Occupy DC Stays Put Despite 'Eviction'

Some obey rule to remove camping gear, others don't
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 31, 2012 8:37 AM CST
Occupy DC Stays Put Despite 'Eviction'
Occupy DC demonstrators raise a tarp to form a symbolic "tent" over the statue in McPherson Square, Monday, in a protest of expected enforcement of no-camping regulations.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Their eviction deadline came and went, but the Occupy camps in two Washington parks look pretty much unchanged today—indeed, in McPherson Square the atmosphere was downright festive early this morning, CNN reports. "We're just having a great party," one occupier said. "It's a lot like any other night." Police have so far made no move against the camp, despite social media rumors that they would.

That's in part because the eviction notice was complicated, the Washington Post explains. The tents can stay—they count as protest symbols—but none of the camping gear that allows the occupiers to survive can. The protesters can stay 24 hours, but aren't supposed to sleep. Some Occupiers did follow the rules and remove their gear, but many didn't, and many have snoozed. "Occupy is supposed to mean occupy," said one protester. "You know, like [the United States] has occupied other countries." (More Occupy DC stories.)

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