From PBS Newshour: Jim from Occupy Portland Debates Mayor Adams

November 11, 2011
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This entry was posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:48 pm and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

26 Responses to From PBS Newshour: Jim from Occupy Portland Debates Mayor Adams

  1. JQP on November 11, 2011 at 7:52 pm

    Way to go Jim, you do not have a voice of your own, useful idiot. My question is, who is going to pay for the damage occupy has done.

    You know Jim, there is a right way and a wrong way to redress the government…you do not break the Law!

  2. Better Image for Occupy on November 11, 2011 at 8:47 pm

    Why are you seeking to hold the camp under the ‘guise’ of protecting “homeless refugees”…. Have you ever watched the show Intervention? It illustrates how drugs and alcohol cause one to lose their way by their OWN demise. 95% succumb to the darkness and become addicts, which directly results to loss of everything once positive in their lives and ultimately end up on the street! Big banks didn’t put them there. Corporations didn’t put them there. The DRUGS put them there! The camp is enabling the addicts – it is NOT helping them. The OP camp is an ENABLING mechanism and this must end before someone dies or gets killed. The 211 hotline is established, why don’t you use that instead of telling them to ‘hold’ the camp?! That is a very dangerous decision. A community can lead a horse to water, but it can’t make it drink. Jim Oliver, why didn’t you mention all the OVERDOSES that have occurred at the camp? Now that you have ‘chosen’ to stay at the camp, you are literally asking for a police confrontation. You are SEEKING violence. Let those with violence as an agenda receive the consequence, but I do hope you STAND ALONE. And I also shame you for calling families with children to be the ‘bodies’ you will eventually spin into saying ‘supports the camp’ – SHAMEFUL act!

    Better Image for Occupy
    “I continue to urge those for the movement, and not a drug infested camp to seek indoor office space that will re-image Occupy Portland and turn it into something to be PROUD OF! Think – phones, computers, interns, talented volunteers, closed doors at night and MUCH better organization.” This is how to evolve the movement to the next phase.

  3. Elizabeth on November 11, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    Hello Mayor Adams. If you are concerned about unsafe conditions in the Occupy camp, use the police man power to help address the unsafe conditions not destroy the camp. Work with the camp not against it and save the city some money. This camp needs to remain in place as a symbol of hope to the millions of suffering people. Use compassion and wisdom to make your decisions, not pressure from the unconscious and greedy.

  4. Michael on November 11, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Great response from the Occupy side. I’m so upset at the Mayor. If I ever “see Sam” I’ll tell him I’ve got no respect for him any more. This is one of those “which side are you on” moments. Homeless and poor people die all the time and nobody cares one bit. Now petty crimes are being used as an excuse to attack the only people standing up against the big corporate criminals. We can’t let this stand!
    (BTW, Sam, your city hall voicemail is full, but you can assume a lot more people would be calling it angrily if you would check it and make room for our opinions!)

  5. Crash on November 12, 2011 at 12:47 am

    Good work Jim.

  6. David on November 12, 2011 at 2:58 am

    Excellent job, Jim Oliver! I sincerely hope you will consider running for public office. We need people like you in positions of authority in this city. And, we desperately do NOT need people like Mike Reese to become the next mayor.

  7. john on November 12, 2011 at 5:48 am

    Occupy Portand has brought the problems of homelessness,drug abuse, the mentally ill, and street violence in Portland into the national arena. Chapman and Lonsdale Parks have been a gathering place for marginalized people who otherwise would have been spread throughout the community. The mayor, Sam Adams, professes to one of the 99% and has allowed the occupation to continue. Rather than bring in a huge army of police in riot gear and destroying what he knows to be a positive effort to change the failing system, this seems to me to be a golden opportunity to bring in an army of social workers and police to deal with the problems that not only plague the occupation but the city of Portland. The destruction of the camp will sweep these problems under the proverbial carpet, scattering the marginalized individuals and any criminals throughout the commmunity just like before the occupation. It seems like a win-win for the mayor. The movement that he feels aligned with will continue to florish and some civic problems will be be dealt with at the same time.

    I’ll be marching today in Portland to bring about a better world. Mayor Sam–Join us, the 99%.

