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Mayor Hales and the City are at it again, and attempting to remove the City Hall Vigil against the “Camping” Ban and other anti-homeless ordinances, erected since Dec. 2011. After scrutiny by corporate media, Hales issued this and other similar notices inside the Vigil and around the sidewalks where protesters are staying, giving all only 24 hours notice before a planned police invasion.
UPDATE (22 Jul. 2013) - It is likely that the police will storm in EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. STAY INFORMED on OPDX Vigil’s Website, Twitter and Livestream.
Hales claims that the public sidewalks in front of City Hall are the “Wild West” and makes blanket statements over everyone. Does his allegations really hold water? Here are portraits of some of the protesters who have agreed to be on our camera to tell who they REALLY are:
This is Sawyer. Originally from Seattle, he has been on-and-off at the Vigil, but has stayed consistently for the last week. He does not drink. He does not smoke. He uses no drugs. He has never physically, verbally, or sexually assaulted anyone, nor seen any incidents. He stands innocent of every accusation the City has made to protesters.
Sawyer’s here because of the inherent divisions made to our society by the financial and judicial system. He simply believes the Vigil has brought the protest “to the footsteps” of the ones who need to hear it. “Although we have come to their doorstep, they have refused to answer the door,” and so the Vigil is maintained to “give them MANY opportunities to address us.”
This is Trevor. For 3 days now, he has continuously handcuffed himself to a tree in reaction of the planned invasion. Not backing down without a fight, he is protesting for “the 1st Amendment because we’re about to lose it, and if we lose it, we lose it for all Americans.”
Of course, Trevor doesn’t believe all who lie on the adjacent sidewalks are also protesting: “The few screwed up for the many.” However, he insists that “if the Mayor would actually spend more time out here and getting to know them, he’d probably have a whole easier time with the community.” He is ready on getting arrested.
This is Yurdai. She has been homeless for over a year now, due to domestic violence. She planned on backpacking across Oregon country after a brief stop in Portland, until she found “what became family” and has stayed protesting for over 17 days.
Her greatest frustration is how misleading the City is. “Homeless shelters are being closed down,” she claims while holding an orange Notice posted by police that promises availability. “There’s people on the waiting list for up to 1.5 years before a DHS-approved homeless help!”
This is Cody. Being raised on the streets, he is all too familiar of the discrimination the homeless face daily. He’s been with Occupy since Encampment, frequently visiting while maintaining his place, and now being without a home once again, he has been loyal to the Vigil since last October.
“I just became a father a few days ago – I plan on making sure he has the rights promised to him as an American.” While he himself wants “to remain self-sufficient,” he notes that even the non-protesters sleeping on the sidewalks are “all have just as an equal part.” As for the invasion, he remains on the plus side – whatever happens, he hopes that “it stays as much as an example as possible” and re-form.
This is “Tank.” While he often visits at the Vigil and is well-versed in the community, he seldom spends the night. He is here because of “the injustice that’s going on; housing being a human right; tired of being shoved aside, as if not important,” and when asked which ones specifically, “there’s too many to name.” Understanding homelessness as a collision of many problems, “we are out here to stand for all of them – here we are; we are in your faces.”
“Tank” desires all to “come and join” and respond urgently when the invasion occurs. “We need as many people possible to represent.”