WASHINGTON (July 9, 2009)—Twenty-six AIDS activists were arrested Thursday for unlawfully demonstrating in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

A Capitol Police spokeswoman says 11 men and 15 women were charged with unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct.

Sgt. Kimberly Schneider says the group came into the rotunda and linked themselves together with a white chain at about 10 a.m. Thursday.

The rotunda beneath the Capitol dome is usually busy with tourists, but police restricted the traffic while they made arrests.

The activists carried signs in support of money for needle exchange, HIV/AIDS housing and programs aimed at fighting AIDS.

They chanted, "Fight global AIDS now!"

The activists were part of a coalition of five AIDS groups from Washington, Philadelphia and New York.