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Note: Today OP-ED News will test a collaboration between our on-site coverage of the CPAC Occupation and the added bonus of live video. Occupied Air will join OP-ED News by providing live video which will be featured following the text [below] of this ongoing story. Readers and viewers following this protest, or stepping into the middle of the event, can read about all the prior developments at the protest up to the moment of joining the event live on video.
12:00PM EST
A crowd of about 200 protesters has already shown up at Occupy CPAC event. Here at the Marriott Hotel Located at 2660 Woodley SW in Washington DC. The Conservative Political Action Conference [CPAC] will be meeting here today, Friday Feb 10, 2012, and Saturday.
The crowd is already enjoying a crisp clear winter morning. Drums and chants are commencing. This protest is being attended by many union members. New protesters are arriving.
12:35 PM EST
The cops have arrived. In front of the Marriott the DC Police have blocked off the street in preparation for CPAC. The protesters have now filled that space. The cops are not pleased. Six patrol cars have just pulled up. The crowd is now about 300 people. They move into the crowd.
12:45PM EST
The Occupation is working. The crowd has managed to block off the entrance to the Marriott. About 50 protesters are sitting in the street following chants of "Sit Down!" The cops are warning of immediate arrest. Media is being told to get on the side walk since the cops will begin clearing the streets. In keeping with the Non-Violent philosophy of Occupy many protesters begin to move.
Today's protests drew more African-Americans than usual. Thanks to their efforts today's chants are much more lyrical, rhythmical, and joyous. The legacy of America's last civil rights movement lives on with these enthusiastic protesters and their positive example today. Refrains of," This is what Democracy Looks Like" ,"We need Educators.. not Dictators" and," Our Street not Wall Street", fill the air.
1:10PM EST:
A group of College students just returned from gaining access to CPAC and are addressing the crowd about their adventure. "Cory" and "Harry," who are in from the Bronx, report getting into Mitt Romney's speech. While there they were physically accosted by many of the conservative gathering who were outraged at their attendance, and particularly their" Money is Speech"Poverty is Silence" T-Shirts. The crowd enthusiastically received the news.
Down by a giant inflatable image of a "Fat Cat" strangling a 99%er a group of protesters in baseball uniforms has joined to crowd.
A helicopter has just landed behind the Marriott. With the protest currently blocking the entrance this may one of the CPAC speakers avoiding the crowd.
In front of the Marriott CPAC some attendees are leaving. The crowd tries to verbally engage some them. Most hurry away with condescending looks on their faces, while others scurry to a friendly conservative journalist waiting for an interview. Some make the mistake of questioning the protesters and challenging their views. This proved a fatal mistake as most Occupiers are well versed in their subject. To the dismay of one conservative he is now being followed down the street, towards the safety of the cops, by an Occupier named," Barry". Having attempted to use distorted facts with Barry the conservative is now receiving the "whole truth" about his flawed logic.
Many of the protesters are from the two camps at McPherson Park and Freedom Plaza which were illegally evicted this past Saturday and Sunday. "Don" a long time Occupier is lying in the center of the side walk comfortably napping while using his back pack for a pillow.
This portion of today's protest was scheduled from Noon to 1PM. The crowd is now slowly dispersing. The announcement has been made that the second part of the protest is scheduled for today at 5PM. Many protesters are leaving for lunch or going back to work and families prior to returning this evening.
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