Six Occupy Kuhl's Office in Fairport

Fairport, NY—Today, August 6, at 11:30AM, six anti-war activists—associated with the Declaration of Peace Campaign and the Occupation Project—occupied the congressional office of Randy Kuhl (R-NY) demanding an immediate end to the war in Iraq. A simultaneous action was planned in Bath, NY at Kuhl’s Southern Tier office.

The staff assistant for Kuhl, Robert Quinn, seemed overwhelmed by the intrusion of anti-war demonstrators and news media—both independent and corporate. He said he wasn’t able to do any work as his office was completely filled with activists. When questioned about whether the police would be called, he responded by saying that there was “no current plans.”

Outside the office, around 30 people assembled with anti-war/”support the troops” signs and banners lining Main Street outside of Kuhl’s office located in Packett’s Landing.

Other demonstrators were assembled outside of the door to Kuhl’s office when an irate Mr. Welker of Welker Property Management Inc. stormed out of his own office a few doors down and threatened to call police if demonstrators didn’t get off his property. This of course raises interesting questions about public offices being located on private property and how offices become inaccessible when the folks looking to address grievances with elected officials don’t align with the politics of those property owners.

Police were eventually called and asked that demonstrators stay on the sidewalk off the Landing.

The time is currently 3:05PM and the occupation continues. It has yet to be seen what the assistants and secretaries in Kuhl’s office will do when it’s time to go home.