Occupy DC Stays Put, Heads To Court Today

[maddezmom]

The Occupy DC encampment in McPherson Square is still in place, looking exactly as it did yesterday and two weeks ago despite a National Park Service ultimatum that the protesters decamp by noon yesterday.

The only difference in the camp now is draped over the statue of General McPherson is a huge blue tarp with yellow stars and the words "Tent of Dreams." Underneath that tent scores of Occupy DC protesters slept early this morning, defying the no camping order. They say they will remain in place until they are forcibly moved by the U.S. Park Police.

The protesters are also going to court again today to argue against the no-camping ban.

"From my understanding what they're going to be arguing is that under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, the police don't have the right to seize our property and they do not have the right to arrest us for being in a public space and not committing any real crimes," says Sam Jeweler, one of the Occupy DC participants.

more: http://wamu.org/news/12/01/31/occupy_dc_stays_put_heads_to_court_today

[IDemo]

1. Judge: Occupy DC demonstrators must get notice before eviction

By Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A judge in Washington says the federal government must notify one of the last major Occupy encampments if it intends to close a downtown park to protesters.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg also ruled Tuesday that the Occupy DC protesters will have a chance to contest any eviction plans.

The National Park Service on Monday began enforcing a ban on camping that would affect the Occupy DC sites. But many protesters remained behind, and government officials have not given any indication of when or if the demonstrators will be cleared.

The primary Occupy site is at McPherson Square, just blocks from the White House.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts-law/occupy-dc-demonstrators-head-to-court-in-last-ditch-effort-to-stave-off-eviction/2012/01/31/gIQAUoFyeQ_story.html

[Leopolds Ghost]

2. K&R, pics anyone?

I have some...

[Earth_First]

3. The only crimes being comitted here are 'thought crimes'

I love how city after city are stating that these parks must be returned to the public for general use.

Save the sporadic summer month events, many of these parks, ours included, are unoccupied and rarely used in a capacity which the city claims.

Washington Square Park in Rochester, NY has probably not seen this sort of use of the park since the civil rights and labor movements of the 60's and 30's

I say, OCCUPY!