National Park Service director Jonathan Jarvis said in a Congressional hearing today that the Occupy movement is “unique” and “unprecedented,” which is why the Park Service is reluctant to enforce the camping rules.
“The core of their first amendment activity is that they occupy the site,” Jarvis said. “We felt that going in right away and enforcing the regulations against camping could potentially insight a reaction on their part that would result in possible injury or property damage.”
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“If I had a group that was ‘live-in D.C.,’ would you let me live there for a couple years? Or would you have more discretion with how you would deal with me, if the name of my group was live-in D.C.?” asked Rep. Joe Walsh during the hearing.
“I see what you’re saying,” said Jarvis, “But I don’t think the name is — I’m not using it, let’s say, with a capital “o.” I’m using it in terms of a verb, they’re occupying the site.
