Occupy D.C. Kitchen Shut Down Amid Rat Infestation
- Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:28am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Occupy D.C.'s kitchen was shut down this week over complaints of rats at the camp. (Image source: WAMU)
Occupy D.C., now one of the longest-running offshoots of the Occupy Wall Street movement, closed its community kitchen this week and had a visit from city health officials after repeated complaints about an uptick of rats around the area.
D.C. Health Department Director Mohammad Akhter personally inspected the protest area Thursday and said there were definite signs of rodents thriving among the food and trash from the group’s outdoor kitchen, D.C.’s WUSA-TV reported. According to the Washington Post, rats have been spotted for weeks scurrying around tents and pallets.
In response to the complaints, Occupiers launched a full-scale clean-up effort and even voluntarily shut the kitchen down.
“On a regular basis,” Occupy’s unofficial chef Basant Khalsa told WUSA. ”People will sneak into the kitchen after I done washed up all the dishes and went to bed. And they will make messes in there.”
Akhter said he’s also concerned about the danger of fires and hypothermia as temperatures dip and winter sets in. He is expected to make recommendations for the future of the camp based on his assessment.
While D.C. officials have been largely supportive of the Occupy movement, the Associated Press reported that it was Mayor Vincent Gray who ordered the inspection.
“Mayor Gray and [Health Department Director Mohammad Akhter] feel the protesters have a right to be there, but our primary concern is the safety of District residents,” Health Department spokeswoman Najma Roberts said, according to the Washington Examiner.
But protesters who spoke to WUSA denied the rat infestation was due specifically to Occupy.
“I was in this park before Occupy began,“ Mark ”Bear” Parker told the station. “We had rats all the time. A lot of people leave food lying around. You’re going to have rats attracted to it.”
He vowed a controversy over sanitation wouldn’t be enough to shut the camp down.
“We’re here. We’re here to stay,” Parker said.
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Comments (210)
Marlon
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:20am….excuse me Sandy, but if I kill all the rats, they’ll lock me up and trow away da key…..
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:50am….you little monkey woman…….
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:06amAmazing !!!! Thats the same exact thing that happens to DEMOCRAT RUN CITIES !!!!!!
Report Post »On The Bayou
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:15amThey should feel at home with the rats. What`s the problem?
Report Post »TrueGrit
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:22amYou never ever see these stories anywhere else… HP, CNN, etc.
Even the infestations at the WH are being kept secret.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:31am.
Fried Rat on a Stick was on the Menu in Hong Kong and I damn near threw up when I saw it………
Or you could pick out a live one from a cage, or a cat/dog. Along with just about everything else that walked, crawled, slithered, swam, flew along with some sh!# I could not identify……..
But it all tasted like chicken………..
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:31amAn Occuturd named Willard, is teaching the rats to protest and collect welfare….
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:03pmDC is infested with rats…starting at the White House, moving to the Capitol Building, swing on around to the 33rd Degree Freemanson’s Lodge, skip over to the Pentagon, and just keep making pentagonal movements all around the area.
The Rat Kingdom.
Report Post »db321
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:04pmHow can they tell the difference between the Occupiers and the Rodents. All do respect to the Rodents.
Report Post »Marlon
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:07pmLicense to kill rats by the government of the United Nations. Man, free to kill rats at will. To kill, you must know your enemy, and in this case my enemy is a varmint. And a varmint will never quit – ever. They’re like the Viet Cong – Varmint Cong. So you have to fall back on superior intelligence and superior firepower. And that’s all she wrote.
Report Post »FormerLib
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:28pm“You’re going to have rats attracted to it.”
Yes, and some rodents may show up as well!
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:28pmSave the Rats! Trap the OWS, save the Rats, trap the OWS !
Report Post »Aren’t the OWS socialist the RATS of society? Yes, I do believe they are, rats of a plague run together.
Ruler4You
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 1:49pmThose aren’t rats, they’re dinner… or are they OWS foks who just need a bath?
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 2:26pm“We’re here to stay”…
Isn’t that theft by taking? Or, trespassing?
If it is public property, then ALL the public is allowed to use it… NOT a select limited few, who have chosen to TAKE it FOR THEIR OWN USAGE – PERMANENTLY.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 4:08pmNice follow up Marlon…mind if I play through? Can I get a ruling here?
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 1:11amWherever you find hippies, you will find vermin, filth and Communists.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 1:22am@Detroit paperboy
Report Post »Willard… now that’s funny… you just gave away your (our) age. I liked that movie.
The-Monk
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 1:44amRats in the White House,
Rats at OWS,
Rats in the White House,
Who would have guessed?
