Interruption From Protesters During Obama’s Speech

The 99 percent approached President Barack Obama this afternoon, surprising the commander in chief with a “mic check” during a speech he was making in New Hampshire.

Speaking from Manchester, NH Tuesday to discuss the American economy, President Obama was interrupted by protesters employing the “People’s Microphone,” a method of spreading news and alerts made popular by the Occupy Wall Street movement after demonstrators were denied usage of megaphones.

“Mic check,” a lone voice yelled during the president’s speech, which prompted a boisterous echo from other protesters in the crowd. A series of call-and-response quips ensued, overwhelming the president and causing him to momentarily stop his speech.

Though the chants were cut short due to a roar of cheers and jeers, the attempted message in full has made its way to the Web.

“Mr. President: Over 4,000 peaceful protesters have been arrested while banksters continue to destroy the economy,”protesters proclaimed. “You must stop the assault on our First Amendment rights. Your silence sends a message that police brutality is acceptable. Banks got bailed out. We got sold out.”

“We’ll be talking about a whole range of things today and I appreciate you guys making your point,”responded Obama. “Let me go ahead and make mine, alright? And I’ll listen to you and you listen to me.”

The president added to the crowd, “You’re the reason that I ran for office in the first place.”

Protesters aligned with the Occupy Wall Street movement have conducted impromptu mic checks at other large events and political rallies in the two months-plus since the demonstrations began. Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul was surprised by one himself during a recent speech, to which he responded, “If you listen carefully, I’m very much involved with the 99. I’ve been condemning that one percent because they’ve been ripping us off.”

“We need to sort that out, but the people on Wall Street got the bail outs and you guys got stuck with the bills,”added Paul.“I think that’s where the problem is.”

Video: OWS protesters interrupt Obama’s speech

Protesters Interrupt Obama’s Speech

During his speech in Manchester, N.H. today, President Obama found himself interrupted by members of Occupy New Hampshire.
The protesters handed out fliers along with attempting to employ a “human microphone” to deliver a message of dissatisfaction to the president. They got about halfway through before others in the crowd began to counter-chant with the President’s 2008 slogan of “Fired up. Ready to go.”
The Occupy New Hampshire flier said:
Mr. President:
Over 4000 peaceful protesters have been arrested. While bankers continue to destroy the American economyYou must stop the assault on our 1st amendment rights.
Your silence sends a message that police brutality is acceptable. Banks got bailed out. We got sold out.

Alexandra Pournaras/NBC News
A copy of the flyer from which “Occupy New Hampshire” protesters read when interrupting President Obama’s speech on Nov. 22 in Manchester.
Obama spoke directly to the protesters and said, “I’m going to be talking about a whole range of things today. And I appreciate you guys making your point. Let me go ahead and make mine, all right?”
Later in the speech the President acknowledged the “Occupy movement” when he spoke of the “profound sense of frustration” that the “essence of the American dream” is slipping away. Yesterday, NBC’s Jo Ling Kent reported that Occupy New Hampshire members showed up at a Ron Paul event as well and proclaimed, “”We are the 99%! We will be heard!