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What Happened Yesterday?
The Mayor announced a notice of eviction for Occupy Portland effective at 12:01 AM Sunday. Occupy Portland held an emergency General Assembly at noon, then another General Assembly at seven. At the end of the night, seven different action groups had begun enacting our responses, including a group that is planning on cleaning the parks of as many structures and messes as possibly, and outreach group dedicated toward getting more people down on Saturday, and an “Occu-Festival” to be held Saturday night prior to the deadline. The group decided overwhelmingly, with almost 100% consensus, to stay in the parks.
What’s Happening Today?
Today there is a Veteran’s Day gathering at Pioneer Courthouse Square at 11:11 AM to protest all war. The Spokes Council will meet tonight at a time still to be determined, (likely 7PM). A lot of outreach to the community is happening today, to make them aware of the eviction and enlist their support on Saturday night.
What Can I Do From Home?
Contact the city to let them know you support Occupy Portland!
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Tell other people about the eviction and explain how much of the reasoning is exaggerated. The business lobby is getting us removed.
when the powers-that-be give folks an ultimatum to leave and somehow imply that they are asking for it then you are witnessing the fear the state has over these protests.
in Portland, the camps have become a central location for the homeless and transient population as they can get food, health care and counseling services. this very vulnerable population has no place to go, so they have nothing to lose by getting beat down and everything to lose by disbanding and going to less visible parts of Portland.
they are not going to go away, the Mayor and City Council understand this and want them to despatialize, to disperse so the problem becomes “invisible” once again.
i urge you all to realize that there will be a beat down and YOU can prevent it by showing up just before midnight to participate in a candle light vigil to pledge your support for a calm and nonviolent solution to this manifestation of public power over economic, social, environmental and cultural issues.
the people of Portland and the world are watching how we respond to this situation.
An open letter to the occupation and city,
The night before the announced Sam Adams press conference I removed my tent, cleaned my area and officially left the camp. I am still visiting but will honor the eviction notice Saturday at midnight. I propose we take down everything, clean, leave the camp and withdraw peacefully. Lets show the city we can un-occupy just as fast as we occupied with minimal damage to the park. This will make it easier for us to re-occupy again downtown or somewhere else.
If you have a place just go there. Why would you camp outside if you don’t need to? Lets encourage the street families and houseless to go where they would have gone if they weren’t at the occupation. Some will go to shelters and others back to the street. This is better than jail. We can do outreach to those who go back to the street. We can use our donated food resources to prepare meals for them and deliver to them. We can use our medic team to provide street medic services to them. We can use our Occupy movement to hold occupation donation drives in parks around the city to get necessary supplies like sleeping bags, tents, tarps, blankets and socks to give to the houseless. This will simultaneously accomplish much needed outreach both to the houseless populations around the city and to people who would like to support us. We can connect them and foster a community of sharing. These people will be occupying other spaces, but much of it will be alone behind dumpsters or in groups on empty lots and under bridges. Lets go out in affinity groups and form a ring of protection around them to prevent them from being harmed.
Originally our intention was to fight corruption on Wall St., but our occupation was destroyed by three forces. First was our own prejudice against the houseless. Any occupation we setup will be dominated by those already occupying in that area. If we know these people we will start with a strong community and be able to know the difference between those truly in need and those preying on others. The second force is groups ignorant of or unwilling to commit to a strict discipline of non-violence. If we simply step out of the way we will be performing a judo move where instead of taking on the blunt force of the state, we will allow it to strike our enemy who chooses to foolishly remain in the camp and fight. The police have already said they will hold whoever they arrest as long as possible, and there are people in the camp who want to take on the police. Why should we stand in their way? Lastly the forces of the right used negative media attention to criticize the problems in the camp, but if we are helping people how can the right criticize us? They would look like jerks! How can you be against helping people?
If we do this we should have no problem setting up our next occupation. In fact we could probably just ask to use whatever space we desire. If it was not granted the people would probably support us again. We can use this space to both build community and advocate for our broader political aims. Let’s take the good will of the city that has been given to us and “Pay It Forward”. This is more effective than fighting directly against the powers that protect the system of ownership. It is also the right thing to do. We cannot let the houseless people who stood with us go unprotected. Let’s stand with them in true solidarity. Occupy your heart. Take care of each other.
