'Occupy' protesters defy ban, stay put in Washington
Tuesday January 31, 2012 05:17:24 PM,
Arun Kumar, IANS
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Washington: Occupy
protesters in Washington defied a police deadline and erected a
"tent of dreams" around a statue as part of their protest against
eviction.
The camps at McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza, a couple of
blocks from either end of the White House, are the group's most
visible sites after the one in New York -- where the Occupy Wall
Street movement against corporate greed began in September -- was
cleared out in November.
Things began to heat up last week when National Park Service
officials were called before Congress to explain why Occupy
protesters have been allowed to illegally camp on park land. In
response, the Park Service ordered protesters to cease camping by
Monday.
On the day the US Park Police planned to enforce a no-camping
rule, the mood was festive in McPherson Square. Some chanted
Occupy slogans. Others milled around waiting for a noon deadline.
As the deadline neared, hundreds of people gathered around the
statue of James McPherson, an American Civil War general. Then,
protesters pulled a massive tarp over the statue symbolizing what
they say is their right to camp here.
Last week, the police notified the two Occupy camps in Washington
that they would enforce the camping ban. Protesters must clear out
camping materials, but they may keep some structures as long as
one side is open.
Police in Oakland, California made more than 400 arrests over the
weekend when factions loosely affiliated with the Occupy movement
clashed with police.
Stressing that the Occupy movement, which seeks better economic
equality, is non-violent, protesters in Washington say they don't
want that to happen here.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
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