Five from Congress, 94 others arrested

It's a busy day in Washington, D.C., for protesters and the officers arresting them.

U.S. Park Police told the Associated Press they have arrested 91 protesters in front of the White House. Some were people in wheelchairs who chained themselves to a fence, officers said.

The demonstrators called on President Obama to support legislation that would provide people with disabilities in need of long-term care alternatives to nursing homes.

Police issued written citations but didn't take the protesters into custody. Sgt. David Schlosser said the group did not have the required protest permit, which is necessary for more than 25 demonstrators.

And over at the Sudanese Embassy, five members of Congress were arrested while protesting the expulsion of aid groups from Darfur, said the Associated Press and the Boston Globe.

Arrested, with three others, were Democratic lawmakers Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, John Lewis of Georgia, Donna Edwards of Maryland and Lynn Woolsey of California.

They urged world leaders to oppose Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir's decision to throw out 16 aid agencies, the Associated Press said. The United Nations said up to 300,000 people have perished in the Darfur unrest that began more than six years ago, AP said.

According to JTA, the others arrested were Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler and Enough Project co-founder John Prendergast.

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