Occupy DC Protesters Arrested

In a rare clash between Occupy DC protesters and police, about a dozen demonstrators were arrested today. Protesters had begun constructing a two-story plywood building at McPherson Square and refused to comply when police gave them one hour to start dismantling it, the Washington Post reports. As of 3pm today, more than 20 demonstrators remained inside and on top of the structure. Until now, Occupy DC had largely managed to avoid headline-generating clashes with police.

Though some scuffles were reported and some protesters had to be subdued or dragged off by police, the arrests were mostly peaceful. As for the structure, one demonstrator says it symbolizes the necessity of housing the homeless. Another says it was simply a place for protesters to go when it got cold, and that an "eco-friendly" heating device was planned. (More Occupy DC stories.)