Gray wants Occupy protesters removed from McPherson Square [View all]

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/post/gray-wants-occupy-protesters-removed-from-mcpherson-square/2012/01/12/gIQAz9gYuP_blog.html?tid=ts_carousel

Posted at 06:50 PM ET, 01/12/2012
Gray wants Occupy protesters removed from McPherson Square
By Mike DeBonis

McPherson Square protesters have hunkered down for the cold weather. (Bill O'Leary - WASHINGTON POST) UPDATED 8:35 P.M.

Mayor Vincent C. Gray called on the National Park Service today to remove protesters from McPherson Square to “allow for elimination of the rat infestation, clean up, and restoration” of the downtown park.

In a letter to Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, Gray suggests moving the McPherson protesters, who have camped in the park since October, to a separate encampment at Freedom Plaza. snip

The McPherson Square site, Akhter said, “has some serious concerns that should be addressed immediately.” The problems include an ongoing risk of hypothermia, fire threats from the use of candles and propane heaters, inadequate food sanitation and a rodent infestation that is “clearly visible even during daylight hours.”