Over 40 students made the journey from Princeton University to the Capitol Reflecting Pool on May 11 and joined other area students to protest Senator Frist’s use of the “Nuclear Option” to end the filibuster of judicial nominees. The Washington mock filibuster started at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday and ended at noon on Thursday. All told, Princeton students filibustered non-stop for 384 hours. Following are photos from their 24-hour Washington filibuster.
Princeton students arrive at the Capitol having filibustered on the “Fili-bus” since 4 a.m.
(Photo Courtesy of People for the American Way)
Students set up for the mock filibuster. The site included two tents, a podium, a public address system, lights, computers, a Webcam, and a generator to provide power.
Sunny skies and 80 degree temperatures greeted students on Wednesday morning. They continued their filibuster even amidst the evacuation of the Capitol, when an unidentified aircraft entered restricted airspace.
Students read from various texts including some children’s classics like Dr. Seuss’ “Yertle the Turtle,” a story about a king turtle who decides he wants a bigger throne and orders the other turtles sit on each other to make him sit higher. Eventually the stacked turtles collapse and the king turtle is sent tumbling back to earth.
Some of the more serious tomes from which students read included constitutional law texts, the Odyssey, and Shakespeare.
After 384 hours of debate, students were entitled to some down time. Here students play cards late Wednesday morning. Other students were seen putting the final touches on term papers and holding study groups.
No rest for the weary. Students speak straight through the night, taking turns reading and desperately trying to consume the many bags of chips they had brought for sustenance.
(Photo Courtesy of People for the American Way)