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Today, one Occupy protester was attacked and beaten by an undercover Washington D.C. Capitol policeman. Seven others were arrested in the January 20, 2012 protest held by Washington's two Occupy camps at McPherson Park and Freedom Plaza.
Titled, "Occupy the Supreme Court," the Occupiers of these two camps, joined by local supporters, marched to the court after a rendezvous at Freedom Plaza. The marchers, some 300 strong, arrived at the Supreme Court to find barricades blocking the target of this Occupation, the steps of the Supreme Court.
The protesters then held a Mic Check and General Assembly [GA] to seek approval from the Occupiers to remove the barricades. After the crowd reached unanimous approval, the barricades were removed to one side and the protesters approached the steps. Peacefully they began occupying, row after row, the steps. Once all the protesters were on the steps they occupied over half that area.
Protesters delivered an Occupy resolution calling for a constitutional amendment barring corporations from being considered people. During speeches about their resolution the cops closed in on the protesters.
Capitol police issued three warnings for the protesters to voluntary leave the steps. Some protesters got up to leave. Others remained seated. Many squared off with police who stood in lines around the protesters. Many protesters were very vocal hurling words of protest and insults at the cops. Protesters did not assault the cops.
The event turned ugly when an undercover Capitol Police officer assaulted a protester at the front lines. One eyewitness, who was, "about 5 feet away," reported seeing what, at first, seemed to be a protester attacked, thrown to the ground, and savagely beat by another protester who had stood next to him. The attacker produced police I.D. and was immediately supported by fellow officers. Eye witnesses confirmed that the protester who was beaten had not done anything to warrant the attack.
The attack on the protester caused a strong reaction from the Occupiers resulting in seven additional arrests.
One protester while being arrested was in the middle of tug of war between police and the Occupiers trying to pull him to safety.
The Occupy protesters eventually dispersed. There were no other incidents today.
