Occupy DC Will Be Vetted at Congressional Hearing

Focus will be National Park Service decisions

A U.S. House subcommittee that oversees the District government will hold a hearing next week on the Occupy DC encampment in McPherson Square, focusing on decisions made by the National Park Service.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who chairs the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is asking the National Park Service to explain why Occupy DC protesters have been allowed to stay despite a ban on camping on Park Service property.

The committee said National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis will testify about the issue next week. The subcommittee that oversees the D.C. government is holding the hearing Tuesday.

Park service officials have said a "24-hour vigil" is permitted in the park and that the protesters' First Amendment rights are paramount. The Director of the District's health department is also expected to testify.

Mayor Vincent Gray has asked the Park Service to move the McPherson Square encampments to Freedom Plaza because of health concerns and has asked that the city be reimbursed for expenses related to ensuring “a safe and peaceful protest by the two Occupy DC groups.”

Complete story at wamu.org

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