National News

Six arrested as police raid Occupy DC camp

Posted: Feb 4, 2012 2:22 PM by CNN
Updated: Feb 4, 2012 2:22 PM

Washington (CNN) -- Dressed in yellow full-body sanitation suits, members of the U.S. Park Police combed through tents in the Occupy DC camp Saturday, taking down ones violating park policies.

The owners of the tossed tents and other protesters were agitated by the move, but there was little unrest at McPherson Square in downtown Washington.

Park police in riot gear first entered at dawn Saturday, and said they were not there evict protesters, but to check for compliance with "no camping" laws.

Still, at one point, there was a confrontation between protesters and riot police.

The move comes after a federal judge Tuesday rejected an Occupy DC demonstrator's request to keep park police from enforcing a ban on camping in McPherson park and nearby Freedom Plaza.

Living in a public park as a means of protest is not protected by the First Amendment, Judge James Boasberg ruled.

The operation was a success and those in the park cooperated with police, park police spokesman David Schlosser said.

Six people have been arrested, he said. Four for failure to obey a lawful order, and two for crossing a police line.

"The United States Park Police continue to support the right of people to exercise their constitutionally protected rights," he said.

Protesters heckled him as he briefed reporters early Saturday. As he spoke, the officer was interrupted by someone who made a rooster sound, and others made ghost-like noises in the background.

Authorities told protesters Monday that they had to remove camping gear such as sleeping bags and housekeeping materials, but could keep their tents as long as one flap remains open at all times.

On Saturday, police began removing the tents from the park that had camping gear inside. Protesters complained and accused the officers of taking down tents that were not in violation. At the outset of their search, police found only one compliant tent, and took down there rest. There still remained an entire half of the park to clear.

Once the inspection is complete, the park will be reopened to the public, Schlosser said.

He understands that people may once again bring tents, and that's acceptable, he said.

"Any tents have to be in compliance with the camping regulations. If they are in compliance then there's no problem."

Occupy DC is part of a larger activist movement that began last year in New York and quickly spread across the country.

While the protesters have highlighted a number of causes, the overarching theme has remained largely the same: populist anger over what activists portray as an out-of-touch corporate, financial and political elite.