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14 Gitmo protesters arrested in U.S. House

WASHINGTON, June 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. House gallery was cleared Thursday and 14 people protesting prisoner treatment at Guantanamo Bay were arrested after they disrupted a House session.

All 14 people were charged with unlawful conduct and disruption of Congress and were processed at the Capitol Police's detention facility at 67 K St. SW, department spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider told The Hill.

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House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, emerged from his office to investigate the disturbance, asking, "What now?" Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. D-Ill., led a loud dispute over whether a vote was counted, witnesses said.

Many of the protesters appeared to be over the age of 50, the newspaper said. One was heard loudly condemning the treatment of detainees at the Cuban camp where accused combatants in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are being held.

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