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When approaching the Freedom Plaza Occupy camp from the north the differences between this protest and McPherson park are obvious. This Occupation does not resemble the typical Occupy camps previously evicted across America. Rather than and embryonic composite of tents, tarps, string, rope, and protest signs this camp looks more like a military operation.
All Occupy camps are different, but this camp at Freedom Plaza, called Occupy Washington DC, (Occupy DC is the other camp) stands out. Freedom Plaza has no grass or trees and sits on semi-polished granite with symbols of American democracy throughout. The camp has a lovely view of the Capitol building looking down the slight grade of Pennsylvania Avenue to the south. On this granite sit about 65 tents in neat rows or congregations around the epicenter of the camp. Many new Occupiers have recently arrived at both camps for the Occupy Congress protest this past Tuesday Jan 17,2012.
In the middle of the camp are two olive drab 20' x 30' tents both neatly staked out using brand-new orange 5 gallon buckets filled evenly with sand. The camp is almost spotless. No trash to be seen. All common areas such as the kitchen, info area, library and walkways are conspicuously neat and tidy. Spaces between the tents appeared to have been recently swept. The port-a- potties are locked. Walking by the nearby General Assembly ( GA ) area the chairs are lined up neatly in arranged rows in front of a white dry erase chalkboard.
The camp is different by design. New campers are on 48 hour probation before being officially admitted to the camp. All applicants must sign a code of conduct statement. Campers who have violated the rules or refused to sign the statement have had to leave. Although the camp welcomes all not all end up staying at Freedom Plaza. Some campers at McPherson Park left Freedom Plaza after difficult experiences.
There are deliberate reasons that Freedom Plaza is different as Bill Miniotti gladly admits. Bill is a Marine Corps veteran who moved up from Florida to be part of a grassroots effort for change. He was one of the original members who, along with other veterans and several longtime activists, were instrumental in starting this camp. Bill doesn't mind admitting that the differences in this camp stem from the veterans military legacy. What the camp lacks in laissez-faire attitude it makes up for in safety, cleanliness, amenities, and quiet evenings.
Occupy Washington DC, the Freedom Plaza camp, was originally started under the title, "Stop the Machine." The two originators of this theme, long time activists, Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeisse, were not directly affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement but were sympathetic to its cause. Stop the Machine was their concept and the Freedom Plaza camp was spawned by their efforts.
With the advent of Occupy Wall Street in October Freedom Plaza was opened to all interested Occupiers but with a few caveats. Most of these guidelines are contained in the agreement prospective campers sign. Many of these requirements do not sit well with the free spirit of the Occupy campers.
At Freedom Plaza campers cannot drink alcohol inside their own tents, must keep their campsites clean, be quiet after 10 PM, are required to attend the nightly GA, must attend any protest approved by the GA, and generally must do as they are told.
All the campers that remain at Freedom Plaza willingly consent to these conditions despite some campers preferring a less authoritarian doctrine. The benefits of a sound night's sleep, clean, available restrooms, increased personal safety, and safety for their possessions, and a more provincial lifestyle are welcomed by those who choose to stay at this camp. McPherson Park is available to all campers as an alternative. Despite its roots as Stop the Machine Freedom Plaza has, by sheer influx of Occupy campers, become more and more of an Occupy camp.
Freedom Plaza's attractiveness reaps a further benefit of enticing donations both large and small.. A duo of Occupiers routinely solicits donations throughout the day at the north entrance to the Plaza. On one Sunday afternoon interested citizens stopped by the Information Tent every 10 to 15 min. to express support for the Occupiers. Almost all dropped money in the one-way security cashbox.
Popularity of the Occupy camps has provided Freedom Plaza with deep pockets. Cash reserves were apparently large enough that recently Occupy Washington DC purchased a house. The concept of this large expense was presented as a winter shelter for the older, less hardy Occupiers, a place to prepare hot food for the Occupiers, and an essential point for all clerical work, communications and planning. This was a tough sell for most Occupiers.
Since taking up residence at the new home Flowers and Zeisse have only occasionally been seen at the GA . With daytime temperatures between 30 - and 40 - the absence of the two founders has not been well received.
Occupy style democracy cannot be swayed by lobbyists, individual interests, or insincere leaders. With the majority of the Occupiers at Freedom Plaza dissatisfied with the decisions and direction of their Occupy camp internal politics was beginning to boil.
The coup d'état occurred on Monday, January 16.While allowing opportunity for all members of the camp to speak in support or dissent, the camp voted to ask Ms. Flowers and Mr. Zeisse to relinquish all personal control in favor of shared control by the Occupiers. One longtime Occupier described the GA as a ", leader- full moment," a reference to Occupiers dislike of individual leaders. Occupiers prefer leadership from the group via the process of the GA. Where leadership is all-inclusive. Leadership at Occupy Washington DC is democracy personified.
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