Peace and love,
Lindsey Walker
Having just now read this,I agree completely with the sense and proposals in Lindsey Walker’s statement.
I’d like to associate myself with Lindsey Walker’s open letter. Could not agree more or have said it better myself.
well stated lyndsey and galen, hope they are listening with humble hearts and open minds..
. It is as important in war to know how to maneuver and specifically, to engage in a strategic withdrawal and preserve the army and any ground which has been gained when circumstances dictate.
Lindsey,
All day I’ve been thinking the same thing that you’ve so eloquently put into words.
Thank you for putting them out in public.
Kim
I did my part…
‘I am emailing you to offer my support for Occupy Portland. I agree entirely with all their visions and demands for the future.
I think you are making the wrong decision in trying to force them out. The only crimes they are guilty of are giving homes and community to a demonized and outcast population that have been constantly shunned and neglected by our city, country, and overall government.
If you consider this a crime you will find that I, along with many more, are willing to suffer the necessary consequences for this. I also think that if you do plan to remove the Occupation forcefully you will find that the greater Portland community will surround them with support and rally in even greater numbers to the Occupation.
I would urge you strongly to reconsider your plans, take into consideration the people who have found an accepting community where they can participate and feel wanted for likely the first time in their lives. This is what you are removing, not the few bad apples who take drugs (against Occupy regulations), or throw Molotovs (against Occupy regulations). Because those people will still be there, and if not there, elsewhere on the streets. Also, consider our granted rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, which you will forcefully and unconstitutionally stripping from us.
You consider yourself a progressive mayor in a progressive city; is that what your actions are going to show?’
Dear Sam, Nick, Randy, Dan, Amanda,
I am writing to you to reconsider the hasty deadline you have set for Occupy Portland.
I support their message.
I understand they have some difficult issues to deal with–most of which has been present and insufficiently dealt with by the city, With the help of my city to whom I pay taxes I would hope that solutions and bringing in the trained people needed this can be worked out.
For one thing at the very least, step back from the deadline that I know is in response to certain kinds of pressure, and find the truly peaceful, non-violent way to help move this along to practical next steps. I know there are some very good people you have been negotiating with all along.
Please support what is a sincere attempt to bring the very very serious situation our country finds itself in out into the light by largely serious, intelligent, capable and non-violent people.
sincerely.
Marian Grebanier
I support Occupy, and think the movement needs to move to the next level. I have asked by letter, that the city come up with a building.
Absent that, Occupy needs to rent a storefront, from which to mobilize into a serious political force, which you are right now. Look at what has happened! Banks on notice, pipeline on hold, homelessness now on the front burner, help for the seriously strung out, student loans restructured, and more! Save the library! Save the art space! Keep food not Bombs!
Regroup and mobilize.
You have the cash to rent a space. Do it, and much more will follow.
You have accomplished so much, socially and personally. Move on with great dignity. Peace, Susan Lilly-Yoga Teacher
I generally agree with Lindsey.
t is important to know the art of war as Sun Tzu understood it. He who only knows how to attack will eventually be crushed because the foe will know he can always predict your response to his action. It is as important in war to know how to maneuver and specifically, to engage in a strategic withdrawal and preserve the army and any ground which has been gained when circumstances dictate. This is one of those times. The enemy has prepared an elaborate trap to crush the occupation. He has created the political and propaganda atmosphere in his favor. He has predicted your response. To withdraw in the face of superior force is not cowardice or lack of principle; rather it displays superior generalship and a keen understanding of the strategic landscape , which is necessary to win. Withdrawal with forces intact to fight another day rather than a foolishly heroic stand is the best strategy.
In response to “What Happened Yesterday?” — Great news; great suggestion for us at home. I’d like to also suggest that supporters of OP post comments online at the commentary sections of the mainstream articles, such as the one at oregonlive.com, regarding PPB’s rumors that some of OP protestors will be violent on Sunday morning. Correct the rumors that acts of violence are planned by OP.
Perhaps come out Sunday morning skilled in non-violent interventions & de-escalation approaches just in case there are persons who become or try to become violent towards the police. I don’t believe any OP supporters will engage in violence; however, police provocateurs have been used in past marches and there are people with strong feelings against OP, who know that such acts of violence will be blamed, in the mainstream press, on OP. Possibly witness and document any violent activities, if you can do so safely and/or are comfortable with the risks involved.