    • Steffen Silvis on November 12, 2011 at 9:25 am

      Very naive. What this “gathering of problems” has done is to create chaos and confusion around the true message of corporate greed. Yes, absolutely the people suffering from drug problems and mental illness are ill-served by this society, and are victims of the system. They need help, however, not encouragement. The narrative has been lost.

  8. Angela on November 12, 2011 at 6:40 am

    Great interview, Jim!

  9. Bob Koretsky on November 12, 2011 at 8:24 am

    Jim Oliver is a compassionate and real human being who did an excellent job of delivering the message of Occupy Portland, in a very articulate and concise way. In this video he made the mayor of Portland look like the corporate flunky he is! Thanks Jim, and best of luck to you in the future!

  10. JJ on November 12, 2011 at 8:52 am

    Just curious, does anyone staying in the camps of the Occupy movement work? have an apartment/home? Are still applying for jobs, if not working? Updating their resumes? Doing side jobs? Have they all been homeless? If not, who is paying for this? Their food, heat lamps, firewood, apartments, medical bills, past/current bills, shelter…etc? Saw a guy representing the Occupy Movement for Portland, OR speaking nationaly with the Mayor of Portland yesterday and I was wondering if he was paid money to speak or be the representative of the movement? Just curious is all! What are your thoughts?????

    • occupypdxer on November 12, 2011 at 9:07 am

      Just another occupier, JJ.

    • MarkS on November 13, 2011 at 7:53 am

      I can answer that, but don’t speak for any of the Occupy Groups. Some do , some don’t. Sometimes. If necessary.
      Yes, lots of them. No. For what? Oh, various people. Probably not, but you’ll have to ask him. I don’t have that much time right now.

  11. Eric on November 12, 2011 at 9:18 am

    Jim – take your ignorant marxist views and go camp in Sam Adams’ yard. I’m looking forward to tonight’s ass whuppin.

  12. Steffen Silvis on November 12, 2011 at 9:19 am

    Unfortunately, Occupy Portland’s committee has lost control of the narrative, and so it is time to disband. It is highly romantic indeed to think that gathering drug-abusers and the mentally ill together would somehow help the cause. The effect was quite the opposite. The encampment’s early days were exciting, and I tried to bring food along to the kitchen every day. But then I started noticing the breakdown of the encampment, and last week I stopped going after witnessing violence at the park entry between two meth-heads. I’m sorry. It was a grand cause, but it is time for new tactics. It’s time to disband.

    • Justin Allen on November 12, 2011 at 12:45 pm

      The above comment is, unfortunately, pretty insightful.

      There has been a failure to self-police. I am 100% in support of Occupy Movements across the country but it’s time to rethink tactics locally.

      The problems cited by Adams do exist. He is not making them up.

      Flash mobs & decentralized occupying of the real targets of protest – banks, court houses, foreclosed properties – would be more effective along with better policing–if someone isn’t protesting, they shouldn’t be welcome, and the same goes for anyone utilizing “black bloc” tactics. These parks are not symbolic of anything and they’ve attracted real problems.

      Mobile Occupy events (There is an “Occupy The Highway” from NYC to DC) would limit some of the problems we saw here in PDX. Same goes for flash mobs and more organized protests.

  13. Greg Bye on November 12, 2011 at 9:39 am

    That was a fantastic exercise by Jim in getting the message across. One thing I want to know is who are these at risk youth counsellors (and so forth) who have been complaining to Adams about the dangers inherent in the occupation of Chapman and Lowndesdale Squares.

  14. M-peas-ee on November 12, 2011 at 10:05 am

    Fantastic job Jim!!
    Point on!
    I am so proud to see the movement using the media so effectively.
    Sam looked liked a “sold out pawn” of the 1%. What a lame egotistical excuse of protecting free speech, he can’t protect free speech, this belongs the people, the 99% protect free speech, who does he think he is?!
    Shame on you Sam; once again, what a horrible history being made for himself; I was beginning to think that after all of the crap he has put his supportive community through, maybe he does have some honor. What a joke… this guy has no honor at all…. Shame on you Sam!!!

