Dozens were arrested at the encampment in McPherson Square over the weekend. Occupy lands on Capitol Hill

The Occupy Wall Street movement, joined by a range of community and labor groups, took its grievances to Capitol Hill on Tuesday by participating in numerous sit-ins outside of lawmakers’ offices.

About 3,000 people traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to participate in the “Take Back the Capitol” movement, according to a spokesman for the American Dream Movement, which was involved organizing this week’s protests.


The demonstrators, most of whom are being refused face-to-face meetings with members of Congress, plan to “visit” more than 99 offices by the end of the day, the spokesman said.

Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a Capitol Police spokeswoman, said one person was arrested for unlawful entry at Room 1023 — the office of Rep. Vicki Hartzler (R-Mo.) — in Longworth House Office Building.

Occupy protesters from across the country, union members, students and other community activists gathered at the Lower Senate Park located next to the Capitol Tuesday morning, after which groups of protesters fanned out to congressional offices to “remind members of Congress that the Capitol is the people’s house, and demand that they represent the 99 percent,” according to information posted on the website of Service Employees International Union.

Some plan to set up tents around the Capitol overnight, and according to Progressive Maryland, the marchers will urge lawmakers to support the extension of unemployment insurance benefits.

The protesters will continue demonstrating throughout the week, including by marching on K Street in a show of protest against the lobbying world and holding a national prayer vigil.

Tuesday’s “Take Back the Capitol” follows on the heels of dozens of arrests at the Occupy D.C. encampment in McPherson Square over the weekend, prompted by protesters refusing to take down the bones of a wooden structure built in the middle of the park.

Seung Min Kim contributed to this story.