After the earlier standoff outside the house Republican gallery, the protesters gathered in the rotunda at the center of the Capitol building  to listen to speeches by state Sen. Sharon Nelson (D-34), state Rep. Bob Hasegawa (D-11), and state Rep. Chris Reykdal (D-22). In his speech to the cheering group, Reykdal noted, "I don't see 500 bankers here. I don't see 500 cosmetic surgeons here working their voices." The protesters want the tax break for out-of-state banks and a  sales tax exemption for cosmetic surgery to be put on the table just like all the social services that are on the chopping block.

After the speeches, the crowd marched downstairs to Gov. Chris Gregoire's office on the first floor of the state Capitol. Josh, who was one of three reporters waiting in Gregoire's office for the protesters to arrive. Gregoire came out into her office lobby and made a brief, terse statement: "They'll be arrested for any unlawful behavior. Freedom of speech is not unlawful."

Then the reporters were ushered out and the heavy wooden doors were closed as the crowd approached and a double line of state troopers blocked the way. The crowd, chanting "we want the governor!," pushed up against the officers,  getting into a serious shoving match. Protesters leaned into the officers, who in turn had to strong arm them back, sending a few spinning to the floor. Throughout the escalating tussle, more troopers emerged from a side hallway to beef up their defense until about 15 troopers were guarding the door.

At one point, an officer began shouting at the crowd to back up because one protester, sandwiched between the the crowd and the officers, was "going to collapse," he said. She got free and remained up front, and continued trying to push her way in.

Shortly after an attorney for the protesters had been allowed to quietly pass through, someone announced that the police would soon order the protesters to disperse and that those who wished to be arrested could stay and the officers would be happy to arrest them. "This officer's willing to arrest you if you don't leave," an official from the Service Employees International Union said.  Most of the group left, but about 16 lined up to get arrested, and were cited for disorderly conduct and released at the scene. One other protester was arrested for assault—he kicked and elbowed an officer. "He's on his way to the Thurston County Jail," Washington State Patrol spokesman Bob Calkins says.