Officer struck by brick as mounted police clear Occupy DC tents from federal park

[Leopolds Ghost]

43. Correction: some Secret Service Agents were sympathetic when the crowd sang the National Anthem

At the vigil in front of the White House to mark the date the Administration agreed to permit the disbanding of Occupy encampments.

So there was more than one non-political DC resident willing to express sympathy for the right to peaceful protest.

I am surprised they were so kind, given the alleged menacing act by a protestor that occured recently in Lafayette Square (which I only heard about later, or I would have expressed second thoughts about attempting to join a vigil there). I can only conclude that SSAgents are trained to distinguish between individuals and not operate on gang turf logic, unlike some people here. (on the internet, that is.)

By the way, the law the Park Service was enforcing was designed to stop the Poor People's Campaign of 1968, and shut down MLK's effort to camp out on the mall that year, after he died. It was an expansion of the law designed to stop the Bonus Army march, I believe.

Rats and drug use were a major issue reported on as the reason. How do I know? We were taught about the Poor People's March in history class -- just like everybody else on this forum.

I wonder how many folks on DU would fess up to opposing the Bonus Army if they were alive then... Why ever not? Just because the history books say it was something positive and that MacArthur used undue force doesn't mean we have to agree.

I don't remember if rats were a major issue with the Bonus Army or not.