courtesy: Armando Trull/WAMU
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA) -- An ugly face-off between Occupy D.C. protesters and U.S. Marshals ends with two people in the hospital. Marshals were executing a court-ordered eviction at a home on Capital Hill when they were confronted by about fifty protesters with the group, Occupy Our Homes D.C.
They were trying to stop the eviction of Dawn Butler, one of the tenants at 917 Maryland Avenue NE. Butler has been living in the home for the last six-years, but it was foreclosed on in 2009.
"I tried to buy it, but it was sold to a bank," said Butler. "I'm the 99% against the 1% and here it is, I'm losing."
"We are fighting for Dawn's right of first refusal because they want to purchase the home and that's their right as D.C. residents. That's the law here," said Sophie Vick with Occupy Our Homes D.C. "The court is saying they were not tenants even though they have a signed lease."
The group has been working to help for Butler and her family for the last few weeks, but it came to a head on Butler's front porch Tuesday morning. U.S. Marshal's broke apart three human barricades before ripping down a wall of milk crates and busting down the front door. One protester shouted, " This is an illegal foreclosure. This is grand larceny," before being carried away by Marshals.
"U.S. Marshals personnel were confronted by protesters today while trying to execute a court-ordered eviction here in the District. Marshals personnel were forced to remove a number of the protesters to complete the eviction process," said a spokeswoman for the U.S. Marshals.
No one was arrested, but two people were taken to the hospital. A U.S. Marshal was hit in the head by a piece of falling debris. He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. A protester was also taken to the hospital.
"He was pulled up a stairwell by his throat and he ended up unconscious on the pavement," said Vick.
Both the Marshal and the protester were treated at the hospital and released.
Despite the protest, the Marshals prevailed. By the end of the day, the locks were changed and Butler's belongings were scattered across the sidewalk. But Butler says, this is not over yet. She plans to continue to fight for her right to buy the home in court.