George Clooney Arrested: Actor And Congressmen In Custody After Protest Outside Sudanese Embassy

George Clooney Arrested: Actor And Congressmen In Custody After Protest Outside Sudanese Embassy
The Huffington Post | By Kia Makarechi
3/16/2012

George Clooney and at least one congressman were arrested Friday outside of the Sudanese embassy in Washington D.C. The arrests were anticipated and part of the actor's effort to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

The actor, his father and politicians were protesting the country's blockade of supplies and humanitarian aide. Clooney was reportedly handcuffed and placed in the back of a police cab.

"They were protesting the violence committed by the government of Sudan on its own innocent men, women and children," Clooney's publicist said in a statement published by TMZ. "They were demanding they allow humanitarian aid into the country before it becomes the largest humanitarian crisis in the world."

UPDATE: NBC has confirmed more arrests. Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Rep. Tom Andrews (D-Mass.), Nick Clooney (the actor's father), NAACP President Ben Jealous and Martin Luther King III were also taken into custody at the scene.

The Huffington Post spoke with Clooney immediately prior to his arrest (see footage at the top of this article). Here's what he had to say:

"The goal for today is the same goal its been all along and will continue to be and not be accomplished today or anytime in the near future, but it's a job that we have to continually do which is raise attention; protest the idea of a government attacking and killing its own innocent men, women and children and allowing aid to get in now because in the next few months it could be the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world and thats the important thing."