Lucian Perkins: Occupy DC’s Tent of Dreams
OccupyDC protestors covered the statue of General James B. McPherson on the square they are occupying after the National Park Police declared that they would start to enforce long-standing regulations prohibiting camping on federal park land. The Park Police had given the protestors latitude in the past, but were responding to pressure by congressional Republicans to enforce the ban.
The protestors fully expected a confrontation with the Park Police after a Monday deadline had passed. Under the rules, the Occupiers can stand vigil in the park 24 hours a day, and can keep their tents, but they can’t sleep there. No bedding inside the tents is permitted and they must be kept open for inspection.
Occupiers and bystanders view the large tent cloaking the statue of General James B. McPherson.
Protesters celebrate the raising of the tent.
Many protesters held vigil throughout the night expecting a raid by the Park Police, which so far hasn’t materialized. But police warned again on Tuesday that the tent must come down.
PHOTOGRAPHS + TEXT by LUCIAN PERKINS / facingchange.org
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