20 PROTESTERS ARE ARRESTED AT MEMORIAL

Twenty demonstrators protesting the U.S. government's policy regarding Vietnam were arrested yesterday for demonstrating in an area near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial that is closed to the public, U.S. Park Police said.

They said the 20 protesters were arrested at 5 p.m. shortly after 150 people involved in the second day of a demonstration near the memorial's grounds crossed into the area around the memorial from which the public is barred.

The memorial was closed to the public for about 30 minutes while officers made the arrests, police said.

The demonstrators were warned by police that they would be arrested if they did not leave the area, police said, and all but 20 of them did so. Police said officers then arrested the remaining demonstrators, who chanted "Freedom Now" and, according to witnesses, held hands and sang "Amazing Grace."

Police said the 20 persons were charged with violating the Code of Federal Regulations regarding the monument, were issued citations and released.

Several of those arrested who did not have valid identification were required to post $50 collateral before their release, police said.

Witnesses said those arrested were the children or families members of persons whose names appear on the wall.

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