Protesters arrested for refusing to leave Sen. Blunt's Clayton office

Nine protesters were arrested for trespassing Thursday after refusing to leave the lobby of U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt's office building in Clayton this week, according to police.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside of the building Thursday to pressure Blunt, a Republican, to vote no on the Affordable Care Act replacement bill currently being considered by the U.S. Senate. A smaller group held a sit-in the lobby and said they'd refuse to leave until Blunt agreed to vote no on the bill.

The protest was organized by Resist St. Louis, Mobilize Missouri and St. Louis Democratic Socialists of America. Similar protests took place at other Congressional offices across the country on Thursday.

Clayton Police Lt. Al Thuen said the nine who were arrested were all released within a few hours.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/protesters-arrested-for-refusing-to-leave-sen-blunt-s-clayton/article_59b41bc5-326b-50c4-98f9-d031b5fd7e37.html