Eleven ‘Add the 4 Words’ protesters arrested, 11 more about to be…

Mon., March 2, 2015

An Idaho State Police officer arrests a gay rights protester on the Idaho Senate floor, Monday, March 2, 2015, in Boise, Idaho. Protesters are asking lawmakers to pass anti-discrimination legislation. Activists taking part in the protest that started Monday morning said they would not voluntarily leave until legislators consider adding four words, sexual orientation and gender identity, to the Idaho Human Rights Act. (AP / Kimberlee Kruesi)

By Betsy Z. Russell betsyr@spokesman.com (208) 336-2854

Eleven “Add the 4 Words” protesters, including disabled veteran Madelynn Lee Taylor, have been arrested this morning in the Idaho Senate chamber, and led away from the chamber. Eleven more protesters still in the House chambers also likely will face arrest; the House convenes at 11 a.m., and 30 minutes before the session starts, people can be removed. The initial group was arrested on charges of trespassing after the protesters refused to leave the chamber. UPDATE: Twelve protesters were arrested and removed from the House chamber prior to the convening of this morning’s House session.

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Eye On Boise." Read all stories from this blog