Finally!!! Go home if you have one, the camp is not symbolic at all. You can organize a protest everyday for the next twenty years via social media so easily. The camp stands for nothing and creates less credibility.
@ Simon — Social media is a great tool, but it can’t replace the faces of the poor, disenfranchised and angry.
@ Simon again — You say “Go home if you have one.” Where exactly would you like those without homes to go? Should they scatter along the streets like they used to do? Should they join the other helpless and homeless who line up on Burnside at the Mission only to be turned away because the place is full for the night? The camp stands for EVERYTHING. You’re talking about it, right? It’s working. OC is winning. Occupy Wall Street is winning. I stand in solidarity with the Occupiers and will be there tomorrow to protest any police action Mayor Adams takes.
You have made your point. Will gearing up for “war” really accomplish anything, or will it forever tarnish all that HAS been accomplished by PEACEFUL and constructive discourse. I fear that the credibility of the Occupy movement will be tarnished by a bunch of nothing-to-lose street thugs who seek violent conflict. People will get hurt. The camp will be gone. It is time to go home, peacefully and without physical conflict. Ask yourselves: What would Ghandi or MLK do? Take the high road and don’t let a group of stupid people fuck this up for everyone. The city is NOT the enemy. The cops are NOT the enemy. Go Fuckin’ Home!
some interesting stats, % of total US population
23%- high school dropouts – 15% unemployment
70% – no college – 10% unemployment
30% – w/college degree – 2-5.5% unemployment
Education must be included in the mission, the jobs don’t matter if we are uneducated and unemployable. Beaverton now has to cut about 30 million from the school budget…this is messed up and has to stop. i would love to see the unions put their lobbying money behind the issue of education.
lindsay, a beautifully stated admirable position, hope the rest (or majority) agree with you. It is important for all of us that the movement continue and grow. Poverty is not pretty and chaos is unsettling, kudos to all the occupiers who are trying in an inclusive way to deal gracefully with the messiness of life while trying to stay true.
THANK YOU TOM JONES AND OREGON GROWERS UNION..YOU HAVE BEEN PAWNS IN THIS GAME OF CHESS..WE WIN CHECK MATE
LOL…Again…stop drinking the kool aid
I got some friends together and told them to start calling news stations and telling them they we are for the occupation and there news coverage is one sided…kgw-503-226-5000 katu–503-231-4222-koin-503-464-0614
Great letter, Lindsey. I haven’t been part of the occupation but have watched with interest. As someone who supports your messages of nonviolent protest against wealth disparity, I also have to agree with those calling for the camp to disband, not as a step back, but as a step FORWARD. The camp is not the movement, it is an activity of the movement, and the political will for change exists separately from the physical occupation. By handling this situation with grace and respect for the larger community (which includes the police and the mayor’s office), you will build support, not lose it. By showing you don’t need the camp to continue to organize folks, you will demonstrate a strength and resiliency that will truly inspire those of us who haven’t been able to join you downtown. There are many folks who have never been able to identify with what they were witnessing downtown, but support your messages nonetheless. I look forward to the point when the Occupy movement is defined more broadly, with opportunities for the rest of us to lend our support and get involved.
Very well said Lindsey.
i can see it now; events where the homeless are fed, offered donations of clothing and other necessities. Events for vets and their families, more ‘move your money’ drives. Stuff like that. Bringing together social services and those who need it. A central location, indoors, would be nice, but out in the streets as well.
We would start acting like the community we want to see. We may not be under the nose of “wall street”, but we would actually be doing the work of community and modeling it for all to see.
A good parting relationship with the mayor and PPD will work in our favor in the future. Future political actions can be negotiated with a history of cooperation on our side.
i have noticed that Occupy groups in small towns are meeting in public ways but not camping. i think that’s a great model for going forward. AND, Occupy Portland can model a peaceful, clean transition for the rest of the country. The world will be watching what happens tomorrow night. So let’s show the world that we’ve decided to stop shaking our fists at the system and are moving to genuine acts of community.
The occupy movement is not and will not die. It will evolve, like all living things, it will evolve.
Peace to all my brothers and sisters at the camp and to Mayor Adams and peace to our brothers and sisters in the PPD. We are all the 99%.
