Occupy D.C.

Anti-War Protesters Storm Senate's Hart Office Building (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | October 11, 2011, 12:55PM

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.

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Occupy D.C.

Protesters Plan To Try To Shut Down Senate Hart Building At 11:30

Ryan J. Reilly | October 11, 2011, 11:25AM

Protesters with the Occupy D.C. and Stop The Machine movements will try to shut down the Senate Hart Building at 11:30 a.m today.

Protesters were gathering in the atrium of the building as Capitol police officers loomed nearby and as other demonstrators in anti-war gear set themselves up in the lobbies of floors overlooking the lobby.

The protestors made their way from Freedom Plaza, where they've set up camp, to Capitol Hill in small groups, trying to avoid a "march" down Pennsylvania Ave.

"Is the Hart building, how do I get to the Hart building? Am I in it?" one protester asked a a Hill staffer.

We'll have updates as the situation develops.

Late update: There were a handful of arrests during the demonstration, which was organized by Stop The Machine and October 2011 protestors but was joined by people who said they were affiliated with the Occupy D.C. movement.

Alan Grayson

Grayson Opponent Supports Indefinite Occupation In Afghanistan (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | September 17, 2010, 4:45PM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

Florida Republican congressional hopeful Daniel Webster has a 2003-era view of American wars. A source sends over video footage of a Webster campaign event where he advocates that U.S. troops stay in Afghanistan indefinitely at the military's discretion, and use it to create a series of democracies in the Muslim world.

"Our national interest is this: We need a beachhead in the Middle East, that is a democratic beachhead, not a party but a form of government," Webster told voters. "And to me, if we have a democracy in several countries there, it become a beachhead. It also protects us because once that beachhead is established it can move further and further and hopefully free up the people of the middle east."

Webster was asked specifically how long he believed U.S. forces should remain in Afghanistan. He says that's none of voters' business. "However long we stay is a military decision that should not be shared with the public," Webster insisted, to a round of applause.

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Afghanistan

Anti-War Activists Plan 'Emergency' Rally In D.C. To Protest Afghanistan Escalation

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 2, 2009, 11:15AM

Former Rep. and 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, and former Sen. Mike Gravel (D-AK)

A new coalition led by more than 100 anti-war activists has announced an "Emergency Anti-Escalation Rally" to protest President Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan. The rally, scheduled for Dec. 12 in front of the White House, will include speeches by former U.S. Senator Mike Gravel and 2008 Green Party presidential nominee Cynthia McKinney.

The new coalition, called EndUSWars.org, has posted an "open letter" to Obama on its website, where it calls for an end to all U.S. military action in the Afghanistan region, including Predator drone airstrikes and covert intelligence operations.

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