Rats in the Senate,
Rats in the House,
All of Congress is infected,
Every suit and blouse.
The rats are begging,
Me to vote,
The rats are saying,
I’m a dope.
And the rats…. they will slit our throats.
Report Post »junior1971
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 8:37amThese children are truly disgusting.
Report Post »XScramblerX
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 12:08pmSomeone should get these rats out of there to a clean safe environment!!
THE RODENTS TOO!
Report Post »toto
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 7:54pmJust wish the rats would leave the food alone and dine on the protesters, though the rats probably prefer clearer fare.
Report Post »PappysPullman
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 8:37pmNot the OWSers, the rats, the furry things with the long tails!
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on January 9, 2012 at 12:42pmI agree…the rats would have to keep company with OWSers…that’s just plain animal cruelty.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:18amMaybe they can be taught to use handsigns.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:10amHealth Dept inspecter… Mohammed Achtar decided the place was full of infidel rats , and decided the place needed to be BOMBED……..
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:27amDisease infected Vermin, hangin out with Disease infected Vermin… Nothing More !!!
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:44pmWhere is PETA? Those poor rats shouldn’t have to live with those dirty occutards!
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 5:47pm“Mayor Gray and(Health Department Director Mohammad Akhtar) feel the protestors have a right to be there, but our primary concern is the safty of the District Residents.”
After sll the rats were there first and they could get diseases from the occupiers. By all means protect the citizens.
OMG
Report Post »XScramblerX
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 12:11pmThe headline should read
Report Post »D.C. Shut Down Amid Rat Infestation!
Marlon
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:18am…..excuse me Sandy, but if I kill all the rats, they’ll lock me up and trow away da key…..
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:14amThe health inspector decided the place was full of rats…. And large rodents too !!!!
Report Post »Marlon
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:44amDC’s health director (Mohammad Akhter) says rats are infesting the Occupy encampment in McPherson Square and that he is “worried” about “feeding the population of rats”. “Rodents are thriving there”. “The city struggles to control rodents in the best of times.”
Report Post »But long time Occupiers say that if you think a controversy over sanitation will close the camp down — you can think again. “We’re here. We’re here to stay,
truthseekerusa
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:16amWho will these Occupiers blame when discover they have become infected with some rat-borne disease? Wasn’t the plague spread by rats coming off ships? Wonder if these folks also have crabs in their genital hair? Probably a whole lot of scratching going on. :-)
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:18am@truthseeker
Report Post »who do ya think ? BUSH of course !!!!
SacredHonor1776
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:51amTechnically the it was the fleas on the rats, that spread the plague… But considerig most OWSers the rats better worry about te fleas from protesters!
Report Post »Marlon
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:14pmOMG!…Marxism is contagious?…..!
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 1:22pmBelieve it or not, there are strains of pneumonia that can kill people quickly, as was demonstrated at the Four Corners a number of years ago.
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20090812/COLUMNS/908119974 (short version)
and
http://chrishibbard.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/the-four-corners-outbreak/
(Longer, more detailed version)
Originally, there were some news releases that claimed the Anglos had released this plague on the Navajos, but that was quickly disproven when people in Texas started to develop the same symptoms and died.
I don’t doubt that the OWS crowd will find someone to blame, maybe big business, maybe Bush. It’ll be interesting.
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:15amhey the rats gotta eat, right? Oh wait, which ones are we talking about?
Report Post »Bum thrower
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:31amthey could be eating their young?
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:53amLol……………….. nice one.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:09amInvasive, dirty, unwanted, flea-ridden pests. It seems the OWSers and rats have something in common.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:18amThe occuturder are teaching the rats to vote. Even the dead ones….
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:37amYes .. these OWS rats are nasty little critters … the other ones (four legged) are just “cleaning up” after them.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:24am@ kickinback
Report Post »Hell, i thought you were talkin about the OWSers !!!! At least rats dont collect welfare checks and trade food stamps for Crack !!!!
pamela kay
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 3:56amWhats that old saying, something like “You are the company you keep”?
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:08amIt is now a 1st Amendment right to set up camp and a full kitchen? What alternate universe are these pacifying city “leaders” from?
Report Post »moronsneednotapply
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:07amI agree! They scream and are even suing because their 1st Amendment rights are being violated.WHAT?? It‘s meant to allow you to have freedom of SPEECH so that you don’t have to fear persecution or incarceration for SPEAKING your mind. Not camping, destroying, obstructing, pooping in parks, and attracting rats. They are merely a joke. Useful idiots. And it’s sad that they take themselves seriously.
