Council Stands Behind Occupy DC

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Concerned over the fate of the two occupations in DC in light of the recent raid on Occupy Baltimore and allegations that “the District… is being abused by the occupiers” by Washington Board of Trade CEO Jim Dinegar, Metro Council President Jos Williams has sent letters supporting Occupy DC to President Barack Obama, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and District Mayor Vincent Gray. The letters were written at the urging of Metro Council delegates who unanimously passed a resolution at Monday‘s Council meeting, urging officials not to dislodge the encampments and to uphold occupiers’ rights to continue their peaceful protests. Williams asserted “the metropolitan Washington area labor movement’s unwavering support of the two ongoing occupations in the District of Columbia, at McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza” and reminded Obama, Salazar and Gray that he is “proud that the rights to nonviolent protest and freedom of speech have always been held in high regard in the nation’s capital, and hope that you will ensure that this continues to be the case, and urge you to continue to allow these important protests to continue unencumbered." - photo by Chris Garlock