Hundreds protest at US Capitol against big money in politics

More than 600 protestors demonstrated outside the US Capitol against big money in US politics, prompting mass arrests by police.

Monday's demonstration, led by Democracy Spring, a coalition of more than 100 groups, was held "to demand Congress take immediate action to end the corruption of big money in our politics and ensure free and fair elections", Xinhua quoted Democracy Spring as saying on its website.

Chanting slogans such as "Money out of politics", the protestors gathered on the stairs of the East Front of the Capitol, demanding that the Congress approve bills to limit undisclosed and big-donor money.

One of the signs read "Things go better without Koch", referring to the billionaire Koch Brothers who had planned to spend around $900 million on the 2016 presidential election.

Despite its mostly orderly organisation, more than 400 sit-down protestors were arrested by police on Monday due to "unlawful demonstration activity", including crowding, obstructing and incommoding, said the US Capitol Police in a statement.