Officials with the National Pork Producers Council are still deciding whether to file charges against protesters who they say “stormed” their Washington D-C office on Monday. N-P-P-C President Barb Determan, a pork producer from Early, Iowa, says it was a frightening incident for the staff.Determan says about 100 protesters stormed into the office, had a physical confrontation with N-P-P-C staff and vandalized the office and office equipment. She says the protesters took over a fax machine and sent out “propaganda” with the N-P-P-C letterhead.Determan says the D-C staff of seven was very frightened by the incident, which revolved around the future of the pork checkoff. She says most of the protesters were not pork producers, but she says the group -did- include members of the group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. Determan says the demonstrators would not discuss their concerns in a civil manner.Determan says there isn’t yet a damage estimate available. She says the protest is “an injustice to pork producers everywhere and should cause great concern for the safety of those working in our behalf.”
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