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This statement is released by the Information Committee
**Update: Protesters have since decided to leave the park and tonight’s Spokescouncil will be held at Shemanski Park, SW Park and Salmon St. at 7pm**
As of 10am on Dec 4 we continue to occupy Shemanski Park (also known as Our Park) at the corner of Park and Salmon St. Out of the several hundred people that reoccupied yesterday evening, around 30 determined campers stayed through the night. Three tents remained erected the majority of the night, and one tent continues to stand as a symbol of our right to free speech and assembly as well as a request that the city end the camping ban and the marginalization of the un-housed.
Immediate needs of the occupiers are warm clothing, blankets and sleeping bags.
The Occupier Liveblog of yesterday’s events can be found here.
Those whose belongings were confiscated by police can call (503) 823-1600 during normal business hours to reclaim them.
Why is it important for us to occupy a public space?
We would all prefer to be comfortable and indoors, we are not doing this because its fun to camp in a park in near-freezing temperatures. We Occupy to continue to have a dialogue with our community to discuss, educate and ultimately change the very world we live in to one that champions social and economic justice for everyone; not for only the very wealthy.
If there’s anything that the first 39 days at Chapman Square has taught us is the power of face-to-face connections and dialogue in an open and central place. It has allowed us to move forward on many of the initiatives discussed here.