Protesters pressuring Minnesota, Wisconsin lawmakers

Posted on Thu, Mar. 08, 2007

FREDERIC J. FROMMER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - ...

In Wisconsin, organizers have been arrested for refusing to leave the office of Rep. David Obey, a Democrat who chairs the House Appropriations Committee. Minnesota protesters have avoided arrests, but their persistence led to a two-hour meeting with GOP Rep John Kline.

The Wisconsin protesters have focused their attention on Obey and on Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl. On Monday, four members of the group were arrested at Obey's office in Wausau, following the arrest of three the previous week, for refusing to leave when the office closed for the day.

Joy First of Madison, one of the people arrested at Monday's protest, said the group has read names of Iraqi and U.S. soldiers killed in the war, held photos of Wisconsin soldiers and Iraqis who have been killed, and talked to staff. The protesters want commitments that lawmakers will vote against the nearly $100 billion President Bush is seeking for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ...

In Minnesota, protesters have gone to nearly every congressional office, seeking commitments from lawmakers that they will vote to end funding for the war. The group includes four sisters who are nuns - two of whom "occupy" Republican Sen. Norm Coleman's St. Paul office every Tuesday ...

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