WASHINGTON — The U.S. government remains shut down in a partial closure 小题1: has put hundreds of thousands of Americans out of work, at least temporarily. Lawmakers have yet to reach common ground, and that means many federal workers stay home 小题2: national parks, monuments and museums stay closed. Some vocal veterans’ groups visited Washington over the weekend 小题3: protest the closures. But they were not the only ones there. Seeking their place in the spotlight 小题4: lawmakers publicly supporting the “Tea Party,” a group of lawmakers within the Republican Party strongly opposed to compromising 小题5: Democrats on matters of budget.
The Million Veterans March - as it was called - was supposed to be a peaceful call for 小题6: end to the government shutdown now threatening many veterans’ benefits.
Protesters tore down barricades（临时的路障） and carried 小题7: to the White House where they threw them in front of the gates and shouted slogans against the president.
“It is time that Congress started the government again. Veterans paid a price. Promises were made to them that 小题8: they serve our country, our country will take care of them. We’re failing in that mission,” said one of the protesters Kelly.