Hundreds Turn Out to "Defend Occupy DC"

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)The towering statue of General James Birdseye McPherson astride his horse was pressed into service as a giant tent pole Monday, as a huge blue tarp bearing the words “Tent of Dreams” billowed in the late January breeze, suspended from McPherson’s bronze shoulders. The mood in McPherson Square was festive as occupiers were joined by hundreds of allies, reporters, and lunch-hour onlookers eager to see what would happen at noon, the time the National Park Service had warned Occupy DC that it would begin enforcing the park service’s no-camping regulations. The blue tarp – covered in colorful stars and moons – fluttered cheerfully beneath an equally blue sky in the center of the square, while occupiers clustered defiantly beneath it. As clocks struck noon, occupiers and their supporters in the square around them used the “mic check” system to announce that “We dream of a better world, a world in which corporations no longer control our government” and chanted “An injury to one is an injury to all” and “Let us sleep so we can dream.” Labor community supporters in the crowd included Metro Council President Jos Williams and most of the Council’s staff, as well as representatives from OPEIU 2, the Newspaper Guild, the Utility Workers, AFSCME Council 26 and nurses from NNU, who were on hand to make sure folks were staying safe. “I’m here as a nurse because nurses are also advocating for change,” said NNU nurse Carla Boccella. “We want to let the 99% know we stand with them.” Chants and mic-checks gave way to music as many left the square after lunchtime. Occupiers welcome donations of food and water but say they’re most worried about NPS/police action to clear them out in the middle of the night, as has been done in other occupations. “What we need most is people ready to spend the night in the square,” an occupier told Union City; keep up with ongoing coverage of breaking Occupy DC news on our website and on twitter. - report/photos by Chris Garlock & Julia Kann