Important update from the City Hall Vigil: Officials have told us that in order for signs to exist on the sidewalks at City Hall, instead of them being hung structures, they need to be carried by people. With this, they are at a urgent need for people to come down to pick up a sign and demonstrate.

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The vigil keepers are calling for donations of balloons and helium gas. As part as a creative message tactic, the vigil keepers want these balloons, with to-the-point messages written by them, to float around the city and be given to passing children and adults to get a change of pace from the typical plasterboard sign.

If you haven’t been by the Vigil recently, they have been doing a great job with their signs and messaging.  If you can spare a few hours or at least help get the word out, it would be appreciated.  The Vigil’s next planning meeting will take place this Friday, August 17th at 5pm at Terry Schrunk Plaza – at the last meeting on Sunday we had a great turnout and very constructive time – feel free to stop by with your ideas Friday for further planning on next steps!

chalkitout.tumblr.com

Are you ready to chalkupy? Activists all over are learning of the wonders of calcium carbonate and the joys of expressing their creativity by way of chalking. Of course police across the country are responding by cracking down on the dangers posed by hopscotch.

This Friday, August 17th Occupy Portland’s weekly Bank Action is going on a “Chalkupy Bank Tour.” The Bank Actions have been growing every week, so if you haven’t been to one yet, hope to see you at Pioneer Courthouse Square at 2pm Friday!

This Friday, Occupy the Banks will be hosting it’s first Chalkupy Bank Tour! Last week one of our own was almost arrested for chalking on a sidewalk. We will be gathering at Pioneer Square at 2pm and then touring downtown banks to let them know just how we feel. Come on down and let’s bring back that n17 feel!

PDX Occupy the Banks Facebook Page
Police Officer Hassles Chalkupier

Chalk on!

We’ll be shutting down at least these locations from 10am-4pm. Then we’ll meet up at the Lloyd Center recruiting location at 4:30pm and go on a short march to watch and support the surprise!*If you, your group or organization want to be involved, please email Cascadians Against War as pdxcaw@gmail.com

For more information:
Event Facebook Page
PDX Bike Swarm: Swarm the Recruiting Centers (Free Manning, End the Drone Wars)
Bradley Manning Support Network
Courage to Resist

Medical Fundraiser Party! Help us raise some funds for a core member of the Bike Swarm that took a serious spill and needs to make up some medical bills!

Important info: August 11th 6 – 10pm

Musician’s Union Hall at 325 NE 2oth Ave

Enjoy music, bike repair stations, new stickers, a raffle and more!  Bring your friends!  BYOB!

To learn more about the good folks at PDX Bike Swarm visit these nifty links:

PDX Bike Swarm

Bike Swarm on Facebook

Bike Swarm on Twitter

Update: Here’s the Facebook event page with more information – suggested donation is whatever you can throw down.

Join us for the second in a series of discussions about how people locally and around the world are resisting austerity and building strong coalitions to protect public services, education, and the safety net. Our goals are to educate ourselves, strengthen our relationships, and develop a shared analysis of austerity and a shared orientation to strategies that work.

We will start out with a potluck brunch and spend time getting to know each other. We’ll have some discussion in the large group and then break into small groups for more in-depth conversations using the discussion questions provided as a starting point.

The meeting will take place at 10am on Saturday, August 11th @ NE MLK and Thompson (214 NE Thompson St).  For more information check out the event page.

Sunday: 2pm to 9pm
Monday: 10am to 9pm
Tuesday: 10am to 9pm
Wednesday: 10am to 9pm
Thursday: 10am to 9pm
Friday: 3pm to 9pm
Saturday: 3pm to 7pm

Office Phone: 971-258-1006

In solidarity with the rally in Anaheim, the people of Portland will stand with the victims of police brutality in Anaheim, Portland and all over the world.

 

Bring music, signs, sidewalk chalk and megaphones. Let the people speak out about what police brutality does to their community!

*Any violence and vandalism by an individual is solely that individual’s choice and is not a part of this event planning.Este es un evento en solidaridad con la comunidad de Anaheim, y tambien con la comunidad de Gresham y Portland que han sido victimas del abuso policial. Este evento es para toda la gente, pero en especial para la gente de color que ha sido, acosada, descriminida, golpeada, y victima de violencia de parte de la policia.Tendremos un mitin alas 6:00, donde gente que ha sido abusada por la policia dara su testimonio. Alas 6:30 marcharemos por la colonia.

Esto sera en plaza del Sol en la 187ave entre la start y la burside.

No podemos dejar que nos sigan acosando solo por que somos latinos. YA BASTA! No mas injusticias y muertes a nuertra raza!

El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido!

UNIDOS VENCEREMOS!

Si la justicia existe, tiene que ser para todos; nadie puede quedar excluido, de lo contrario ya no sería justícia. (Paul Auster)

“Sean capaces siempre de sentir, en lo más hondo, cualquier injusticia realizada contra cualquiera, en cualquier parte del mundo. Es la cualidad más linda del revolucionario.” (Ernesto Che Guevara)

Commemorating the birthday of social critic and award-winning author Aldous Huxley, Portland activist Cameron Whitten has declared a determined end date for his Hunger Strike at City Hall. The 24/7 camping demonstration was launched on June 2nd, and has been fairly reminiscent of last Fall’s Occupation of Downtown Public Squares. After 55 Days, Whitten’s weight has dropped to 159 of an initial 193.7 pounds: shedding 34.7 pounds in total…

Whitten, a former Mayoral Candidate, student, and active volunteer, said he felt the exponentially growing housing crisis was not receiving enough visibility, “There are less safe places for Portlanders to sleep, which contributes to crime, mental health issues, lower quality of living, and death.”  The statistics of homelessness in Multnomah County are staggering.

2,727 people are experiencing homelessness
1,928 are sleeping in transitional housing
35% are unsheltered families with children
46% are people of color
12% are U.S. military veterans
Total 4,655 people as identified by the Portland/Multnomah County “Point-In Time Study,” 2011

Whitten notes a number of groundbreaking victories for Housing Justice have occurred over the past 55 Days:

• Renewed visibility to the housing crisis, promotion of “Housing First” policy.

• Located services for various houseless individuals.

• July 1 Slumber Party, where over 70 housing advocates slept outside City Hall.

• July 20 Rally at Terry Schrunk Park, with over 200 attendees.

• Initiation of legal procedures on behalf of Right 2 Dream Too.

• New Dialogue on Housing Reform, such as Steve Novick’s Eminent Domain proposal (which Whitten promoted during his Primary campaign).

• Public Letter from Mayor Sam Adams, announcing an Annual Regional Housing Summit, TBA.

…Whitten is planning an open Press Conference to declare his victory, on the steps of City Hall. Thursday, July 26th at 10AM, supporters will be able to observe him scarf down his first item of solid food in the past 55 Days. He hasn’t clued anyone in on what it will be, but you can be sure it will be vegan.

Be sure to make it down to City Hall 10am tomorrow morning (Thursday, July 26th)!