Protesters reciting a “hands up, don’t shoot” mantra crashed a World War II veteran’s award ceremony, disrupting proceedings to the point the former U.S. Navy sailor, age 100, was forced to plead for them to stop.

“Give me a chance,” said Dario Raschio, in the middle of receiving several medals from Sen. Ron Wyden, when more than 100 protesters stormed into the town meeting in Portland, shouting “I can’t breathe,” and “hands up, don’t shoot,” Fox News reported.

The protesters ultimately quieted — but only to allow for Mr. Raschio to give the briefest of speeches.

“God bless America,” he said, accepting the medals on behalf of those who died in World War II, Fox News reported. “And you people that are here for a cause, whatever it might be — show respect to Sen. Wyden.”

As soon as he finished, they returned to their shouting, Fox News said.

A protester announced, Fox News said: “For 4.5 minutes, we are going to take time to pay respect to everybody who has been killed by police in this nation.”

Oregon Live reported that Mr. Raschio received the U.S. Naval Aviator Bridge, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the “Ruptured Duck” award and the U.S. Navy Honorable discharge pin. And one more, the news outlet reported: He was also given a U.S. flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol.

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