I think we can all appreciate the impulse to achieve meaningful change in our society right now, but please realize that the entire reason why the Occupy movement has become a necessity is that the economic and political systems in place in this country and others have made it impossible to truly even begin to solve the problems which you suggest addressing here (homelessness, hunger, addiction, etc.). In fact, the system benefits in many ways from the continued existence of these problems, for example by the manner in which they disenfranchise members of the lower class who might otherwise actively oppose it, and the 1% have no interest in addressing them other than to lock more people in jail or marginalize them. Considering that they have almost absolute control of the material wealth of the nation, any non-incremental, lasting material progress is impossible until systemic change is achieved. That is why Occupy exists.
You might as well say that all occupiers should instead spend their time volunteering at soup kitchens, in many ways. That is a wonderful thing to do, but it will never end homelessness or dire poverty.
So, the movement is political, and buckling under city and police pressure to abandon the parks would be a symbolic defeat for the movement and would run counter to its purpose of expressing defiance in the face of exploitative economic and political conditions.
I am SO glad to see Occupy refocusing on the very important issue of economic disparity. It’s an issue I and many others whole-heartedly support and want to see kept alive in the public consciousness. It is time to remember what the movement is trying to accomplish (an, quite frankly WAS accomplishing up until a couple of weeks ago.) I hope the whole of Occupy can band together and take the step to re-commit to the vital issues. It is not a movement about camping. Let’s move forward and take the high road. Disband and continue to advocate from a position of real strength, our moral stance.
Mayor Adams,
I am speaking on behalf of my family, long time Portland residents who just submitted our annual $5000 property tax. We have been inspired by the Occupy movement, that the future of our community and indeed the world can be reclaimed by the real citizens, the 99%, where money doesn’t buy priviledge. We see this as an incredible opportunity to change the dialog and start discussing the real issues of social justice, misuse of power, environmental issues, and long range vision of true global need.
We realize that this is a serious challenge to the status quo, and that it puts you and local government in a tight spot between established interests and the potential for positive change. Please note that many people appreciate the decisions you have made so far with the Occupy people, that you have really tried to be open minded and negotiable to the needs of this experiment in improvisational democracy. We know that you have played a key role in allowing the Occupy people to remain and to evolve toward that mystery next phase. Now we hear that you have reached an impasse to that stance, where you can no longer publicly tolerate the continuation of the physical entity as it is, and you are demanding a stop. You are no doubt caught in the center of all sides and the path forward is an unrelenting burden.
As your constituents and advocates of this movement, we feel that you should not come down heavy handed on that deadline. You should negotiate and offer a symbolic reward for cooperation. One example would be to open new space for the homeless, and allow the occupy people to be involved. Another option might be to invite a nominated representative to sit on the Portland city council to continue to speak on behalf of the members. I personally think that the best outcome would be to allow the occupation to continue as a daytime entity, just eliminate the overnight encampment.
The other sentiment we want to share is that many thousands of Portlanders do side with the Occupy movement in wanting to see it continue. Many of us are vested in participation at the rallies and marches and we are ready to stand with Occupy if inapropriately confronted. The relationship between the city and the protesters has been for the most part cooperative and should remain so.
Please move forward with continuing open mindedness and work in real time for a solution. We are all with you if both sides can find a peaceful way to take positions of mutual respect. We need to translate this into a positive outcome that can make waves politically and bring energized participation back into politics.
Respectfully,
Keith Iding
Occupiers! I support you and thank you. Please read to the end. (A)I went to teach-ins and lived through the liberating 1960′s, marched for women’s rights with feminist Gloria Steinman in the 1970′s, pushed for equal access for people with disabilities in the 1980′s, and sadly witnessed corporate greed and downsizing even during boom times in the mid 1990′s. I was in midtown Manhattan on 9/11 and was touched by the love of my native NY that day. Portland being my new chosen city in which to live, I was down at Occupy Portland early on one afternoon to be with you, see firsthand, add to your numbers, and donate. I was at the rally with the AFL-CIO in Pioneer Courthouse Square. I firmly believe that you have had success and it is now time to transition indoors, meet regularly and take the next steps! You will already be in the history books. Please don’t be just a side note. Consult with supporting sociologists, raise funds and hire underemployed civil rights, employment, and legal aid attorneys and take it bigger! Apolitical thought the movement is, seriously consider having candidates for a Occupy Government Party (OGP, not GOP). At Kent State in 1970 guns were fired on students. Don’t think it can’t happen now by the police, even in error. Let’s not have that. Any violence from either side will be blamed on Occupiers by those who don’t understand, fear, or just ridicule. Thank you for giving me hope for our country. Please don’t let this be the end. Let it be the beginning! Love and peace to you all. I so appreciate what you have done and, I feel, will do!
