occupy | Duncan Hill Photo

CPAC Protest 2012

On Friday in Washington, D.C., around four-hundred protesters gathered outside the Mariott Wardman Park to protest the Conservative Political Action Conference. Most of the protesters were union members, or part of the Occupy D.C. movement. After protesters surrounded the hotel’s rear entrance, riot police used force to deter the crowd and push protesters from the hotel’s property. During the clash, officers used batons and shields on protesters, sparking a chaotic scuffle. One woman was arrested for assault on a police officer by the end of the clash. Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum have all spoken at this year’s CPAC. The three day conference ends Feb. 11th, after a keynote speech from Sarah Palin.

Police clash with protesters

Conservative columnist Andrew Breitbart, reacts to protesters outside.

Occupy CPAC protesters confronted by conference attendees.

Living Wage

A conference goer argues with protesters.

Police watch over the crowd from a distance.

February 11, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: andrew breitbart, columnist, conference, conservative, cops, cpac, dc, duncan hill, gingrich, madaris, occupy, palin, photo, photography, photojournalism, police, politics, protest, rally, riot police, romney, santorum, union, washington | Leave a comment

Occupy Wall Street, DC

Occupiers were supposed to have moved all tents from McPherson Square by January 30th, 2012 at noon. Instead, the protesting escalated and police backed down for the time being. Currently, law enforcement officials are most concerned about the new tent (“Tent of Dreams”) made from a huge tarp being thrown over the top of the McPherson Statue, according to the official DC police statement.

Occupy DC Cat

Leading the Chant under the “Tent of Dreams”

At the Foot of the Statue

Ready for a Riot

Addressing the Crowd

Statue Tent

Break Dancing

Let Us Dream

Occupier Watching the Media Frenzy Surrounding the Tent of Dreams

Shades

David Schlosser, Official Police Statement

Masked McPherson

On February 4th, police raided McPherson Square and cleared out sleep related contraband and anything deemed to be a safety concern. The next day, police flooded the Occupy D.C. camp at Freedom Plaza. After barricading the plaza to keep protesters out, police and haz-mat personnel began to search tents, seizing sleeping bags and other banned items. Many occupiers were outraged by the lack of respect exhibited by some of the search force. Workers threw breakable items around and damaged personal property. Some protesters believe the recent pressure from police will strengthen, rather than deter, the Occupy Wall Street movement.