SEQUIM — Local anti-war activists are still steamed that they were denied entrance at a meeting at the Clallam County Democratic Party Headquarters with U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell last weekend.
The activists say they were snubbed, but officials with Cantwell’s office and the state Democratic Party said the activists were “protesters” who wanted to disrupt the meeting.
“The Democratic Party is being very undemocratic,” said Rick Marschall of Port Angeles, a Democrat who opposes the war in Iraq and is critical of Cantwell’s support for the invasion and occupation.
“We wanted to go in and listen to her, raise the issue with her,” Marschall said.
“She is our senator, we have a right to talk to her.”
Instead, the anti-war activists stood outside.
Clallam County Central Committee Chair John Miller said the group showed up with a number of “provocative” signs and he prevented their entrance to prevent a possible confrontation.
“They were pretty aggressive in their language prior to the senator’s arrival,’ he said
“It was getting pretty noisy.”
A call to summon Sequim Police to the party headquarters at 150 S. Fifth Ave. was placed, after the activists were denied entrance. The caller asked that an officer would drive by, according to police logs.
