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The first protests were specifically against the stop-loss of U.S. soldiers—a Bush administration policy of involuntarily returning soldiers to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as their time in service approaches expiration. Over 70,000 U.S. soldiers have been affected by this illegal policy.
The protest began by Stop-Loss Congress participants delivering notices to all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which informed them that they had been “stop-lossed” and could not leave for their spring break until the war had come to an end.
Two major intersections were blocked as the afternoon rush hour began, bringing traffic to a halt around Capitol Hill. Most of those arrested were students from Wesleyan University, University of Connecticut and others.
Veterans for Peace members were also arrested in the action. Earlier in the day, ten protesters dressed as ghosts of war had disrupted the Senate and been arrested.
Several groups supported the protest including Code Pink and the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism).
