Occupy The White House

A crowd of 3,000 protesters arrived at the White House around 7pm Tuesday night, after a day of protesting and having general assembly meetings by the seed factions from around the country.

The march started at McPhearson Square, paused for most of the day on the West Lawn of Congress, continued to the Supreme Court building and then after occupying the White House, returned to Congress for a large occu-party, complete with music and dancing.

 This day was a demonstration of the greatness our American political system possesses, regardless of the issues Occupy Wall Street was created to address. During all the hours and the six miles the protesters covered, there were only around 20 arrests. Three thousand protesters and an untold number of police officers must be commended. If either had acted in a different way, the eventual outcome could have been the stuff of world news and further embarrassment to America.

The only issue of the evening was when a protester, standing at the White House fence, threw a smoke bomb, causing othes to scatter momentarily, before re-occupying the fence. While this situation was dangerous, everyone on both sides took it in stride and the protest continued unimpeded.

 After reviewing much of the national media coverage, it is once again clear that they were not there where the boots hit the bricks. Much has been made about rats in their camp. If there are rats, the rats were there when the occupiers arrive, the rats are Washington’s rats and the occupiers will quickly point out that there are more two legged rats.

Michael Murden is a local retired cook. After stopping by, he decided to get involved as a volunteer.

“I wasn’t here to protest, but became a protester by osmosis. As the borg, I was assimilated, resistance is futile,” he said. He started cooking yesterday at 6am and continued to cook until after 7am, providing meals for over 2,000 protesters. The kitchen appliances, while old and worn, are clean and adequate to perform their tasks. A recent health inspection gave their kitchen higher marks than the luxurious Willard Hotel across the road.

This movement regained its momentum and its true purpose as the day passed and as people continued to arrive from all over the nation. The numbers continued to swell as the night passed and rumors suggest that thousands more will arrive today. 

From the comfort of a motel room, it may be easy to write about rats and the hundreds instead of the thousands who were actually here. Sleeping on the concrete, in freezing temperatures as the wind sweeps unoccupied tents across the streets, does not allow such mistakes.

It was cold and those who are driving this movement are of all ages and have a variety of careers. To suggest that they are here simply because they are too lazy to work or take a shower is to cheapen the greatness of our country and the idea that it belongs to us. Lastly, it proves that those who are inadequately reporting this protest are more a part of the problem than the solution.