The District’s two Occupy camps will merge at McPherson Square in coming days as protesters attempt to revive a demonstration that has waned in recent months, but some D.C. residents said it is past time to remove the squalid tents and structures marking the occupation from the K Street park.
Members of both camps voted this weekend to consolidate after Freedom Plaza protesters learned that their National Park Service permit to remain in the plaza was in jeopardy.
Freedom Plaza Occupiers applied to extend their permit for another four months, but the Park Service already issued permits for several other events on the plaza over the next several months. Instead, the Occupiers decided to consolidate at McPherson.
“I believe part of the magic and power of the Occupy movement has been that we are all coming together and uniting in the same physical location, and it gives us a critical mass to organize great things,” said McPherson Occupier Lacy MacAuley.
But when told of the move, many city residents just wanted the occupation of their parks to end.
“I don’t know how effective it is any more. It’s more of a nuisance than it is anything else,” said Sarah Schmidt, who lives near Logan Square.
“If they want to picket in these parks daily, go for it — it’s certainly free speech,” said Frank Harrington, a lawyer and consultation who works near Freedom Plaza. “But it’s outside the boundaries of the law and a degradation of the quality of life of people who live and work around here,” he said. “I think it’s good they’re leaving Freedom Plaza.”
The consolidation comes at a time when Occupy DC has been struggling to maintain its presence as one of the last major concentrations of Occupiers in the country. U.S. Park Police have allowed the Occupiers to remain in McPherson without a permit since October, despite clashes with police, soaring public costs and protests from local businesses, District officials and members of Congress. The Park Service classified the Occupiers’ tent city as a 24-hour vigil.
Following a rat infestation and other health concerns at the Occupiers’ camp in McPherson, the Park Service in February cleared out most of the tents and began enforcing a ban on sleeping in the park.
The two camps have some important differences. Freedom Plaza Occupiers tend to be older, experienced activists; McPherson protesters have a younger, anarchic vibe.
Still, protesters say they’re excited about the move and hope it will bring both camps together.
“We’re uniting together to be stronger,” said Occupier Mike Johnson. “We should have been one camp from day one.”
