Anti-War Demonstration

Nine members of the anti-war group Voices for Creative Nonviolence gathered in front of the Shutt House within the park on the afternoon of June 15th and conducted a protest against the war in Iraq. The GSA-owned building houses the office of Sen. Richard Durbin (D, Illinois). Ranger David Wachtveitl contacted members of the group. One of them asked that the group be issued a special use permit for First Amendment activity in the zone designated for this purpose. The permit application was prepared and issued and the group continued its protest at that location. Five members of the group contacted the senator’s staff and received permission to stand in the office and read names of men and women killed in Iraq, but they soon began chanting in a way that disrupted office staff. Federal Protective Service law enforcement officers were contacted, as they have jurisdiction in the building. Group members were asked by office staff to leave the building and return to the First Amendment zone or to go to a conference room in the building where they would not disrupt office business. Several returned to the zone; one went to the conference room; two remained in the senator’s office. The latter were arrested by FPS officers for failing to obey a lawful order. Wachtveitl provided support during the arrests.