So far, the 99% have gotten a 99% pass on their blatant lawlessness. But now the grown-ups are being mean to these filthy, violent children. WaPo:
The director of the National Park Service said Tuesday that U.S. Park Police will “very soon” begin enforcing a no-camping law at McPherson Square but that the Occupy D.C. movement has a prevailing First Amendment right to continue its vigil there.
“We are about to enforce the camping regulations, but we are not evicting the Occupiers under any circumstances, unless there is an emergency,” National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said Tuesday at a subcommittee hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which oversees the District.
A spokesman for the Park Service later clarified that, while the Park Police will encourage the protesters to sleep elsewhere, those who ignored such entreaties risked being arrested or cited…
The protesters have come under fire in recent days for health and safety concerns after the District’s health director said the rat population was “exploding” in the area and an infant was found abandoned in a tent.
Other than that, though, it’s a little corner of Utopia. How dare they expect Occupiers to abide by the same rules as everybody else?
But wait, there’s dumber:
Sara Shaw, one of the protesters, said that they were disappointed to hear that the Park Service would begin enforcing the law against illegal camping and that the group hoped to work with the agency to find another solution.
“We’re not going to go easily,” Shaw said. “We’re here fighting for our First Amendment rights and for what we believe in. And occupying that space is one of our tactics.”
Yep, you heard her: Squatting is a First Amendment right. Okay, Sara Shaw. Tell me your mommy and daddy’s address, because now I get to camp out on their front lawn and there’s nothing they can do about it. What, do you have a problem with free speech?
Jarvis said the Park Service would give the protesters one more official warning before beginning enforcement in the coming days. So far the Park Police have made more than 80 arrests at the site on McPherson Square and another encampment on Freedom Plaza for various offenses, including theft and assault.
80? Is that all? Way to overreact, National Park Service. How come you never arrested any teabaggers when they robbed and assaulted people? Whaddaya mean, “It didn’t happen”? Since when did that make a difference?