25-06-2025
Six arrested while protesting cuts to Medicaid, SNAP outside Capito's Charleston office
People hold signs protesting cuts to Medicaid and SNAP at a demonstration outside West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito's office in Charleston, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Lori Kersey | West Virginia Watch)
Six people were arrested Wednesday afternoon at West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito's office in Charleston, West Virginia, as they attempted to protest proposed federal cuts to food assistance and health care programs.
Seven people came to Capito's office in the United Bank building in downtown Charleston to urge Capito to vote no on the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,' — legislation being debated by the Senate that analysts say would make historic cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that provide health care and food assistance to thousands of West Virginia residents.
The group found that the office was closed to the public, they said in a news release. When they called the office, they were denied a chance to arrange a meeting, they said. One person apparently left before the other six were arrested.
According to a news release, the Charleston Police Department charged the six with trespassing. They included Charleston City Council members Beth Kerns and Joe Solomon along with activist and a long-time episcopal priest Jim Lewis. Community members Lyn May, Paul Dalzell and Morgan Fowler were also arrested. The news release said police responded to a trespassing complaint and that the people were asked to leave but refused.
'My little girl depends on Medicaid,' Fowler said in a statement Wednesday. 'My aunt survived a stroke, but if these Medicaid cuts go through, she won't have a pathway to survive at all. Senator Capito claims to care about West Virginia, but this bill would cut health care for our babies so billionaires can buy bigger boats.'
Outside the building, about a dozen more people gathered holding signs with messages against the proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.
John Doyle, a retired Charleston resident, held a sign that warned said 'SNAP saves Lives. Hands Off.' Doyle said the bill would do tremendous harm to West Virginia in particular.
'I'm particularly concerned about Medicaid, SNAP and other human services that are going to be slashed,' Doyle said. 'This is a state where that whole economy — health care, is the major employer in West Virginia. If they don't think this is going to affect the whole state, they're wrong.'
Charleston Councilwoman Chelsea Steelhammer was also among the people protesting outside the building. Steelhammer said she's motivated to protest by her work as a teacher.
'My students — a lot of them depend on Medicaid and SNAP,' Steelhammer said. 'If they don't have health care, they're sick and they don't learn. If they don't have food, they're hungry and they don't learn. And if you don't learn, you don't succeed.'
Steelhammer said if she could talk to Capito, she would tell her to listen to her constituents.
'Just think about what's going to happen to these kids,' she said.
Capito and Sen. Jim Justice, both Republicans, have expressed support for adding work requirements to Medicaid.
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Capito said that everyone should have the right to make their voices heard in a respectful and peaceful way. She defended the proposals to cut SNAP and Medicaid.
'The Medicaid and SNAP provisions included in the reconciliation bill that the Senate is currently considering focus on managing and maintaining the programs for those who are eligible and intended to be in them,' she said. 'Our goal in the bill is to root the waste, fraud and abuse out of the programs, to ensure that it is sustainable for the long term.'
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