Protesters Link War, Warming

The demonstration began about 8 a.m. when members of the protest group Code Pink appeared at Independence and New Jersey avenues.

One protester, who identified herself as Desiree Fairooz, of Arlington, Tex., wore a pink coat and scarf and a huge likeness of the head of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as she waved to passing motorists.

"I moved to D.C. in March," she said, her voice muffled inside the head. "I'm a former children's librarian. I quit my job to help end the war. . . . I hope to one day be a librarian again."

Moments later, eight people dressed in polar bear suits strode up the steps of the Cannon Building carrying a banner that read: "Polar Bears for Solutions to War and Global Warming."

One of them, Ariel Vegosen, 27, said: "We are dressed up as polar bears to raise awareness around the fact that the war is directly related to global warming and contributing to global warming. We are here . . . to make that message loud and clear."

The group, accompanied by a portable speaker system that blared music, was shooed off the steps by police but continued demonstrating on the sidewalk.

Around the corner, Comstock, Califf and about 20 others blocked an entrance to the building at First and C streets SE. Police warned them via a bullhorn to move and then began handcuffing those who didn't.

"No war! No warming!" yelled Joshua Trost, 33, of Wauconda, Ill., as he was handcuffed and brought from the entrance by police. "I'm putting my body on the line. . . ."

As she sat handcuffed on the sidewalk, Nadine Bloch of Takoma Park was voicing her anger over the war, climate change and Congress when she was interrupted by a police officer.

"Ready to get up?" he said.

"I'm not ready," she said.

"Ready?" the officer said to a partner. "Go."

Bloch was lifted and carried toward the police van.

"No war!" someone shouted.

"No warming!" came the response.