Occupy D.C. has released an official statement following an incident Friday night involving three people who were struck by a car while protesting with hundreds of other demonstrators outside the Americans for Prosperity “dream summit” at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The statement includes the video above, which is explained in their press release:
Many of the stories coming out about Friday night’s hit-and-runs are dangerously misleading. So last night, when Assistant Police Chief Lamar Greene showed up late to his own press conference, we held our own press conference outside MPD Headquarters. Three of the four victims of hit-and-run driver Shawn Connolly Valentine gave their accounts of what happened that night. These three include 34 year old Heidi Sippel, her 13 year old son Landen Sippel and her pregnant 36 year old wife Brandy Sippel. The fourth victim is still at home recovering from head trauma, and will give a statement at a press conference at the scene of the collisions tomorrow afternoon.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has said the driver was not cited because he had a green light when his vehicle struck the members of the Sippel family. MPD said witnesses told police the three pedestrians “either ran toward or jumped in front of the moving vehicle” and one leaped onto the hood of the car.
At Saturday night’s press conference, MPD Assistant Police Chief Lamar Greene said that the collision was unavoidable and that he was not aware of another person being hit at a second location.
Occupy D.C. spokesman Justin Jacoby Smith told DCist in an email that, “We stand by the statements of our witnesses and are searching for footage of the first attack,” which Occupy D.C., claims took place on L Street and involved the same driver.