The Park Service police's confrontation with the Occupy protesters at Freedom Plaza was a much more chill encounter than Saturday's clean up of McPherson Square, the Examiner reports:
At Freedom Plaza on Sunday, several dozen protesters calmly watched police go through tents from behind barriers, occasionally chanting and singing. Two pulled up lawn chairs to watch [...]

It's official: Mayor Vince Gray wants Occupy D.C. out of McPherson Square. News broke last night that Gray had sent a letter to the National Park Service requesting that the protesters be relocated to the Freedom Plaza encampment for public-health reasons.  "The most serious of these concerns include dangerous rat infestation as well as the [...]

Freedom Plaza, Jan. 12th.  © 2012 Matt Dunn

While the National Park Service has said that it has no plans to evict the McPherson Square or Freedom Plaza protesters, a lawyer for one McPherson group has filed a lawsuit that would prevent the Department of the Interior from evicting the occupiers without a trial. The Examiner reports:
The Park Service has already posted warnings [...]

Freedom Plaza.  © 2011 Matt Dunn

Freedom Plaza. ©2011 Michael W. Hicks

Lydia DePillis argues against occupying Freedom Plaza. Because it sucks:
All public spaces are not created equal, as we know. And Freedom Plaza, a vast expanse of concrete inlaid with representations of the White House and the Capitol Complex, is about as livable as a barren tundra. Tents have overflowed the small grassy patches, and are resting [...]

Do Not Walk It Out: The Atlantic Cities reports that walkable cities aren't always the ones you think. Cities with hot summers, especially, tend to be not-so-good for walkability. The District scored 73, putting it on the low end of the "Somewhat Walkable" spectrum, and dangerously close to "Car Dependent." Don't tell the density hawks! [...]

Freedom Plaza, Oct. 10th.  © 2011 Matt Dunn
 

Freedom Plaza, Oct. 6th.  © 2011 Matt Dunn

Reporting on protests in D.C. is a strange affair. Back in the day, former City Paper editor Jack Shafer wouldn't let staffers cover them—for one possibly good reason: There are way too many. Even though they're easy to do, at some point it's hard to justify visiting them all. Still, that doesn't mean we aren't going to [...]

Freedom Plaza, October 6
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1300 Block Pennsylvania Ave, NW.  Sept. 11th.  © 2011 Matt Dunn

© 2011 Michael W. Hicks

Science Festival, Freedom Plaza, Oct. 23. © 2010 Matt Dunn