I would like to know one thing – what has Occupy Portland accomplished? Just name one achievement of this specific movement? It seems that I always hear of Plans, but nothing takes place?
From my perspective, all it’s done is deny me a place I used to take my kids on Sunday. I support the overall movement, but I think the Portland version has brought more grief to OWS at large that providing any real support.
To name a couple, we’ve strengthened the local economy by helping credit unions get more members and we’ve focused the dialogue on injustices happening to the 99%. We’re just getting started.
lets’ see, people closed one account at a bank, then opened another at a local credit union…was it about 25 people? don’t think this is even a blip on the local economy radar.
focused the dialogue on injustices…looks like most of the dialogue has been focused on the encampment, and that is the problem. all the wasted energy and dialogue on the camp.
Satori, why don’t just make up some numbers? My wife and I closed two savings and two checking accts with B of A, and opened new ones at West Coast Bank. The bankers themselves (tellers, actually) told us they were surprised by how many were moving their money. You just want to to disbelieve any achievements by OP to fit your political and cultural bias.
By the way, Satori spelled backwards is “I rot as.”
four billion dollars nationwide. a blip, yes, but we have to start somewhere. a great many of us have left the national banks years ago.
Yeah, and just think of all the people who will loose their jobs who work as tellers, or other people in those banks. Way to help the economy by making other people unemployed.
LOL – you’re too funny.
By your logic, we desperately need rape, murder and arson to continue – otherwise, who will employ the maximum security prison guards?
I wouldn’t hardly consider a bank tellers as a similar entity as rape, murder and arsonists. That’s a bit of a jump don’t you think. You are the funny one – or not so funny if you really consider that relevant. It’s people like you that make the rest of the movement look bad. You are the pollution this city needs to rid itself of.
Mary,
I understand your perspective and have heard similar sentiments from other people. I understand how people in the community might view the physical occupation of public parks as a waste of time. But we have to view what’s going on in our city in the context of what’s going on all over the world. Occupy Portland is just one part of a WORLD WIDE movement that is shifting the national political climate. You asked what Occupy has accomplished? Naomi Klein, an environmental activist and author recently commented on the environmental victory of President Obama essentially delaying the decision on the Keystone XL pipeline plan which esentially kills it because investors will pull out (Google for more info). The republican presidential candiadates are talking about the occupy movement. There have been victories for progressives on issues from women’s reproductive rights to union’s rights to negotiate in the past week. These victories would not have been possible without energizing and empowering and giving a voice to progressive voters in this country, and that is EXACTLY what ocupy is doing. The success of the movement is the result of people from different cities all over the country coming together in solidarity to raise consciousness on issues affecting the poor and the middle class.
Plenty of other nice parks in PDX. Try to understand that this protest is about BIG things happening to all of us in the U.S. Your kids need this movement to succeed.
To Mary,
KPOJ reported Thursday that 660 Oregonians and 1400 Washingtonians switched their accounts from big banks to credit unions last Saturday Nov. 5. I’m sure that movement
will continue. I know I’m in the process of doing so right now.
The Occupy movement is and has been a noble and just cause. The onslaught of corporatism has been a tragedy for millions of Americans. To assemble and protest are rights guaranteed by the Constitution and cannot be denied. Democracy is sometimes messy, but I plead with you all, avoid all violence or this cause will be undermined. Resist only passively. We can demonstrate, we can assemble and protest every day. Eviction from the camps is only a small inconvenience, we can return every day. For your own sakes, for the movement, DO NOT ENGAGE IN VIOLENCE.
I agree with others that OC must remain nonviolent. The police, mayor and media are making it sound like the encampment is so dangerous that people can’t walk around or shop safely in DT PDX. That’s just not true. If they tear down the tents, then so be it. Stay NON- VIOLENT PLEASE! The 10 pm news will report the bad stuff, not the good. So make sure they don’t have anything bad to report.
