. Then they were marched out by the police, still chanting about the bill. 

They’re being marched out in zip ties, still chanting “pass PEPFAR now” pic.twitter.com/0ut2kHfSUG

— Alice Miranda Ollstein (@AliceOllstein) September 11, 2023

Now, this is a protest that could be resolved by the Biden administration and Democrats simply agreeing with the Republicans that none of the money is going to abortion providers. If you deny it is, then you shouldn't have any problem with agreeing to a provision that says so. And if you won't, then we know that Biden is full of malarkey and likely is using it for abortion providers. 

But the protest was interesting for another reason. That was the reaction of many to it in the wake of the incredible sentences passed down for some Jan. 6 defendants who had not been accused of violence to anyone during the riot, yet got long sentences. Many believed that these protesters would be treated differently, and more favorably, for occupying a Capitol office.  

Is that an insurrection? I guess not, unless they support #Trump. https://t.co/b1Pgbn3f3t

— Sharyl Attkisson 🕵️‍♂️💼🥋 (@SharylAttkisson) September 11, 2023

Seems there's another unarmed "insurrection" going on at the Capitol as "rioters" occupy Speaker McCarthy's office.

I fully expect everyone involved to be sentenced to 18-22 years in federal prison... 🤨 pic.twitter.com/VelADxR8pm

— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) September 11, 2023

This could be 1) Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; 2) Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; 3) Impeding Passage Through the Capitol Grounds or Buildings; 4) Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building, and more. https://t.co/8UlOZd6yr6

— Byron York (@ByronYork) September 11, 2023

I wrote earlier about Communists protesting outside a Jason Aldean concert, calling for a Communist revolution here. As I noted, in a Communist system they'd be locked up and have the key thrown away, if they protested the government. We aren't in that system yet, but we are moving toward a banana republic with two systems of justice -- where how you are treated may depend on your politics. If you have a magical "D" after your name, you get no punishment. But if you are on the right you can go to prison for years. if you are the political opponent of the Democrats, suddenly multiple indictments may appear against you.

I'm willing to bet that these McCarthy protesters will not suffer any consequences heavier than a fine or a desk appearance ticket, if that.