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Local anti-war protester arrested

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A Corvallis woman camping on the steps of the Oregon State Capitol Building to protest the deployment of Oregon National Guard troops to Iraq and Afghan-istan was arrested for trespassing Friday night by Oregon State Police troopers.

Michele Darr was on her 15th day at the Capitol. She said she has been on a hunger strike during that time because she wants Gov. Ted Kulongoski to refuse to send Oregon National Guard troops overseas.

Although state governors don't have the authority over troops deployed overseas by the U.S. Department of the Army, Darr argued otherwise and insisted Kulongoski meet with her or another representative.

Troopers allegedly told her she couldn't camp at the Capitol between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Darr, 38, said many of her supporters only come to see her at night. "Civil rights don't end at night," she said.

Oregon State Police Lt. Gregg Hastings said Darr was arrested at 12:40 a.m. She was processed and released at the Marion County Jail, where she received a second citation for trespassing.

"We are being told that our soldiers overseas are fighting for our freedoms," Darr said, "and this is my freedom, handcuffed behind my back."

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