The woman jumped a barrier and charged at the comedian, according to reports from people at the scene. The demonstrator was quickly taken down by police before she could reach Cosby and was taken into custody.
The topless protester had the words “women’s lives matter” written in red and black on her chest. NBC Philadelphia reports that she was accompanied by another half dozen protesters.
Steve Lindsay CBS
✔@SteveLindsayCBS
Crazy scene as naked protester is taken down by police as #Cosby arrives at court in Norristown.
Jeannette Reyes
✔@6abcJeannette
#BREAKING Dramatic start to the day as we awaited Bill Cosby. Topless protester taken into custody after charging at the comedian as he walked into courthouse for sex assault retrial.
The 80-year-old comedian is charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault. He’s accused of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a former women’s basketball coach at Temple University, in 2004. In June, a jury failed to reach a unanimous decision on the charges and the judge declared a mistrial.
Opening statements for the retrial began Monday morning.