While most of Illinois was taking in the 14-year prison sentence of disgraced former governor Rod Blagojevich, hundreds of other state residents were at the nation's capitol yesterday calling on legislators to stop favoring corporations and start working for the benefit of the people who elected them into office.

Some 200 area residents took to the congressional offices of five Illinois Republican legislators as part of the Stand Up! Chicago coalition of protesters who headed to Washington D.C. on Monday to take part in the week of action geared towards reducing corporate influence in American politics. Members of the Occupy Chicago movement were also in attendance at yesterday's visits to the offices of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-8), U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-11), U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-13) and U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-16). The visits were part of a larger effort by thousands of Americans to visit the offices of 99 congressmen and demand an end to the strong influence of corporate lobbyists in Washington policies.

But the sit-ins, meeting requests, and teach-ins by protesters were not greeted warmly by the legislators from Illinois. 

"The congressmen went to great lengths to avoid meeting or engaging with their constituents," reads a press release from Stand Up! Chicago. "Sen. Mark Kirk hid in his office. Rep. Don Manzullo ducked into an elevator. Rep. Adam Kinzinger failed to come back from lunch. And Rep. Joe Walsh sneaked down the back stairs while his constituents asked him repeatedly to meet with them."

Take a look at all the ducking and dodging done by the congressmen yesterday in this video by Stand Up! Chicago:

Indeed, Walsh, according to Stand Up! Chicago, went back on his word to meet with the concerned protesters at 3 p.m., instead opting to attempt a stealth exit around 3:20 p.m. Here's full video of Walsh's failed attempt to bypass the protesters:

Tonight, Walsh is expected to announce — again — his plans for 2012. The announcement is set to take place at a Tea Party event in Wrigleyville. In September, Walsh said he planned on running in the 14th congressional district, currently represented by U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R). Lately, though, Walsh has changed his tune, saying he didn't want to "just give" the 8th district to a Democrat, specifically naming candidate Tammy Duckworth as a known favorite for the seat due to the new district map. Currently, Duckworth and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi are candidates in the 8th district race, along with Republican Darlene Ruscitti, the DuPage Superintendent of Education who got in the race in late November.

Image: 99indc.org