A newly-opened Democrat "war room" in Iowa found itself under siege on Sunday night, when a group of Occupy Iowa caucus protesters infiltrated the premises and demanded to meet senior Democrat officials.
Abour 15 protesters entered the base at the Renaissance Savery hotel, complaining they were being prevented from meeting with Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Some gained access to what the DNC is calling their war room – a centralised space set aside for providing press briefings during the Iowa caucuses – before being escorted out by police.
Dozens of Occupy protesters have been present at Republican candidates' events during the last week, while 12 people were arrested on Thursday night after blocking the Iowa Democratic party headquarters.
Protesters have been keen to stress that they see both Republicans and Democrats as in thrall to big business.
Earlier on Sunday a group of Occupy Iowa caucus protesters had hand-delivered a letter to Democrat staff at the Renaissance Savery, asking Wasserman Schultz to meet with them at the Occupy headquarters in Des Moines on Monday afternoon.
"The Democratic party has held the White House since 2008 and had a Democratic majority in Congress for two years," the letter said.
"During that time, President Obama and the Democratic party put the agenda of Wall Street and the corporate 1% first over the needs of 99% of the country. Your leadership failed us. You must do better in 2012."
Wasserman Schultz was asked to RSVP by 6pm Sunday. A member of her staff replied at the allotted time that she was not actually in Iowa until later in the week.
Occupiers received the message during a strategy meeting on Sunday evening and decided to march on the war room immediately, in protest at what some saw as "ducking" demonstrators' questions. About 15 people entered the Renaissance Savery unchallenged before being confronted by a lone security guard at the entrance to the Democrat's temporary HQ.
"We just came to request an audience with the chair of the Democrat national committee," David Goodner, from Occupy Iowa Caucus, told people outside the war room.
As hotel staff called the police, and two or three Occupy protesters managed to sneak into the room, Democrat staffers said Wasserman Schultz was not at the meeting, but said they would set up a meeting with "someone" from the party in the future.
A 10-minute standoff ensued, during which several protesters covered their mouths in gaffer tape, before the occupiers left the hotel, as a police officer arrived. There were no arrests.
"Seems like it's par for the course," said Tony Tyler, a protester who works in administration in Iowa.
"You get a smiling face that tells you they'll listen – but when it comes to actually sitting down with someone who has the power to make decisions, you get the cold shoulder."
The DNC war room opened on Sunday and will maintain a presence at the Renaissance Savery until Wednesday, the day after the Iowa caucuses.
Several protesters said they hoped to return to besiege the war room with a greater number of troops on Monday – subject to a consensus vote.
"I think Debbie's here, that's what I think," said Goodner on Sunday night. Despite promises from DNC staff members, he said he did not believe the party would put anyone forward to meet with Occupy Iowa caucus.
"No. I think we'll have to occupy their war room."