Twelve more were arrested after Occupy protesters attempted to occupy the Democratic National Committee in Des Moines Monday morning, Jan. 2,  after Debbie Wassermann Schultz, chairperson of the DNC, refused to meet with the group.

The occupy protesters invited Schultz on Sunday night, but she declined the invitation, according to a press release.

The group started marching at about 1 p.m., headed specifically for the “war room” at the DNC’s headquarters at the Renaissance Savery Hotel.

Upon arrival, the group was met by a worker for the hotel who told them they could not enter the hotel.

The occupiers made their way in, despite the warning, and lied down on the ground.

Emilio Adonis Baez, a protester from Chicago, said he believes Barack Obama is a war criminal.

“After three days in office he allowed there to be a drone strike,” Baez said. “Barack Obama is truly a war criminal. He’s as responsible as George W. Bush.”

Baez said the main reason he came to Iowa is because he is concerned with the vast amount of social inequality in the country. He said that it’s not right that CEO’s are making record profits at the same time people can’t get healthcare or housing.

He said he refers to the Occupy movement as the “international Occupy movement” because it’s an issue of class.

The movement is about mobilizing the masses of working people to create a true democratic society, Baez said. 

Victor Lee, who has attended Occupy protests in various places, including Denver, said the entire movement is about everything that’s going on in politics.

“It should be a direct conflict of interest for a CEO of any large corporation to be in cahoots with our government in any way, shape or form,” Lee said. “It should be a scandal. It should be as bad as if he went out and picked up a hooker.”

Lee said he plans on heading to Virginia or Washington D.C. next, and follow the caucuses.

These arrests come two days after dozens of occupy protesters were arrested at the headquarters of Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.