Heidi Sippel and her son, Landen, talk to reporters Monday about being hit by a car while protesting in downtown Washington.
WASHINGTON — Occupy DC protesters gathered at the Washington Convention Center Tuesday to call attention to what they’re saying is a refusal to investigate injuries of protesters involved in hit and run accidents Friday.
The group, based out of Washington’s McPherson Square, held a press conference with the victims, one at Seventh and K Street N.W., where an accident occurred, and at the second collision site between New York Avenue and Seventh Street N.W.
Three of the four victims spoke, including Heidi Sippel and her son, Landen, who were struck while standing on New York Avenue.
Sippel said the group had been in the same spot for three hours during Friday night’s protest when a silver car crossed the intersection and drove on the wrong side of the road toward protesters. The car stopped five feet in front of them before revving its engine. The driver then hit her and her son, Sippel said.
“I was trying to throw my son in the other direction as the car accelerated. Me and my son tried to move back as quickly as we could when I realized it was either get out of the way of the car or go underneath it,” she said.
Sippel lost consciousness and was sent to the hospital. She suffered a concussion and bruising on her knee and feet. Her son had bruising on his chest.
Metropolitan Police Department Police Chief Cathy Lanier released a statement on Tuesday saying the movement was no longer peaceful and that the department adjusted its tactics to ensure safety.
“MDP will continue to protect life (residents, visitors, protestors—everyone) and property as warranted,” she said. “The administration will do what’s necessary to maintain order in the city and to ensure that everyone is safe. “
But protesters believe police used too much force on Friday.
“From where I was standing it looked people flying around like bowling pins. It was pretty shocking,” said witness and fellow protester Jessie Folks.
Jefferey Light, Occupy DC’s legal adviser, said the responding police officer is supposed to take down information regarding the crash from all witnesses, which he alleges the officers at both scenes failed to do.
“MPD officials violated their own policy when recording information from only two witnesses who they considered to be neutral to the second incident,” he said.
Sippel also alleges that she and her son were not allowed to give statements to the police. Instead, she was served with a citation for obstructing traffic.
“That night I requested the officer who gave me the citation to take my statement. My son spoke with her (the officer) repeatedly and she would not take it,” she said.
Sippel said the protesters shouldn’t be held responsible for Friday night’s incident.
“We were standing in the street initiating change, not initiating a hit-and-run,” she said.
Protesters marched from the convention center to the steps of police headquarters at the Henry J. Daly building. After sitting on the front steps, victims were allowed into the station to give their statements.