December 9, 2011
There are two occupations in the nation’s capital, so I asked people at both why they are occupying. The answers I got are among the most insightful and articulate as I’ve heard anywhere else to date…
December 8, 2011
There are actually two Occupy encampments in the nation’s capital, and they are only about five blocks apart from one another. One is called Occupy DC and it is in McPherson Square near K Street. The other one goes by Occupy Washington DC and it is a little closer to the Capitol and the mall on Freedom Plaza.
The Freedom Plaza occupation is the older of the two, having started in early October. In fact, it was being planned back in April, long before anyone had the idea to occupy Wall Street.
“It was basically designed as an anti-war protest,”…
December 8, 2011
My timing couldn’t have been any worse yesterday. I arrived here in the nation’s capital just as the protest on K Street was ending and just as a driving pouring rainstorm was starting.
In the time it took me to figure out that I had missed the majority of the protest, pretty much everything except for my computer – which was wrapped up in my raincoat – was soaked through.
Foolishly enough, I briefly considered camping but instead decided to hole up with a friend of a friend. Since then, I’ve been running everything in my backpack through his…
December 7, 2011
K Street is well-known for being occupied by lobbyists, but today Occupy DC paid the infamous Beltway thoroughfare a visit. That is, until the police showed up.
As part of a direct action, which drew occupiers from as far away as Minnesota and Boston as well as busloads of union members, protesters turned K Street into what Matt Kirkland called “an Occupy block party.”
“We took five intersections,” Kirkland said. “There were conga lines and drum circles.”
He said the action was designed to target the Podesta Group, a lobby firm that represents, among other clients, Wells Fargo and BP….