As President Obama Attends Alfalfa Club Dinner, Members Of Occupy DC Stage Protest

Singing, dancing, stripping, and glitter throwing as protesters descend on exclusive dinner...
UPDATE: A FULL POST ABOUT THE DINNER IS HERE.
President Obama on Saturday night attended the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner, an exclusive event for the nation's powerbrokers put on each year on the last Saturday in January by the members-only social club. Held at the Capital Hilton, the area was surrounded by a heavy police presence as the President, accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama, arrived at 7:02 PM in the presidential limousine, part of a 16-vehicle motorcade. Protesters from Occupy DC filled streets near the hotel, chanting and holding up signs and banners, throwing glitter, and later dancing in the area. Protesters tried to block guests from entering, but were unsuccesful. A large white tent was set up in front of the hotel for secure arrivals. The dinner featured comedic remarks from the President and was closed to press, who instead covered the protests. (Above: Glitter rains down on police during the protest)

Some women Occupy DC protesters took off their shirts, in theory preventing police from touching them. Police on horseback moved among the crowd, who were held back by barricades. (Above: Shirtless protesters from Occupy DC)

Occupy DC has been given until Monday by District officials to vacate two encampments, both located within blocks of the White House. The protest continued as the Alfalfa Dinner progressed.

"Protesters still dancing, mingling. This is great for morale, given what we're facing on Monday," tweeted @OccupyKSt more than an hour after the President and Mrs. Obama arrived. The K street encampment is located in McPherson Square.

Occupy DC protesters were last out in force in front of the White House on the First Lady's birthday on Jan. 17, as the President and Mrs. Obama celebrated at nearby BLT Steak. Hundreds gathered outside the gates of the North Lawn, and threw a smoke bomb over the fence, which caused a White Housue lockdown and the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The protest on Saturday night was much tweeted, and there was a livestream of the action. Above, with this photo of police on hand to contain the protest, @mmorri tweeted "Pepper spray super speakers at #alfalfadinner #occupydc."

*Top photo by AP; other photos by Mike Morris, @mmorri