Protesters heading to St. Paul GOP convention arrested trying to break into Fort McCoy

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Thirteen Iraq war protestors face trespassing charges, for trying to enter Ft. McCoy near Sparta.

They were part of a group called Witness Against War, that's walking 450 miles from Chicago to next month's Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

Sunday, they tried to deliver a letter to the western Wisconsin Army base, which is a main processing center for troops heading to and from Iraq.

Fort McCoy officials said the group wanted to speak with soldiers and they were denied access.

The protestors were arrested for breaching secured boundaries after that.

Linda Fournier, Fort McCoy public affairs officer, said the demonstrators have a right to express their opinions, but they have no right to breach security.

Twelve of those arrested were freed pending their court appearances, but one was held on charges connected with previous protests.

The group left Chicago July 21 and is due to arrive in St. Paul Aug. 31, the day before the GOP convention begins.

Tags: wisconsin news, fort mccoy, war, protestors