Though police stressed it was not an eviction, protesters disputed that contention. "We're being evicted without tear gas!," said Occupy DC activist Melissa Byrne, according to The Washington Post, which observed early Saturday afternoon that "[t]hey are really clearing this place out."
There have been at least eight arrests, according to media reports and protester dispatches from the scene.
By 10 a.m., Park Police officers, along with personnel in bright yellow HAZMAT suits, were inspecting tents to see if they were in compliance with the National Park Service's no-camping regulations. Tents that were deemed out of compliance were dismantled and removed from the park, along with Occupy DC activists' belongings.
The encampment, which started as handful of protesters on Oct. 1 and grew to include tents and communal areas covering the majority of the federally-controlled downtown park near the White House, was cordoned off into sections as police officers conducted inspections.
According to livestreaming video from McPherson Square, once Occupy DC activist pleaded with police that "everything" he owned was in his tent.
The National Park Service, which has jurisdiction over the park, has been under pressure by congressional Republicans over how it has handled the Occupy encampment. Members of the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee have criticized the NPS for tolerating camping in the park.
NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis said that the Occupy camps in the nation's capital are protected under the First Amendment, but said his agency would soon enforce no-camping regulations. Warnings on impending enforcement were distributed on Jan. 27 at both the Occupy DC camp at McPherson Square and a separate camp at Freedom Plaza, which started Oct. 6
According to dispatches from reporters in McPherson Square on Saturday morning, police conducted tent inspections three at a time with a legal observer present.
@aubreyjwhelan Aubrey Whelan
Police will not look in any tents without a legal observer present. #occupydc
But by mid-morning, activists, according to livestreaming video from inside the park, were complaining that the Park Police had gone against their word and removed tents that Occupy DC protesters believed adhered to the no-camping rules.
Occupy DC's "Tent of Dreams," erected by protesters on Monday around the park's statue to Gen. James McPherson, was taken down by Occupy activists before sunrise. Police removed the Guy Fawkes mask on the statue's face.
@aubreyjwhelan Aubrey Whelan
Police now using the cherry picker to take the Guy Fawkes mask off Gen. McPherson. #occupydc
Around 7:40 a.m., Park Police officers reiterated the National Park Service's regulations about camping in the park and protest activities: their tents can stay but cannot have camping equipment inside, including bedding.
While tensions were initially high early Saturday morning, observers noted that the raid wasn't very confrontational.
@aubreyjwhelan Aubrey Whelan
Tons of cops here. Mostly just milling around. This isn't confrontational at all. #occupydc http://t.co/SSb0LD6I
According to livestreaming video from the park, around 8:25 a.m., four activists who remained at the base of the McPherson statue were given their third warning to disperse. They were then arrested.
After the protesters were removed from the base of the statue, special National Park Service crews went in to clean the McPherson statue.
By 9:30 a.m., the area surrounding the statue had been cleared of remaining tents and other Occupy activists' belongings.
As the U.S. Park Police enforcement effort unfolded and tents were removed, The Washington Post reported that "[l]ots of dead mice and rats" were discovered beneath wooden pallets.
By the end of Saturday morning, the reality was sinking in for some Occupy activists that the community they had built since last fall was coming apart piece by piece.
@OccupyKSt OccupyKSt
This was my home for four months. My family is here. And now look at it. #occupydc http://t.co/yagpROH4
As tent removal continued into Saturday afternoon, more police and protesters have been gathering on the scene. A group of protesters gathered in front of Occupy DC's library to protect it.
@Occupy_DC Occupy Washington DC
At least 2 dozen ppl sitting down in front of the People's Library. They're not taking it easily. #occupyDC http://t.co/auOg52oJ
By 3 p.m., the southern half of McPherson Square had been mostly cleared out, with bulldozers clearing off the top layer of soil, which were removed by dump trucks. The northern part of the square remained in control of protesters.
@Re_Occupy Occupy Congress
Nearly 11 hours into eviction; 8 reported arrests; one person tazed; riot police and many protestors remain (live at http://t.co/7K1c4Ekz)
By just after 4 p.m., there have been eight reported Occupy DC arrests.
Original Article
Source: Huff
Author: --
No comments:
Post a Comment