Who gives a shit if you can’t take your kids to a park 1 time a week if there is not future for them in the economy unless they were fortunate enough to be born into a rich family. If your main concern with the economy and political system in the states they are in right now is walking a few more blocks to go to a different park on Sundays you are at best a f**king idiot, and at worst borderline retarded.
Because Anarchy and mutiny is a much better alternative compared to the way things are now? I can think of someone else who had similar take to the government – he of course can’t join you as he was killed in Waco. But you’re movement isn’t any better than his was…the only difference is he did his in a building, and you do yours in a street…
Even though Occupy Portland is many voices…as many as there are people…there are some that ring true to the highest and best in each of us.
Let’s call it Wisdom. Lindsey Walker has done that here.
Let us turn our backs on the provocation of violence offered by the Mayor’s eviction ……………and continue to win the MORAL victory…..which is really a VICTORY FOR ALL.
Mary makes a good point too; since the political and economic systems haven’t been reformed in the few weeks that Occupy Portland has existed they should just quit.
MY wish for Portland tomorrow is that we ALL do gather, in the rain, for the potluck, dancing, singing and celebrating of the finest BEGINNING anything has had in a very long time.
And let’s PLAN to put the suggestions in Lindsey Walker’s letter into ACTION.
Now that Occupy Portland will be stretching out to help us organize together, we don’t have to camp in the cold to be full-fledged members of Occupy. C’mon, Portlanders, we can do it: As Linsey admonished, Occupy Your Heart!!
Since Occupy Wall Street first started two months ago and rapidly spread across the country, many people have asked why occupation is necessary. Why continue to hold parks and other public spaces? What good can it possibly do, now that they’ve gotten people’s attention? Wouldn’t it be better to hold regular marches, and then go home when they’re done for the day? And if the camp should become a home for drug dealers and violent criminals, doesn’t this require the eviction of the camp for the sake of public safety?
Since the inception of Occupy Portland on October 6th, I’ve struggled with these questions myself. At times, I’ve called for the dissolution of our local occupation camp, owing to its problems with drugs and alcohol or its inability to act in its own best interest; at other times, I felt that the camp was a good and necessary thing, but I couldn’t articulate why I believed this. I still don’t feel like I have all the answers, but I think I can express some of the reasons why I think the occupation camp is important.
For the sake of disclosure, I am not one of the occupants and I have no material dependency on the camp, but I support the movement.
First, the act of occupying is itself a kind of speech. From their actions we know that the occupiers not only desire justice, but desire it so strongly that they’re willing to sleep on the ground, in increasingly poor weather, and in some cases while under threat of being evicted and arrested by police, for weeks on end, in order to support the cause. It is a desire that no amount of voting and letter writing could adequately express.
Second, the occupations inspire all of us who doubt the power of our collective voice and have grown too cynical or hopeless to fight. I have never participated in marches or protests before October 6th, and I do so now because the continuing presence of the occupation reassures that I am not alone and gives me hope that my little contributions may someday bear fruit.
Third, the occupations are a powerful expression of a truth that many people have forgotten, or become unwilling to admit: we the people are the true sovereign, the only real power in America. We own the laws and we own the land. No one has any right to dictate where or when we are allowed to assemble, or for how long, and if we want to camp in a park, then we are entitled to do so. And while it is true that other people are also entitled to use those spaces, it ought to be self-evident that the importance of the occupation movement trumps just about any other imaginable use for those spaces.
Fourth, the occupation camp provides people with the opportunity to practice the sort of community building and self-government that most of us have never really experienced or even considered, and in that sense it is both empowering and educational. In addition, it provides the ideal environment for people to develop solutions to the problems that affect us all. True, the democratic process is frustrating and slow, especially when consensus (or even majority agreement) requires the synthesis of opposing ideas. True, the camp has struggled to establish and enforce behavioral standards. But I believe the occupiers are gaining valuable experience for the months and years to come.
The problems that have been cited as reasons to close the local camp – drug abuse, violence, vandalism, and more – were not created by the occupation, and they were not enabled by it, no matter what its critics may say. Those problems existed long before the occupations started. They exist because we, as a society, choose to ignore them or drive them underground so that we won’t have to think about them anymore. Rather than condemn the occupation camp for bringing those problems back into the light, we should work to address them.
