Gitmo protesters arrested in House after disrupting session

Fourteen protesters were arrested in the House gallery Thursday afternoon after publicly condemning treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

After disrupting House activities — leading to commotion on the floor among lawmakers — the public galleries were cleared and the protesters were led away.

Shortly after, there was a loud dispute in the well of the House over whether a vote was counted, led by Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), according to a witness.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) was also seen coming out of his office to investigate the commotion. “What now?” he could be heard asking.

All 14 protesters have been charged with unlawful conduct, disruption of Congress, and are being processed at the Capitol Police’s large detention facility at 67 K St. SW, according to department spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider.

Many of those detained peacefully by Capitol Police appeared to be over the age of 50. As one protester was placed in plastic constraints by officers, he loudly decried treatment of prisoners at the detention camp in Cuba housing detainees from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Erik Wasson contributed. Updated at 5:47 p.m.