Members of the anti-war Stop the Machine and October 2011 movement attempted to take over the atrium of the Senate Hart Office Building on Tuesday, chanting “we are the 99 percent” and “end all wars” before Capitol Police cleared the area and made a handful of arrests.
Stop the Machine and October 2011 protesters were the chief organizers, but were joined by people who said they came to town for the Occupy D.C. protest. Some of the chants also took on the branding of the “Occupy” movement, including chants about taxing the rich.
There were a handfull of arrests after Capitol Police tried to clear out the atrium of the building. At least two protesters went limp as they were handcuffed, forcing police to drag or carry them away.
Officers also confiscated a large pink banner that protesters tried to drop from an upper floor above the Hart building’s atrium and several signs that violated the building’s protocol. There were roughly 100 protesters in all when the protest began at 11:30 a.m.
At one point, officers discussed instructing Senate staffers to stay in their offices. Sen. Mike Lee’s office locked their doors and had an officer placed inside ahead of the protest.
Late update: Capitol Police say there were six arrests.