In summary, the occupation camp is a positive thing. It is a source of strength for the people. We should help it to flourish, not wait around for it to die like vultures. As our servants and representatives, the police and city government should do the same, and if Mayor Adams truly understands and supports the occupation movement, as he has so frequently affirmed, I call on him to recognize the value of the camp, to renounce laws that arbitrarily restrict free speech and assembly, and to rescind his decision to evict the occupiers by force in favor of continuing to work with Occupy Portland to develop effective nonviolent solutions.
My thought is that no society is perfect. The one we are protesting against isn’t and neither is the one that we’ve created. There are people there that “aren’t part of the movement” the homeless violent drug addicts that the media portrays as rampant in the camps. These people are here but they are part of the movement because they are a part of a struggling America. The larger society has created these people and is not taking care of them. What do you expect a guerilla society to do when these people come looking for food shelter and clothing? The greater society has not provided, but the occupy society has. That is saying a lot. These problems won’t just go away and I think its really saying something of this movement to take these people in and care for them at the risk of their own personal selves and of the movement. The truth is though, we are the 99% and this majority comes in all shapes sizes and colors. We must be sympathetic, caring, and understanding that everyone is on the same team, and they are only doing what they can to survive in a broken system. From the police to the bum to the anarchist to the child to the senior citizen and to the mayor. We are all one. Lets not end this with violence, and yet not forget what our rights are and what we stand for and are working towards: a better society for ALL who live there.
xplo, whoever you are, thank you for your words. As I prepare to engage in nonviolent resistance tomorrow night, I have been questioning and contemplating the camp’s role and my own role within the broader movement. I really, really needed to read that right now. Thank you for your reflection.
There will be a variety of tactics used,” said organizer Adriane DeJerk, 26. “No social movement has ever been successful while being completely peaceful.”
Looks like a plan for violence to me…
I had the occasion to walk through the encampment a week ago as part of a group of sign waving, borderline boisterous Ron Paul supporters. I was happy to see a positive reaction from most of the people and never once felt threatened.
My personal philosophy is to always look for positive synthesis from what others often see as competing interests. When it comes to corporatism creeping stifling of progress in our culture, it helps to look for root causes as a path to a real cure. Lefties see corporations as the villains, righties see big government as the villain. What if both or neither are right, but it is instead the unholy alliance of government and corporations together that are sucking the life out of us? If this is true, and it is, then the solution lies in separating their interests from each other, not in decrying either of them on a wholesale level. I hope this might help some of you in forming a clearer, more unified message. I hate to say it, but most people see OWS protesters as anarchists with their hand out for govt support, which of course is an oxymoron. There are plenty of forces that seek to divide ALL of us, no matter where we come from politically. I applaud the movement for avoiding political polarization, and I do hope and pray that future alliances needed to create real solutions to our underlying problems continue to frustrate the bloodsuckers seeking to co-opt you for their own gain. You are on the verge of the big leagues, where the power players from all stripes are about to show their true colors. Stay strong.
I really do hope a solid, Ghandian peaceful resistance stand takes place tonight that brings us closer to a much needed national awakening.
The banks, the major media, some politicians and some police would LOVE for Occupy Portland to turn violent. Then they win. They can paint us all as violent, crazy people, and everyone can get back to dinner and the movies.
Nonviolent struggles have succeeded in overthrowing power structures in our country and around the world. It is often those who “contaminate” the nonviolent struggle with their violence that bring down retaliation on the nonviolent majority, and set the movement back. Our country doesn’t need violent revolution, it needs constant nonviolent struggle. It’s a long-term strategy. The banks and establishment know how to play this game, we need to also.
Beware of those calling for violence, even against “just” property. They are often police infiltrators, designed to make us all look bad. Plenty of videos on Youtube of exactly this, right now. It’s an old tactic, being used against us again today.
Struggle on! Jthan
So I guess I am the bad person here. I work for a large bank in the foreclosure department. I have to deal with telling people all day long that they have 30 days to vacate, and this after months and months of trying to work with them to help them with their payments – yet I’m still the bad guy. My husband and I support our four children on a limited income, and live paycheck to paycheck just like most people do. We both have students loan that need to be paid and both are still trying to attend college. We have two boys in high school, one boy in middle school, and one in elementary. We fight with the education system, and now fight to keep our children able to ride a bus to and from school because of budget cuts. Yet, we are the bad guys.