  15. satori on November 12, 2011 at 10:58 am

    mayor adams has consistently demonstrated a willingness to listen, seeking to understand if you will. his job requires that he support the desires and needs of ALL citizens and unfortunately this situation is a lose, lose. This enormous pressure is evident in his posture and speaking tenor. mayor adams is dealing with a scope of real time responsibilities and priorities that just don’t work in tandem with the METHODOLOGY of OP. mayor adams acknowledges the importance of the OWS mission while Jamie does not acknowledge the responsibilities of the mayors office. it is impossible for mayor adams to satisfy both sides. these people are talking apples and oranges, adams – 1, for demonstrating focus and committment, jamie -1, for demonstrating focus and committment.it’s a wash

  16. faciLITator on November 12, 2011 at 11:46 am

    After listening to Jim Oliver (very nicely done!) and Sam Adams (no comment, “lame duck”) I can better understand the consensus decision to continue the occupation of the squares. I have revised my prior belief that moving out would be best and have reached partial consensus myself.
    I still believe that the opportunity for community outreach is present and, while not joining the “Occu-Festival” personally, I will be hosting a solidarity party. We will be watching and supporting as, despite what was predicted, “the revolution (is being) televised”!
    (Wouldn’t it be nice if Michael Moore came back and/or Amy Goodman flew in for the weekend or at least Rabbi Rose and Storm Large, etc. came to the party…and they stayed to “interact”?)
    In Solidarity – Peace, Love & Hang Loose

  17. Jacky C on November 12, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    NICE JOB Jim Oliver. Keep the focus on the greivences. You look like a leader.

  18. Partly Cloudy on November 12, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    I’m distressed and very concerned to hear that Jim and Co are having a Saturday evening party. The Occupy Portland organizers are openly defying a city ordnance at the expense of innocent people. Apparently, the Occupy Portland Organizers such as Jim are seemingly placing innocent children and families in harms way; using these people as a ploy to stop the Portland Police from clearing the camp. Using families and children as a type of shield/defense is deplorable!
    Occupy Portland Organizers- you have made your point regarding the need for the U.S. to restructure it’s experiment in Capitalism and Democracy. I salute you with all my heart, for having the courage to make a stand. Please, close up your occupation here in Portland and move to where the real legislators and government changers are= Washington DC!

  19. MarkS on November 13, 2011 at 7:45 am

    You go Jim! The Mayor’s in a tight spot, but “it’s just my job” is not an excuse that holds water. “It’s just my job” is one of the Industrial Capitalist rationales that has allowed so many atrocities to continue for so long. The other is “it’s not my job.”

    Excellent strategy Occupy Portland! PBS gives a 5 minute intro bent on cramming every police reported incident within a 2 mile radius of every Occupy Camp, and says “Occupy Portland Bad” as a lead in to a dialog? What kind of shit is that? And Occupy Portland rightly and modestly points out how it is helping to provide some care for a few of those that the city, and the system have abandoned.

  20. Open Thread: Another GOP Debate Tonight… | My Blog on November 13, 2011 at 8:35 pm

    [...] Well, they’re not foolish adequate to categorically announce a use of violence, though a line from Mayor Adams in this talk jumped out during me: “…our idea with this transformation was to understanding with it in a pacifist way, and we [...]

  21. james Sutton on November 14, 2011 at 12:43 am

    Why don’t the occupiers get a job….to pay back the tax dollars they wasted. They have to cut from somewhere to pay for all those cops.And it comes out of your welfare checks you 99% dipsh*ts.

    • patrick on November 14, 2011 at 6:08 am

      I, personally, am curious why these police have been hired to take no action. For more than a month, they patrolled our encampment without taking actions against the very issues the mainstream media vilified us for. Yesterday morning, the spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for nothing–sending out well-armed officers, horses, motorcycles, vans, city buses, flood lights, and the like–without taking any action. While they later came into camp to make arrest, the actions of that night were without reason.

      Occupy Portland is not over. Seizing this public land from the public will waste taxpayer dollars. These occupiers will find another place to occupy in greater numbers, I imagine. There, Mike Reese and Nick Fish will spend more of our money on nothing, to no specific end. You should be calling the government to ask them to stop harassing our movement, rather than continuing the waste our dollars on frivolously defusing peaceful demonstrators. How many millions of dollars will the city waste before they ask they realize the occupation will make the city’s job of communicating with the public easier and increase the quality of our lives?

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