For more than six months an Occupy DC camp has remained in McPherson Square without a permit from the National Park Service, but officials said Monday they’re considering issuing a permit to some protesters there as early as this week.
Technically, the tent city in McPherson Square has never needed a permit — the Park Service only requires groups of more than 500 to obtain one. But protesters at the District’s other Occupy camp in Freedom Plaza have had a permit to protest since October, and with both camps merging this week at McPherson Square, the Park Service will likely transfer Freedom Plaza’s permit to the park at 15th and K streets Northwest, NPS spokeswoman Carol Johnson said. Protesters have also put in a request for a permit extension that could keep tents in McPherson until July, she said.
“When people apply for First Amendment [protests], essentially, those are allowed — as long as the space is available and the regulations are followed,” Johnson said.
Protesters say they hope the move will invigorate a movement that has diminished since U.S. Park Police removed nearly all tents from Occupy camps and forbade sleeping in the parks in February. But since the police raid — which came after months of complaints from area businesses, Mayor Vincent Gray and even Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. — protesters have continued to stage small protests and quietly return tents to the park. Protesters from Freedom Plaza will likely be bringing two enormous military tents with them, Johnson said.
Still, there are still some kinks for protesters to work out before they move to McPherson. Protesters acknowledge that both camps have distinct approaches that don’t always mesh well. They’re also moving more tents into McPherson as the Park Service is gearing up to repair damage to $430,000 worth of renovations in the park, and they face criticism from a slew of locals that aren’t exactly keen on long-term protests in downtown hot spots.
“I hate to give up land,” said protester Bill Miniutti. “But this merger is to revitalize us.”
Johnson said she understood that some locals are upset about the influx of protesters coming into McPherson.
“We understand, sure. It’s an unprecedented demonstration, and we’re trying to balance everything,” she said. “Certainly having them consolidated makes it easier from a resource standpoint for us.”
Gray once suggested that both protests merge at Freedom Plaza, citing serious health concerns and a rat infestation in McPherson. But when told of Occupiers’ latest plan, Gray spokeswoman Doxie McCoy wrote in an email that D.C. officials would work to “safeguard the health of protesters and protect the interests of District residents and business owners.”
