The trans daughter of a U.S. congresswoman was among the 17 counter-protestors arrested while trying to block an anti-abortion Mens March in Boston last Saturday. Riley Dowell, 24, is the daughter of Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), the minority whip of the House of Representatives. Along with most of the other counter-protestors, Dowell who was reportedly charged with unarmed assault has been offered a deal to complete 40 hours of community service in exchange for the charges against her being dropped. Related Women & trans people are stockpiling abortion pills & hormones in the wake of Trumps victory One abortion pill finder site saw a 625% increase in traffic after the election. Every American has the right to protest and stand up for their beliefs, but they must do so responsibly and peacefully, Rep. Clark told The Boston Herald in a statement following her daughters arrest. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today A police report called the counter-protestors unruly for refusing to move out of the way of the marchers and said they began pushing back at officers, elevating their disorderly and unlawful activity to assaultive. Many of those involved in the counter-protest were dressed as clowns as a way to draw attention away from the Mens March while also making fun of its message. The Clown March Boston website also describes its mission as a joyful display of resistance. The Mens March is an out-of-state organization that thinks men dont have enough of a say in womens reproductive autonomy, it continues, so in 2022, 2023, and 2024, they organized a dreary, men-only funeral march to protest access to essential healthcare.Each time, weve upstaged them with a parade of colorful costumes and silly circus music. We clown on them to demonstrate that they are not welcome here and we will not allow their narrative to go uncontested. Dowell was also arrested in 2023 for allegedly assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and vandalizing a public monument with anti-police messages. The extremist Republican Party is determined to take us back in time and make women second-class citizens, she said in a statement at the time. Their campaign to ban abortion is just the beginning of their assault on all our most sacred rights, and I refuse to stand on the sidelines as their rampage continues. I am furious and heartbroken, and I will proudly fight for our right to abortion. They can arrest me, but we wont allow them to arrest freedom.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.