'Sled Free or Die:' Sled-In protests ban on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, March 6 (UPI) -- Children and adults protested a ban on sledding at Washington's Capitol Hill with a "Sled-In" event under the rallying cry, "Sled Free or Die."

At least 20 sledders participated in Thursday's protest, which was organized by Lyndsey Medsker on Change.org after Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District's non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, unsuccessfully petitioned U.S. Capitol Police to lift the ban, which has been in place since 1876, amid the recent snowfall.

"Snow day! Schools are closed, government is closed. Time for a little sledding. If you are up for a bit of civil disobedience, meet at the west front of the Capitol lawn at 1:00 today. Come armed with sleds! Hope to see you there," Medsker wrote online.

The protest had originally been planned for 11:30 a.m., but was pushed back to allow for "a little more accumulation."

Some protesters carried signs bearing the slogans, "Let My People Sled" and "Sled Free or Die," the latter of which became a trending hashtag on Twitter.

What's the Capitol Hill sled protest without protest signs? pic.twitter.com/jT5CQp2sBr

— Will Sommer (@willsommer) March 5, 2015

"I think we can declare victory," Medsker told the National Journal.

"There are really serious problems out there in the world," she said. "I thought this was one little thing I might be able to change."

Kids ignoring USCP regulations & sledding on House side of US Capitol amid snowstorm. pic.twitter.com/XJWsBxC9ZU

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 5, 2015

Participants said Capitol Police were present at the protest and handed out sheets of paper detailing the Capitol sledding ban, but no arrests or citations were reported.

Capitol Police have arrived, with copies of the no sledding rule to hand out. pic.twitter.com/7FxWA9QkMM

— Will Sommer (@willsommer) March 5, 2015

Norton thanked police on Twitter for not enforcing the ban during the protest.