Protest in Washington, DC against govt. shutdown
Thousands of people have taken part in a demonstration at the World War II memorial in Washington, DC. The protesters, who were against the closure of the memorial during the federal government shutdown, demanded an end to the shutdown.
Chanting œTear down these walls” the protesters tore down the barricades and entered the closed monument. The World War II memorial has been closed since a government shutdown that began October 1.
They were carrying barricades from the memorial to the White House fence. There was a large gathering of people outside the gates and fence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The US government partially shut down after lawmakers at the divided Congress were unable to reach a compromise over a budget bill by the October 1, the start of fiscal 2014.
The government may also default on its debts by October 17 if feuding Democratic and Republican politicians fail to cut a deal to raise the country™s borrowing limit.
The protesters are members of the Million Vet March who had said in a statement on their website that they feel military personnel and veterans are œbeing used a political pawns in the ongoing government shutdown and budget crisis.”
Organizers say they are not a political leaning group, but call the shutting down of memorials œa despicable act of cowardice.”
œWe do not care what political leanings you may be; be it liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent or whatever. The actions of the U.S. government this week with regard to barricading and shutting down the World War II Memorial to veterans, that may or may not be on their last trip to Washington DC, is a despicable act of cowardice.”
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke to the people gathered at the memorial.
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