Protesters dance at Jefferson Memorial

WASHINGTON, June 5 (UPI) -- About 50 people took part in a dancing protest at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, forcing police to close a portion of the landmark for a short time.

No one was arrested during Saturday's event, which was held to protest the arrests of five people for dancing at the memorial last weekend, WTOP-TV, Washington, reported. U.S. Park Police were investigating the use of force and other actions by police in those arrests.

Protesters Saturday also cited a recent rule banning dancing inside the memorial. Dancing is permitted on the steps of the memorial, however.

"The idea that you can't dance where you want to is something that would have driven him crazy," said Shaun Haugh, who traveled from North Carolina to take part in the protest. He said Thomas Jefferson would be surprised at how police are treating dancers.

"I'm upset the deficit is out of control, that veterans are being murdered by police force here, and that the Constitution is being completely ignored by people who swear an oath here in Washington," Adam Kokesh, one of the leaders of Saturday's event, told WTOP.