Occupy protesters threaten the veterans vigil in Washington DC
Five protesters refused to move from the sidewalk in front of The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) in Washington D.C. this morning.
The five, claiming to be part of the Occupy movement, had slept on the sidewalk overnight as a form of protest. When the DVA maintenance crew arrived to pressure wash the sidewalk, the five refused to move.
Claiming they had rights as private citizens to occupy a public sidewalk, DVA security called in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
After ten minutes of conversation, the five decided to comply with the DHS request to move sleeping bags and mats five feet away to allow for pressure washing to continue.
When questioned, veterans were adamant in stating the five protesters are not a unit of the vigil which has been held continuously since October 4 when DVA officials first refused to meet with the veterans about the erosion of veteran benefits.
November 7, 2012