Report Post »ShyMan
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:06amI thought congress and Ubama were on vacation.
Report Post »skiz
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:03amRats and pigs!
Report Post »guntotinsquaw
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:39amSKIZ…Pigs are actually very clean and have a high intellect…Please don’t malign a good hog by comparing it to the occutards.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 4:54pmHogs are also VERY tasty. MMMMMM bacon…….
Report Post »guntotinsquaw
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 10:58am@American…EXACTLY!!! Hogs serve a purpose..they should not be compared to occupy.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:03amIsn’t nature just grand! Extravagantly poetic!
Report Post »bets
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:00amLOL all of the comments about rats are funny!
Report Post »shagstar
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:56amit‘s a crying shame when our american rat’s are being affected by these ow‘s idiot’s! all rat‘s unite in solidarity and start protesting those heathen’s! we want our rat park back like it was in the good ol day’s!
Report Post »drago
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:56amSo, was it shut down because of two or four legged rats?
Report Post »bioya1
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:56amThe rats were there before the other rats showed up.
Report Post »papatom48
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:53amOn which planet do they have a constitutional right to occupy someone else’s property?? I have driven by there regularly performing my chauffeur duties in DC, and usually there are 7-10 police cars around the square. The most I have seen is 13 at one time. So why do you think the crime rate in the rest of the city is booming? These folks are a blight on society and the city.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:06amIt’s part of the plan, man! Don’t you see it…OVERWHELM the system…from welfare…foodstamps…unemployment checks…policing demonstrations…not paying mortgages…class and race card warfare…split the people…part of the plan Stan! Bottom up, top down, inside out, all moving along according to plan…the Marxists are out of their darkness and the 5th column is in our Gov’t. Make of that what you will.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:26amThe ows crowd is made up of communists and anarchists and they don’t believe in private property rights.One of the ten planks of the communist manifesto is the abolition of private property rights.
Report Post »Not to worry though our Marxist president is working feverishly on the other nine,we’re almost there.
America_First
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:50amIt’s Official…America is a “Third Word Country”…Rats running rampant in the nations capital…Wait a moment there have been Rats in the house, senate and white house for years why not the parks!
Business as usual…
Report Post »Unix
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:46amWhat do you mean, ‘going to have rats attracted to it…’, they’re already there! Can’t you see?
Report Post »momrules
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:44amEven on camping trips you know to keep your area clean because of scavengers. These people must be living like pigs after all these months. Can you imagine the odor?
Report Post »TurboCat
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 3:24amThe whole area looked absolutely filthy! Cannot imagine staying there voluntarily. There will be more of this in the spring and summer, when more will rejoin the effort. Not good.
Report Post »jespasinthru
Posted on January 9, 2012 at 7:59pmAnd in the spring and summer they’ll have a lovely bumper crop of big, fat blowflies to add to the ambience of their camps. I‘m beginning to wonder if all the real OWS people have already gone home to their parent’s basements, and just left the hard-core homeless there to hold down the fort and babysit the rodents.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:40amAll I have to say is, “Mohammed”
?????
Enemies domestic; muslims engaged injihad.
Report Post »rambosharley
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:14amThat was my first thought too!
Report Post »judy1270
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:38amRats are attracted to Rats.
Report Post »Ray2447
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:44amWhen you say “rat infestation” are you talking about the occupy crowd, or the less vile four legged variety?
Report Post »democritusoilder267
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:37amWhat kind of rats? The human rats or the real rats?
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:37amIf only the protester who stated ‘after I done washed all the dishes, someone sneaks in and makes a mess’ If only, if only that person would take that thought just a little further and expand it.
Report Post »Ray2447
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:48amWhen you’re a leftist, it’s against your Marxist religion to take accountability for your own behavior. It must always be someone else’s fault. Have they blamed Bush yet?
Report Post »Arc
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:35am……..like a blind batch of lemmings……….where is my leader…….what do I say………how am I suppose to act………is this a plot by the CIA………..nuther hit off that bong bro……..wow….. I can catch my hand……
Report Post »Unix
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:49amI feel like a dew drop, sliding down a cool mint leaf…what’s they saying….a liberal mind is a terrible thing?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:34amListen if these rats are feeding on their own then get the Occupy group out of there and save the four legged rodents from extinction.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:10amLOL!! Good one Snow!
Report Post »Roberto G. Vasquez
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:32amRats in DC? That can’t be true, can it?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:35am“He vowed a controversy over sanitation wouldn’t be enough to shut the camp down”
well the DemocRATS are still in Washington so he might have a point.
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