Unemployed District residents stage sit-in at McConnell’s office

Several dozen unemployed Washington residents occupied the D.C. office of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Thursday, looking to discuss jobs with the Senate minority leader.

The group, reportedly members of the unemployment advocacy organization Our DC, entered the office shortly after 10 a.m., pledging to remain until McConnell granted a meeting on President Obama’s Rebuild America Jobs Act, according to Our DC’s website.

The local residents were unable to meet with McConnell, however, and instead spoke with members of his staff about scheduling a meeting down the line, according to a staffer.

The demonstrators remained in McConnell’s office in the Russell Senate office building throughout the afternoon. Several were still present as of 5 p.m., the staffer added.

The group was peaceable and no individual was asked to leave the premises by the Capitol Police, according to McConnell’s office.

The Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sit-in.

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