Protesters arrested after attempt to storm Justice Department
District and
federal law enforcement officials arrested 17 people Monday after protesters
opposing foreclosures attempted to storm the entrances of the Justice
Department.
About 100
protesters with groups called the Home Defenders League and Occupy Our Homes
marched on the building about 2 p.m. Some set up tents on the lawn and sidewalk
while others ran up to the building’s Constitution Avenue entrance.
According to
D.C. police, 17 people were arrested. Ann C. Wilcox, an attorney who represents
protesters, said several were tased during the scuffle. A D.C. police
spokeswoman said D.C. police were not involved in the tasing. Federal law
enforcement officials on the scene declined comment.
Police also
closed Constitution Avenue for much of the afternoon, leading to traffic
backups downtown.
As of 4:45 pm,
about 50 protesters were standing in the street or sitting on the sidewalk, and
police were preparing for more arrests. Officers equipped with crowd dispersal
agents guarded the entrance to the Justice Department. A police helicopter
circled overhead.
Jason Collette,
a protester, said Attorney General Eric Holder is the target of the
protest.
“A couple months
ago, Eric Holder said banks are too big to prosecute,” Collette said. “We think
that is fundamentally wrong.”
