jandrewnelson

There’s Nothing But Little Rooms in The Big House Saturday afternoon I’m standing in McPherson Square taking photos of the cops in full riot gear as they prepare to evict OccupyDC. Despite a verbal promise from the National Park Police that only tents containing bedding material would be removed, almost every tent was targeted for the dumpster. There was so much activity going on, it was difficult to find something to focus on. Cops in full riot gear, waste handlers in yellow... Read Full Story

OccupyDC As I See It: Showdown There’s almost a siege mentality happening in McPherson Square. The federal park, three blocks from The White House, has become a battleground of sorts – a battle ground that has three combatants. The first force is the occupiers. Taking over McPherson Square on October 1st, 2011, the number of occupiers has grown, shrunk and is now growing again. Problems arise occasionally when occupiers from other movements arrive. Along with their tents and... Read Full Story

Carroll County Courthouse Massacre Carroll County Courthouse -- Scene of the Massacre The hills and hollows around Hillsville Virginia haven’t changed that much in 100 years. There’s a few more house tucked away, small family farms and gardens still dot the landscape and the forests are full of elm, tulip, oak and other trees that make a nice popping crackle when they’re burned in a woodstove on a cold, wet winter day. And people still talk about the massacre. Called variously, “The... Read Full Story

Peace Finds Us When We Let Go of Our Expectations I try to always keep a book handy in the tent. Right now I’m currently reading “A River’s Tale, A Year on The Mekong” (it’s one I found in the free library in McPherson Squrare, home of OccupyDC) by former New York Times correspondent Edward A. Gargan. One of the quotes in the book really stands out so far: “As a correspondent for Times, I found myself in cushy hotels, unworried about costs, cosseted in the certainties of an... Read Full Story

The Battle for Blair Mountain Continues Tom Johnson reached into the corner between the pie safe and icebox. The Springfield rifle that he had brought home with him from the war was still standing there safe. He kissed his wife, Sally, good bye, telling her not to worry. Peeking in on his daughter, Elizabeth, before stepping outside, he silently pulled the door shut behind him and walked into history. Waiting on him outside were his friends, Buddy and Alan. They had left their... Read Full Story

Open Letter to Congressman Darrell Issa — Please read and pass it on! Darrell – I’ve stood up for you.  I’ve told my friends that you were not a candy-ass, yuppie and that you would man up and talk with me face-to-face about some issues that concern both of us. We need to have a come-to-Jesus meeting about this situation that you’ve created regarding the presence of OccupyDC in McPherson Square. Please forgive the impersonal nature of having to address some issues with you... Read Full Story

Congressional Inquiry Into OccupyDC. My Response? “Stick It! Violence at the convention center. Getting run over – and into – by cops on horseback. Infestation of rats in the park. Kitchen shut down. Gunfire. Protests in the street. Ankle deep mud on the National Mall. A snowstorm in January. OccupyDC has survived everything that could be thrown at it. And the encampment is still here in McPherson Square at the corner of 15th and K Street in Washington DC. Now here comes Darrell... Read Full Story

OccupyDC As I See it: I Got Thrown Out I got thrown out of the Capital Hilton this evening. Probably won’t make my mother proud, but that is my latest claim to fame. You may find this hard to believe, but I didn’t do anything wrong. Here’s what happened. Knowing that the US Mayor’s Conference is being held this week at The Capital Hilton at the corner of 16 and K streets here in Washington DC I got online and registered for a media pass so I could get some shots from the inside... Read Full Story

World Children’s Choir Rocks the House World Children's Choir The “welcomes” and introductions were finished. The obligatory responsive reading was completed. The “housekeeping” chores such as announcements had been finally dispatched. About thirty young people seated in the first four pews of Washington D.C.’s First Baptist Church rose as one. Quietly lining up they ascended the four steps leading to the chancel, turned, faced the people gathered and set the church on fire. The... Read Full Story

The TV Reporter Asked Me, “Why Are You Doing This?” At about 5:30 this morning I went to the tent to get my camera gear. As I was stepping out of the tent, a reporter with WTOP TV here in Washington stepped up to me and said, “You’re Jerry Nelson, aren’t you?” Nodding yes, I slung the bag over my shoulder and started to walk away. The last thing I wanted the first thing this morning was another reporter asking me questions. “Could I just ask you one question, Jerry?” I glanced at... Read Full Story