Occupy DC: NPS To "Enforce" post-MLK NO-CAMPING Law post-Issa hearing, NOON MON! Witnesses needed!

[Leopolds Ghost]

Occupy DC: Park Service To "Enforce" post-MLK NO-CAMPING Law in wake of Issa hearings,

Noon Monday!!

For both McP and Freedom Plaza... they were passing them out like candy and had a big GA about it today.

If you are a DC resident, DC political aide, what have you, please come by on Monday to show passive support and witness.

Folks told me that this is not necessarily the end of the road for Occupy DC, only potentially -- hence the need for supportive witnesses who live or work in DC -- especially as the Park Police are not on the side of the GOP critics here... for one thing they have deigned to treat McP and Freedom Plaza equally and the latter group has a permit that lasts well into the spring (October2011.org, the more formal group that folks like Kevin Zeese are involved in, got a permit before Occupy started -- @non endorsed both protest sites, though primarily McPherson -- after October2011 had been scheduled to occur as a "Tahrir"-style protest against the war 9 months prior to the Occupy movement gaining steam... the general principle of Occupy being civil disobedience, so there is no permit for McPherson, whereas October2011 (Freedom Plaza) started as a more formal antiwar group that joined Occupy after what happened in New York). Also McPherson is uniquely situated as it is in a bit of a traffic dead zone on K street despite being only a block from the White House, due to the road closures around the White House.

National Park Service Camping Enforcement
Notice For McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza

This communication serves as notice that, on or about noon, January 30, 2012, the United States Park Police will commence enforcement of the long-standing National Park Service (NPS) regulationsthat prohibit camping and the use of temporary structures for camping in McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza. The NPS has repeatedly advised participants in both parks of camping regulations, and had sought voluntary compliance. On or about noon, January 30, 2012, if camping violations are observed, individual violators may be subject to arrest and their property subject to seizure as evidence. Any temporary structure used for camping also will be subject to seizure as an abatement of a public nuisance, and may be reclaimed by the property owner between the hours of 8 AM - 5 PM at the Park Police Station located at 960 Ohio Drive SW, if done within the 60 days. Items determined to be trash or a bio-hazard, however, will be disposed of as refuse, so you are advised to promptly dispose of any such items.

NPS REGULATIONS PROHIBIT THE FOLLOWING:

1. CAMPING, defined as the "use of park land for living accomodation purposes such as sleeping activities, or making preparations to sleep (including the laying down of bedding for the purpose of sleeping) or storing personal belongings, or making any fire, or using any tents or shelter or other structure or vehicle for sleeping or doing any digging or earth breaking...." Title 36 CFR § 7.96(i)(1).

2. USE OF TEMPORARY STRUCTURES FOR CAMPING: "Temporary structures may not be used outside designated camping areas for living accommodation activities such as sleeping, or making preparations to sleep (including the laying down of bedding for the purpose of sleeping), or storing personal belongings, or making any fire, or doing any digging or earth breaking or carrying on cooking activities. The above-listed activities constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of all the circumstances that the participants, in conducting these activities, are in fact using the area as a living accommodation regardless of the intent of the participants or the nature of any other activities in which they may also be engaging...." Title 36 CFR § 7.96(g)(5)(vi).

The NPS camping regulation has been upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court. The NPS has a long and proud tradition of providing opportunities for the exercise of First Amendment rights, but it also is obligated to protect our important cultural and natural resources. Although 24/7 demonstration vigils and the use of symbolic temporary structures, including empty tents used as symbols of the demonstration, may be permitted in the park areas, camping and the use of temporary structures for camping is not.

TO COMPLY WITH NPS CAMPING REGULATIONS, YOU MUST DO THE FOLLOWING:

1. Remove all camping material from the park, AND

2. Leave one side of all temporary structures open at all times to ensure public health and safety and to allow NPS personnel to monitor compliance with camping regulations.

At both parks, NPS rangers will be distributing this notice to persons and at each temporary structure, and will post it in conspicuous locations in the parks, and on the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/nacc/parkmgmt

Seems like they're threading the needle here.

Also, the AFL-CIO and ACLU are headquartered within a few blocks of these sites and have offered to assist Occupiers with moving "camping related" material and monitoring what happens tomorrow.

Let's hope this doesn't become another Oakland.

[Leopolds Ghost]

1. So... any folks in DC? Interested in witnessing this around lunch hour?

[Leopolds Ghost]

2. This is tomorrow folks... ok so it's no teargas... yet

If we can't get folks out in DC to witness or comment then when the end DOES come for ODC they won't need the measures they've resorted to in the big "blue" (?) cities.

[rhett o rick]

3. k&r

[JDPriestly]

4. K&R

[sabrina 1]

5. What is a shame is that the Park Police have consistently supported the Occupiers in DC and said

many times 'we have no problems with these people' and statements such as 'they are exercising their 1st Amendment rights'.

Daryl Issa wants them gone, because the message is embarrassing to him and his corporate buddies.

I will call tomorrow and thanks for the OP. I received something about this in the mail and already signed the petition they are circulating.

