Story highlights <\/p>\n
Protesters demonstrated in 13 different locations in House and Senate office buildings, according to Capitol Police spokeswoman Eva Malecki. As of Monday afternoon, Capitol Police had arrested 80 protesters 21 in House office buildings and 59 in Senate buildings and charged them with the misdemeanor of \"Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding,\" Malecki said. <\/p>\n
Sens. Ted Cruz, Jeff Flake, Rob Portman and Lamar Alexander, all Republicans, had protesters either inside or in the vicinity of their offices, holding signs and chanting their opposition, including \"Save our lives, kill the bill\" and \"Come out and talk to us.\" <\/p>\n
Some of the protesters outside of Cruz's office lay down on the ground, blocking foot traffic, forcing Capitol Police officers to carry them down the hall. <\/p>\n
Cruz and Portman both expressed opposition to the Senate's health care bill before leaving for the July 4 recess, though Cruz had recommended and GOP leadership was considering an amendment to the current legislation. <\/p>\n
\"One of the great things about freedom in America is even people who disagree can speak out, and there is a small group of people on the left who, right now, are very angry,\" the Texas senator said last week. \"We can engage in cordial and civil debate -- that's how democracy works and that's how it's meant to work.\" <\/p>\n
CNN's Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report. <\/p>\n
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80 arrested on Capitol Hill after health care protests - CNN<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Story highlights Protesters demonstrated in 13 different locations in House and Senate office buildings, according to Capitol Police spokeswoman Eva Malecki. Continue reading