6 Puerto Ricans arrested for disrupting Congress

A group of six pro-independence Puerto Ricans was arrested Wednesday for demonstrating inside the House, a Capitol Police spokeswoman said.

The group got passes to the House gallery from Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico's delegate to Congress, his office said. Constituents can request and obtain passes to watch House proceedings through their representative.

Pierluisi said he recognizes the group's right to express their opinions, but incidents like the demonstration could hurt Puerto Rico's image.

"There are appropriate and lawful ways to speak one's mind about the political status of Puerto Rico that do not violate the law or interfere with the orderly proceedings of government," Pierluisi said in a written statement.

The people arrested were Jose Rivera, 60, Ramon Rivera, 72, Luis Rivera, 67, Luis Romero, 55, Maria Rodriguez, 31, and Eugenia Perez, 59. They have been charged with disrupting Congress, said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider. The group was holding up signs in the visitors' seating area that overlooks the floor of the House, she said.

It's not clear what the signs said.