Tacoma pastor arrested during demonstration in Washington, D.C.

Even after his return home to Tacoma, the Rev. Gregory Christopher is still surprised by the impact his arrest during a protest in Washington D.C. had on him.

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“It was emotional, you know, it was very emotional,” Christopher said.

The Tacoma pastor went to Washington D.C. ready to face arrest during a demonstration supporting the Affordable Care Act. Capitol police took him and 46 other demonstrators away in handcuffs.

“I was just kind of emotional about being able to actually do something,” he said.

Christopher is the pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Tacoma and president of the local chapter of the NAACP.

The Tacoma pastor went to Washington along with a group of 200 people from around the country organized by the Service Employees International Union.

They tried to talk with senators who promise to repeal the ACA, or Obamacare as it’s also known. Some ran from the group says Christopher.

When Utah Sen. Orin Hatch wasn’t at his office to hear them, demonstrators began chanting and sat down. That’s when the Capitol police showed up and told them their protest was unlawful.

“That we’re under arrest. Then we would stand up and cooperate with the officers 100 percent,” said Christopher

He paid a $50 fine and was released. He says he’ll continue demonstrating against repeal of the ACA — and believes protests here and in Washington D.C. will make a difference.

“If we all come together I think we could put enough pressure on the Senate to say ‘no, we don’t need to do this.’”