Protesters ‘Occupy’ Bachmann campaign event

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Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann briefly paused a foreign policy speech in South Carolina Thursday as protesters from the Occupy movement interrupted.

About 10 minutes into the speech aboard World War II-era aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, about 30 protesters began chanting.

“You capitalize on dividing Americans, claiming that people that disagree with you are unpatriotic and you promote discrimination,” they said, according to a statement provided to Mount Pleasant Patch. “You parade as a grassroots candidate but your campaign is funded by Americans for Prosperity, a group that takes advantage of legalized money laundering.”

The protesters continued: “You cater to the 1 percent. You oppose paying hardworking Americans a living wage and refuse to promote realistic solutions to economic problems.”

After several moments of listening to the demonstrators, a police officer escorted the candidate from the stage until the protest was over. They left the room chanting, “We are the 99 percent.”

“Don’t you love the first amendment?” Bachmann asked supporters before resuming her speech.

Watch this video from the MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports, broadcast Nov. 10, 2011.

(H/T: MSNBC First Read)