Around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, police raided the Occupy D.C. camp in McPherson Square, clearing away tents, bedding, and dead rodents as protestors ran through the camp to wake others. The no-camping rule was enforced last Monday. The protestors are permitted to stay overnight, only if they remain awake, keeping only unfurnished tents for the purpose of round-the-clock vigil, police reported. Sgt. David Schlosser, a Park Police spokesman said, “They can have the tents for symbolic purposes only. So long as there is compliance, we will have no issues.”
Eight protestors were arrested and a police officer was hit in the face by a thrown brick. The Occupy protestors have made McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza their home since October, but in recent weeks they have been criticized by congressional Republicans and District officials. In regards to the camp that authorities will continue to watch over, a local musician, Mark Francis Nickens said, “I think it’s over.”
