or Powell's or me• • •
"Mike and Jon, Jon and Mike—I've known them both for years, and, clearly, one of them is very funny. As for the other: truly one of the great hangers-on of our time."—Steve Bodow, head writer, The Daily Show
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"Who can really judge what's funny? If humor is a subjective medium, then can there be something that is really and truly hilarious? Me. This book."—Daniel Handler, author, Adverbs, and personal representative of Lemony Snicket
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"The good news: I thought Our Kampf was consistently hilarious. The bad news: I’m the guy who wrote Monkeybone."—Sam Hamm, screenwriter, Batman, Batman Returns, and Homecoming
November 05, 2011
Occupy DC Protestor Seemingly Hit by Car Feet Away from Stop Sign
Last night Occupy DC protestors surrounded the Washington, D.C. convention center where the Koch brothers' organization Americans for Prosperity was holding some kind of gala. Toward the end of the night, a car hit several protestors, causing injuries severe enough to send them to the hospital. However, police haven't charged the driver, because the protestors "either ran toward or jumped in front of the moving vehicle."
I have no idea what actually happened, but the police report, available here and here, is incorrect or incomplete. According to the report, the protestors were hit at 7th St. and Mt. Vernon Pl. NW in Washington (A, below)—but this video clearly shows a protestor lying injured on the ground on L St. between 7th and 9th St. NW (B, below), about a block and a half away.
It's possible that the protestor hit on L St. was hit by the same driver before he hit the others at 7th St. and Mt. Vernon Pl. NW. Or maybe there were two different cars involved. Or maybe something else.
In any case, it's notable that the protestor seen in the video is lying just a few feet away from a stop sign, as you can see below. Click to enlarge:
—Jonathan Schwarz
Posted at November 5, 2011 02:16 PMYou're aware of the homicidal asshole who attacked Occupy protesters in Oakland with his car but wasn't even arrested for it, right? Looks like that's becoming a theme.
That's not a regular stop sign, it's a sign that tells people to stop when pedestrians are in the crosswalk. The person you're pointing out in your photo isn't in the crosswalk, so the sign doesn't apply. I don't see why any of this should matter though; it's illegal to drive into someone on purpose whether or not there is a stop sign.
Posted by: jcn at November 5, 2011 05:13 PMPerhaps the drivers are police agents?
Posted by: Mike Meyer at November 5, 2011 05:22 PMI was at this protest and my partner was at the intersection of 7th and L forming a human chain to block the intersection when two of the protesters were hit. According to her, and contrary to the account from police, no protesters attempted to jump on the car or touch it in any way. Rather, they simply stood there linking hands diagonally across the intersection and refused to move, just as they had for several hours up to that point. I was there before and after the incident and I can attest to the fact that is how they dealt with the handful of other cars that tried to pass through.
I'm fairly certain the driver was not associated with the Koch conference nor was he an angry right-winger, but rather a local asshole who thought the protesters would blink first if he tried to slowly roll through the intersection. As for the lame excuse about the light being green, well, the police certainly didn't do anything to try and clear the intersection for the several hours it was occupied before and after the incident, despite having dozens of officers and vehicles in the immediate vicinity that could have redirected all traffic -- or removed those obstructing it. Letting the driver go without charge, if true, seems to me their way of exacting payback for the fact they were, presumably, under orders not to do any mass arrests, though that's just speculation.
Posted by: Charles Davis at November 5, 2011 06:01 PMthey are certainly getting into mass arrests down here in Asheville. 24 arrested on Wednesday night for staying in the park after curfew. That will likely by an ACLU case, eventually.
And today 12 were arrested for walking in the streets on Wednesday evening in a march of solidarity for Oakland. No arrests for that on Wednesday, and no warnings of arrest. The police just took pictures and identified people from the photos. It was an unpermitted march.
And, we are hearing that our local DA is involved in the Mexican drug cartel scandals! fun times!
Posted by: Susan at November 6, 2011 01:38 AMI am not sure that he hit by car accidentally or that was planned. He can be druck while driving. In all situation this cannot be justified.
Posted by: call center at November 12, 2011 01:00 AM
