The October 2011 coalition may have planned their event well in advance of the recently developing occupation movement, but if they were unwilling to genuinely ally themselves with the movement then they would have done well not to conflate the two.

Despite the large "OCCUPY DC" sign in the center of Freedom Plaza, the event's Leadership cut an advance deal with police that no one will be allowed to sleep there past 5 AM. This policy was not made clear to those who remained in the plaza overnight, many of whom had participated in spontaneous marches around the K Street bar district during last call. The policy is enforced by a police shift commander roaming about, yelling at those caught laying down, nudging them with her boot and threatening arrest if they do not wake up.

Why? Welp. Police apparently do not want the media *recording anyone sleeping*. Not kidding; this is the reason that is being given by both police and The Leadership. I remain unsure what would prevent the media from recording people between the hours of, say, 11PM-4AM but no one seems able or willing to respond to this particular point.

Further, The Leadership of Oct2011 has known from the very beginning that there is some cancer event or other to be taking place in the plaza in the days after the permit expires on Sunday (10/9), so their website's pledge about "remaining until" such-and-such are strictly bullshit.

Should anyone doubt that October 2011 is a bunch of weekend warriors attempting a co-opt, look no further than their information desk's list of "free wifi networks" .... most of which belong to hotels requiring a room number & PIN for access.

I could go on, but I won't. Oct2011 is merely more of the same silly street theatrics which have for decades failed to deliver any meaningful change.

If you're coming to DC to get yr occupation on, look for McPherson Park @ 15th & K. We don't have a soundstage, but we have group decision-making!