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icarusOccupy DC Violently dispersed, protesters forced against fence with batons.
The National Park Service has been concerned about first amendment rights.
"Americans expect to be able to exercise their right of freedom of speech in national parks in the nation's capital," Peggy O'Dell, the Park Service's deputy director of operations, wrote. "Courts too have recognized that 'the right to use public parks for expression of ideas is of special importance to the District of Columbia' where 'the general concepts of First Amendment freedoms are given added impetus as to speech and peaceful demonstration in Washington, D.C., by the clause of the Constitution which assures citizens of their right to assemble peaceably at the seat of government and present grievances."
However, House Republicans blasted them and threatened them with subpoenas in January -- and now the Republican controlled House is getting its way.
Today National Park Service police began slowly dismantling the Occupy DC encampment at McPherson Square on K Street early Saturday morning. Over the course of several hours, cops asked protesters to leave while authorities in hazmat suits combed the park and removed tents.
Despite protesters insisting that the temporary structures were in compliance with the latest regulations imposed on the demonstrators, the cops continued to clear out the park throughout the course of the day. With only a small section of McPherson still spared by late afternoon, authorities eventually moved in and used force to clear the rest of the park. Protesters, passersby and journalists alike were assaulted as cops clad in riot gear stormed into the crowd and attacked anyone on the scene.
Here cops are showing forcing a group of people out of the park with plastic shields and batons, only for them to fall into the mud and be crammed into a fence that prevented them from easily vacating the premises. Several arrests were reported, including one photojournalist, and many others were injured in the raid, including one RT cameraman. (Filmed by RT)
The National Park Service has been concerned about first amendment rights.
"Americans expect to be able to exercise their right of freedom of speech in national parks in the nation's capital," Peggy O'Dell, the Park Service's deputy director of operations, wrote. "Courts too have recognized that 'the right to use public parks for expression of ideas is of special importance to the District of Columbia' where 'the general concepts of First Amendment freedoms are given added impetus as to speech and peaceful demonstration in Washington, D.C., by the clause of the Constitution which assures citizens of their right to assemble peaceably at the seat of government and present grievances."
However, House Republicans blasted them and threatened them with subpoenas in January -- and now the Republican controlled House is getting its way.
Today National Park Service police began slowly dismantling the Occupy DC encampment at McPherson Square on K Street early Saturday morning. Over the course of several hours, cops asked protesters to leave while authorities in hazmat suits combed the park and removed tents.
Despite protesters insisting that the temporary structures were in compliance with the latest regulations imposed on the demonstrators, the cops continued to clear out the park throughout the course of the day. With only a small section of McPherson still spared by late afternoon, authorities eventually moved in and used force to clear the rest of the park. Protesters, passersby and journalists alike were assaulted as cops clad in riot gear stormed into the crowd and attacked anyone on the scene.
Here cops are showing forcing a group of people out of the park with plastic shields and batons, only for them to fall into the mud and be crammed into a fence that prevented them from easily vacating the premises. Several arrests were reported, including one photojournalist, and many others were injured in the raid, including one RT cameraman. (Filmed by RT)