We are the bad guys because we don’t support the movement. Because we think that there is a peaceful way to solve the resources, and because we both have to fight with Occupiers to do our jobs. We are the bad guys because we go to work, and then come home and want to be able to show our children by example, that sometimes life is unfair, but you work for what you want, and don’t expect handouts.
We are the bad guys because we support the police officers, and their need to do their job – and not wanting them to get hurt. We are the bad guys because we support our soldiers in a war that we don’t like.
We are the bad guys because we want the city parks to be a place where our children can look and see beauty and peace – not tents and trash.
We are the 99%…low income – but not low class. Working to gain what we need – and VOTING to change the laws we don’t like. But we are the bad guys.
No. The system is the bad guy. You work for everything you have, and want your children to see beauty, not tents. Well lady, im sorry to say, but your “children” wont have any food to eat, water to drink or air to breathe if the corruption of an already inherently unfair system isn’t changed. I apologize that homelessness is a problem, but I guess it is the American way to only drive through the parts of life you want to see, and scoff at the rest.We are all working class folks who work to get what we want, the problem is, the work we are doing isnt even getting us what we need to survive. The most heavily TAXPAYER-funded food in this country is poison, the farms that produce it have to use chemical pesticides and fertilizers, polluting our water, and just look at the sky, we dont have clean air. Not to mention, were still cutting down tons of trees…for profit! The police are people who got involved with an institution of power. They love to assert it. If you look at what the police do, and the way they do it, you wouldn’t want to support it. And finally, 6 more soldiers and veterans killed themselves this year than those who died during action. I have a very hard time believing that keeping the soldiers there is supporting them,i think its killing them. So instead of victimizing yourself and talking about your struggle, informing yourself with sound-bites, eating into the stereotypes, look around you. Look and the real beauty and ugliness of our society. Is it right that you sacrifice almost all the time in your life for a little bit of money, knowing that if you stopped you wouldn’t eat, have health care or shelter? Is it right that basic human needs are stripped for profit? Is it right that even as a movement for the good of the public, we are still marginalized by them? Is it right that if we don’t stop the way things are moving, we will all be GONE. Money doesn’t save us, it destroys.
Of course money is the root of all evil, but we live in a country where money rules. You want a different way of life? Form a capital government where everyone is supported. I do see the homeless – not even a year ago, I was one. So don’t preach to me about not seeing what the dark side of society is, I know it. I lived on the streets, I lived in a shelter, I lived where I could because I had no job. But I found my way out of it. I don’t support the corporations, I support the people who have no choice but to work there because otherwise they would be on the streets as well. My best friend was killed in Afghanistan, so don’t even go down that road with me either. I supported him until the day he died – and as per his every request to me – I support the troops wherever they are.
Basic human rights aren’t something that money can buy. So therefore the lack of money can’t strip it from you. I know just as many people who are happy and healthy on the streets, than I do living in big houses living pay check to paycheck. Why? Because they do what they can with what they have – and they don’t expect a government that they support to do things for them.
Democracy is all based on money – you want to change that, then have a capitalist government. Don’t expect a government founded on tyranny and theft to be anything other than what it is.
Lyndsey’s voice resonates beautifully with being the change we want to see. Her letter represents all that draws my heart and support to the Occupy Movement. And I would imagine why our mayor lent his support until it truly became unsustainable as a positive force in its later stages. It demonstrates all the positive things that inspired anyone who first visited the parks and marches.
Those with vision and commitment such as Lyndsey’s will be the force that shows Occupy is bigger than a camp on two city blocks. That the eviction is not the end of a movement but an evolving to continued constructive, peaceful, non-violent protest that can continue to ignite our city and country to stand up for all of the 99%.
May many hearts and minds be touched with the wisdom and foresight of her words.
Xpio
Thank you for expressing so eloquently your support for Occupy Portland. I totally agree with you.
I have visited the encampment probably 10 time; I’ve brought food, needed items and money; I have felt welcomed – never did I feel endangered.
The occupiers are doing the hard work – the least we can do is support them.
I’m getting ready now to join the goings-on tonight.
Here’s hoping the police will not follow Oakland’s horrible example.
Connie