The famous Meridian Hill Park Drum Circle is Washington D.C. was broken up over the weekend because of the government shutdown.
The popular drum circle has been around in the park for decades. But because the park is federal land, it’s supposed to be closed because of the partial shutdown.
Two park police officers approached the drum circle on Sunday afternoon, after it had started around 3:30 p.m., reported the Washington City Paper.
“I don’t have an army to shut the park down, all I can do is tell people,” one of the officers told people.
There were also families, people having picnic, and tightrope walkers in the park.
Most of the drummers left after being instructed by police.
William Taft, an organizer of the drum circle, was contacted by police who told him that because of the shutdown, the permit that enables the drummers to gather each week wouldn’t be valid.
Taft told drummers to leave so they don’t risk losing the permit.
Many of the drummers went to the nearby city park Girard Street Park.
