Earth Week direct action continues! On the 18th of April, Occupy DC
stormed into the building housing the lobbying offices of the American
Natural Gas Association, overwhelmed the security guard, and charged up 7
flights of stairs bound for their 8th floor offices.

In addition to the lobbyists supporting natural gas "fracking" which
contaminates drinking water, the same building also houses the lobbying
offices of Wal-Mart. Probably both are conscious of intense political
opposition to their activities and have secured their offices
accordingly.



As in the previous day's Canadian Embassy/tar sands protest, Occupy DC
activists did not march to the target, instead travelling separately in
small groups before assembling as a whole and walking into the building,
stepping up the pace when challenged.



Although the building security guard made no attempt to physically to
resist Occupy DC's far greater numbers, since she retained control of
the security desk she was able to shut off the elevators. Either she
telephoned a warning to the 8th floor to lock their stairwell door, or
that door is routinely locked. There were multiple unlocked exits to
lower floors from the stairwell. This, of course, was something the lead
element of the team should have verified before allowing the exit door
to close behind the trail element of the team.



Entry to the 8th floor offices would have required a battering ram
and/or crowbars, tools not carried by Occupy DC and probably an
escalation beyond the level Occupy wanted to take things to. An
alternate target on the 7th floor was suggested. I don't know for sure
what that was, but Wal-Mart is somewhere in the building. The 7th floor
exit from the fire stairs was also locked,



That being so, with the 8th and 7th floor exits locked, Occupy DC said
"frack this" and descended back the way they came and mic-checked the
lobby.



As at the Canadian Embassy the previous day, Occupy DC was able to
complete their mission and clear the area before police could
effectively respond, exiting the scene just as the first two cops
arrived.



The previous day's action left the Canadian Embassy swarming with cops
for hours, wonder if that was also true of the gas fracking protest?