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Protesters disrupt legislative dinner

Associated Press

Updated: Jan 27, 2012 9:45 AM

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Legislators say protesters disrupted a conservative group's private dinner at a Santa Fe hotel and a female guest of a lawmaker was injured.

The disruption came Wednesday after members of the Santa Fe's version of the national protests against Wall Street demonstrated outside the El Dorado Hotel.

Rep. Dennis Kintigh, a Roswell Republican and retired FBI agent, said four to six protesters entered the dining room during a dinner sponsored by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a corporate-backed conservative nonprofit.

Santa Fe Police Captain Aric Wheeler said one person was struck in the eye with an envelope and another injured a hand.

Lawmakers had said a guest of Rep. William Rehm, an Albuquerque Republican and retired police officer, had her cornea scratched.

No arrests were made.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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