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They came by the busload, more than 10,000 strong. appealed to their senators and representatives, hoping the Congress might somehow save the inner-city anti-poverty programs the president has already begun to shut down.

Yesterday, a federal district judge in Washington told the Nixon administration that it could not legally dismantle the Office of Economic Opportunity, and the judge ordered the administration to stop doing it. The White House said today that the ruling is being studied and that the law will be obeyed.

Yesterday, a federal district judge in Washington told the Nixon administration that it could not legally dismantle the Office of Economic Opportunity, and the judge ordered the administration to stop doing it. The White House said today that the ruling is being studied and that the law will be obeyed.

But the man who's doing the dismembering, Howard Phillips, says the ruling means only that he may have to work a little longer.

But the man who's doing the dismembering, Howard Phillips, says the ruling means only that he may have to work a little longer.

And in his first reaction last night, he made clear he does not believe the court decision will save the agency.

And in his first reaction last night, he made clear he does not believe the court decision will save the agency.

The employees' union has been fighting the dismantlement, and today, still worried but a bit more optimistic, staffers went next door to a theater to hear their lawyer talk about Phillips' hardline reaction and the agency's future.

The employees' union has been fighting the dismantlement, and today, still worried but a bit more optimistic, staffers went next door to a theater to hear their lawyer talk about Phillips' hardline reaction and the agency's future.

The employees' big hope is that Congress, with support from the courts, will now insist OEO be retained. Paul Duke, NBC News, Washington.

The employees' big hope is that Congress, with support from the courts, will now insist OEO be retained. Paul Duke, NBC News, Washington.

Yeah, guys, we had protesters out here. They were on the curb over here. They went all the way around the building chanting. They went back to the stairs right behind me here, just feet away from the entrance, protesting for justice for Vanessa Guillen. While most of Guillen's family were inside during the hearing, the family

Yeah, guys, we had protesters out here. They were on the curb over here. They went all the way around the building chanting. They went back to the stairs right behind me here, just feet away from the entrance, protesting for justice for Vanessa Guillen. While most of Guillen's family were inside during the hearing, the family

Yeah, guys, we had protesters out here. They were on the curb over here. They went all the way around the building chanting. They went back to the stairs right behind me here, just feet away from the entrance, protesting for justice for Vanessa Guillen. While most of Guillen's family were inside during the hearing, the family

Sister Lupe Guillen was outside, leading about a dozen protesters in front of the federal courthouse in Waco. They chanted, they marched, they demanded justice, and they weren't just from Central Texas. We had protesters out here that were from San Antonio, Arlington, and even Kansas. Vanessa Guillen's story has gone so far and wide, one woman even decided to drive nine hours to be here.

Sister Lupe Guillen was outside, leading about a dozen protesters in front of the federal courthouse in Waco. They chanted, they marched, they demanded justice, and they weren't just from Central Texas. We had protesters out here that were from San Antonio, Arlington, and even Kansas. Vanessa Guillen's story has gone so far and wide, one woman even decided to drive nine hours to be here.

Sister Lupe Guillen was outside, leading about a dozen protesters in front of the federal courthouse in Waco. They chanted, they marched, they demanded justice, and they weren't just from Central Texas. We had protesters out here that were from San Antonio, Arlington, and even Kansas. Vanessa Guillen's story has gone so far and wide, one woman even decided to drive nine hours to be here.

The trial of Cecily Aguilar may have not started yet, but the protesters wanted to let everyone in the courthouse know they believe they know where it should end.

The trial of Cecily Aguilar may have not started yet, but the protesters wanted to let everyone in the courthouse know they believe they know where it should end.

The trial of Cecily Aguilar may have not started yet, but the protesters wanted to let everyone in the courthouse know they believe they know where it should end.