[sabrina 1]

6. Here is a link to some numbers to call and a script, if needed, to put in emails to officials.

http://act.boldprogressives.org/call/call_occupydc/?source=auto-e

From the email from the organization that is backing Occupy DC:

Until now, Occupy DC has been protected from eviction because the National Park Service -- not the DC police -- have jurisdiction over us. The National Park Service said publicly, "We don’t have any issues with these folks" and "The core of their First Amendment activity is that they occupy the site."

But last week, Republican Rep. Darrell Issa politicized the Park Service -- holding hearings where he pressured them to crack down on Occupy DC under the pretext of enforcing camping regulations. The Park Service quickly buckled.

They are asking that people call the numbers above in the link to let the Park Police know they do not have to give in to political pressure.

[T S Justly]

7. Old fuddy FUD. No rec no text

[Leopolds Ghost]

8. I just posted the full text of the notice. Everyone down there is emptying out their tents last nigh

I got a copy in my pocket. Where were u?

[Leopolds Ghost]

9. Mind you they are emptying out tents in hopes NPS will "pass over"

No lambs blood, but they are required to leave the flaps open and many have painted messages for Park Police on the flaps --

"NO JUSTICE, NO SLEEP" = reference to no sleeping law passed in the wake of MLK's Poor People's campaign, the last time a camping protest in DC was semi-successful -- it fell apart after MLK's death

"EVICTED FROM HOME, NOW EVICTED FROM OCCUPY"

"WE DO NOT CONSENT TO A SEARCH"

etc.



In general the folks with nose to the ground feel that they should play footsie and/or musical chairs with Park Police as much as possible to avoid the sort of confrontation Occupy Oakland is experiencing,

but others I am sure are relishing the opportunity for confrontation even if it means Occupy gets evicted

They are constructing a huge tent with "TENT OF DREAMS" painted on it.



I'm hoping they don't drape it on the statue today, because that will escalate the controntation at an inopportune moment...

Or so my sources tell me -- I'm not there now. *cough*

[countryjake]

10. K&R!

Hi Leo!

[Leopolds Ghost]

11. Hi countryjake! I got some cool pictures for y'all

Even though I'm totally not in DC or anything like that... y'know.

[Leopolds Ghost]

12. So huge turnout from DC residents and no visible response at noon == massive block party

The TENT OF DREAMS went up over the General's head at noon... or so my sources tell me.

But this doesn't mean the danger is over. In fact, if the pattern at other encampments is followed, then the danger is huge because the notices were invariably a feint followed by a night-time anti-camping raid.

The only difference is that the Park Service is less eager to bust Occupy heads than city police in the other big "blue" cities. But the TENT OF DREAMS may force their hand...

They also planted a tree in the lawn side of the park facing the White House, in defiance of the "no disturbing the earth" rule.

[T S Justly]

13. Got a run-down on the "gypsies and thieves" situation, over there?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002205988#post37

And, may I laugh at your efforts? Thank you.

[Leopolds Ghost]

14. You're really fulla anger aren't you? Apparently you don't mind trustafarians welching off of Occupy

Bumming shit off of people without offering anything in return, vandalizing stuff in response to provocateurs, goading police who are just walking by in hopes that they will beat someone up (as two supposed anons were doing yesterday, much to everyone's disgust -- fortunately it was a passing incident and the park police were indifferent), setting up tents marked "ANONYMOUS HQ" and stealing shit.

Don't worry -- the fact that no one here seems to care what happens to Occupy DC speaks for itself. Witness the lack of replies.

[Leopolds Ghost]

15. So, is anyone else INTERESTED in news from ODC? I have pictures...

But I don't know if I should bother uploading them if no one's interested.

I mean, this is like a DU2 thread... I thought with the sheer numbers of
people on DU3, there'd be bound to be more folks who'd want to know...

[randome]

16. I'm torn on this.

On the one hand, I don't see what putting up a 'tent of dreams' does to advocate for economic justice. Or planting a tree in defiance of a local ordinance. Although those things may be nice for other reasons.

OTOH, I don't like a Congressman meddling for political reasons.

[Leopolds Ghost]

17. The Tent of Dreams makes for great photos, though. But its naturally a doomed symbolic gesture

I'm afraid it might serve as a giant "FUCK ME" symbol to the park police, embarrassing them w/ Issa and forcing their hand.

I mean it WILL force them to come back (I think the people who put it up ASSUMED the Park Police would be clearing out tents yesterday, but a cursory review of tactics in other cities will show they're more likely to come at 2 AM several days later. Especially to enforce a no-sleeping law)

Then again, OWS achieved national news by constantly pushing back, but I'm not sure if taking advantage of Park Police (uniquely) tolerance counts as "pushing back".

I think they should be directinmg some of the more flamboyant civil disobedience actions AWAY from the primary Occupy encampment, to draw fire away from it (not literally, unlike Oakland. -- just my 2¢.

It is a pretty tent, though, I'd admit. How often do you get to see them turn such a (rather bland) statue into the centerpiece of a circus tent?