Washington ( CNN ) -- Dressed in yellow full-body sanitation suits , members of the U.S. Park Police combed through tents in the Occupy DC camp Saturday , taking down ones violating park policies . The owners of the tossed tents and other protesters were agitated by the move , but there was little unrest at McPherson Square in downtown Washington . Park police in riot gear first entered at dawn Saturday , and said they were not there to evict protesters , but to check for compliance with `` no camping '' laws . Still , at one point , there was a confrontation between protesters and riot police . The move comes after a federal judge Tuesday rejected an Occupy DC demonstrator 's request to keep park police from enforcing a ban on camping in McPherson park and nearby Freedom Plaza . Living in a public park as a means of protest is not protected by the First Amendment , Judge James Boasberg ruled . The operation was a success and a majority of those in the park cooperated with police , park police spokesman David Schlosser said . Eight people were arrested in the confrontation with police , he said . Four for failure to obey a lawful order , and three for crossing a police line . Another person was arrested for felony assault on an officer and assault with a deadly weapon after Schlosser said the man threw a brick at one of the officers . The officer was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries , Schlosser said . `` The United States Park Police continue to support the right of people to exercise their constitutionally protected rights , '' he said . Protesters heckled him as he briefed reporters early Saturday . As he spoke , the officer was interrupted by someone who made a rooster sound , and others made ghost-like noises in the background . `` In some of the tents we found urine-soaked bedding materials , bottles of urine , '' noted Schlosser . `` In some of the tents we found some dead rats . We also found some live rats , with some rat families . '' Authorities told protesters Monday that they had to remove camping gear such as sleeping bags and housekeeping materials , but could keep their tents as long as one flap remains open at all times . On Saturday , police began removing the tents from the park that had camping gear inside . Protesters complained and accused the officers of taking down tents that were not in violation . At the outset of their search , police found only one compliant tent , and took down there rest . Once the inspection is complete , the park will be reopened to the public , Schlosser said . Occupy DC is part of a larger activist movement that began last year in New York and quickly spread across the country . While the protesters have highlighted a number of causes , the overarching theme has remained largely the same : populist anger over what activists portray as an out-of-touch corporate , financial and political elite . CNN 's Jonathan Helman , Greg Clary and Courtney Battle contributed to this report .
NEW : Eight people have been arrested , including one for felony assault . An unnamed peaceful demonstrator failed this week in a court bid to overturn the ban . Washington DC is part of a larger activist movement that began last year in New York .