Tuesday, January 30, 2007
ANTIWAR DEMONSTRATION
Congressman Questions Lack of Response to Protesters
Dismayed that a small band of protesters spray-painted graffiti on the west front steps of the U.S. Capitol during Saturday's march against the war in Iraq, Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) requested a meeting yesterday with the chief of the U.S. Capitol Police to explain why the police force did not intervene and make arrests.
"It is my understanding protesters were allowed to spray paint the Capitol steps and deface buildings around the area while Capitol Police were instructed to not arrest anyone engaging in these unlawful acts," Allard wrote in a letter sent yesterday to U.S. Capitol Police Chief Phillip D. Morse.
The small group of protesters rushed the doors of the Capitol building during the antiwar rally, said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a police spokeswoman, and officers successfully secured the building. Schneider said the acts of graffiti were minor and cleaned up Saturday afternoon.
Schneider said she did not know what the protesters wrote on the steps.
-- Elissa Silverman
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