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An Open Letter from Occupy Portland to City Workers

OccupyPDXfood — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:09:04 +0000

An Open Letter from Occupy Portland to City Workers:

Occupy Portland recognizes that there are city workers responsible for the health of our parks, the health of the people at the camp and city infrastructure. Occupy Portland stands in solidarity with those workers and thank them for their support.

Commissioner Nick Fish’s letter to Occupy Portland offered to discuss maintenance of the park with the occupiers. Occupy Portland does not plan to leave these Squares but will work with rank-and-file city workers to maintain the health of the park. Some worry that Fish’s concerns will be used as a pretext to deny occupiers their First Amendment rights to assembly based on the need to ‘clean the park’.

Occupy Portland is supported by the vast majority of the citizens of Portland. The Occupation has also received incredible support from organized workers throughout the city. This support keeps us confident in knowing that our use of this space is in line with the values of the majority of our community.

Occupy Portland restates its commitment to maintaining and caring for the public spaces of the encampment after receiving a letter from City Councilman Nick Fish on Monday that expressed concerns about the occupation’s impact on the urban environment. We care deeply about the environmental integrity of our public spaces. Occupy Portland has a Sanitation Working Group that has been overseeing the cleaning and maintenance of those spaces.

Occupy Portland wishes to redirect a sentiment that our Occupation is somehow responsible for contributing to the budget cuts to City Workers currently on the table. Those workers are threatened with an 8% budget cut at the hands of City Council. We stand in solidarity with all workers and bring attention to the reality of our current economic system which continues to undertax the 1% while eliminating working class jobs. These are exactly the type of injustices that Occupy Portland is bringing to light.

We are the 99%.
You are the 99%.

***This statement has not been approved by the General Assembly of Occupy Portland***

In Response to the Open Letter from Commissioner Nick Fish

OccupyPDXfood — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:04:42 +0000

Oct. 17, 2010

City Commissioner Nick Fish expressed concerns about damage to Portland’s Lownsdale Square and Chapman Square on Monday, October 17. These concerns are important to the city and its residents, as these beautiful and historic public spaces are invaluable. Many people of Occupy Portland share these concerns, respect the people who have called attention to them, and seek a positive outcome for all stakeholders.

The issue of damage to these squares—the result of thousands of public visitors—has been a serious concern to Occupy Portland organizers since starting their conversations about issues of economic justice in our community. Mayor Sam Adam’s team was made aware of informal plans by the occupiers to provide money and/or labor for the purpose of rehabilitating these historic public spaces on Saturday, October 8.

There is historical significance to this space. According to the Portland Parks & Recreation main website, Lownsdale & Chapman Squares, “The plaza blocks were lively places where orators held forth and citizens assembled.” It is important to remember that the damage to this public space has resulted from free association by thousands of taxpaying citizens, in line with its historical use. People are participating in the non-violent exercise of their First Amendment rights and the public spaces remain open and accessible to the public and to all city institutions. The Portland Police Bureau’s acting Chief of Police has made several visits to the parks with senior lieutenants and commanders. Their officers maintain a presence on street corners and walk through the parks to ensure public safety.

Representatives from the Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau are welcome, just as any other person, to enter these public spaces at any time. Occupy Portland protesters have held constructive and civil conversations with official and informal community organizations to share the space as necessary. These are still public spaces, and the community is still welcome. Persons involved in organizing the occupation understand the city faces budget cuts and scheduling issues, and wish to assist city personnel with any necessary inspections.

In the mean time, the Occupy Portland media and outreach volunteers encourage the city to provide to the Occupy Portland General Assembly any concerns or specific action plans that occupiers may consider and assist with. Anyone may stop by the information booth to ensure this information is received and distributed in a timely manner.

Occupy Portland volunteers and committees remain open to suggestions, concerns and comments, and many occupiers have expressed a willingness to find a solution to any damage the park may receive as a result of the occupation. The protection and preservation of this public space as a forum for First Amendment expressions should be a principal goal of the entire community.

***This statement is not an official statement from the General Assembly***

The Original Open Letter To Occupy Portland from Commissioner Nick Fish

Collective Agreement on Guidelines for Community Safety and Well-Being

OccupyPDXfood — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 06:33:09 +0000

This proposal passed with 4 amendments on October 16, 2010.

Background information can be found in the comments.

PRINCIPLES of SAFETY, WELL-BEING, and SOLIDARITY

Acting in solidarity with the Occupy Movement, we pledge to recognize our responsibility to our community, which means occasionally putting personal freedoms second for the safety and well-being of all.

We are a weapons-free zone.

We are nonviolent and we will not tolerate verbally aggressive or physically violent behavior, including unwanted touching. We pledge to resolve any conflicts that arise in a creative and nonviolent manner.

In communal areas, no recreational drug or alcohol use. We recognize that a safe space is needed for card-carrying medical marijuana patients.

We respect the rights and privacy of our fellow occupiers and our neighbors. We will not create unnecessary disturbances.

Degrading ethnic, racist, classist, sexist, or homophobic remarks are not acceptable.

We cannot permit open flames or other hazardous activities.

We agree to direct all cigarette smoking to the corner of SW 4th and Main and will provide rain shelter for those who wish to smoke.

We encourage everyone to follow health and sanitary recommendations throughout camp.

By entering Occupy Portland, you agree to abide and uphold these guidelines.

ACTIONS

Create signage to be posted at every entrance and throughout camp showing guidelines and safety information. Recruit and promote the presence of greeters and educators who will provide information on these guidelines and help create awareness on community safety and wellness issues.

Educate, promote, and train all Occupy Portland members on these guidelines and conflict resolution.

STEPS for DEALING with THREATS to SAFETY and WELL-BEING

If you observe a threat to the safety and well-being of Occupy Portland (a disregard for any of the guidelines), assess your personal safety and decide:

A) If the situation is safe for you, know that you are empowered to tell the person to kindly stop the behavior and inform them of these community agreements as well as offer alternatives.
B) If the behavior is unsafe for you and you do not feel comfortable intervening, call safety by mic-checking “PEACEKEEPER”.

If you approach the person and the threat continues, ask for community support (2-3 others, not a mob) in re-approaching the person posing the threat. The focus is to address the behavior. Repeat the request kindly and continue to offer alternatives.
If repeating the request does not stop the behavior, as a group, consider resorting to collective chanting “leave now”. This can create non-violent social pressure.
If the threatening behavior continues or escalates, call safety by mic-checking “PEACEKEEPER” until a safety volunteer arrives.
While providing support, allow the safety volunteer to de-escalate the situation and use their discretion.
Our community empowers and supports our safety volunteers in deciding if police need to be called in. We cannot allow trauma or tragedy to happen in our camp.
If the threatening behavior continues to disrupt the safety and well-being of our community, the person will be asked to leave the camp. For this we will act together as a community and nonviolently escort the person out.
If a person repeatedly acts to disrupt or disregard the guidelines for the safety and wellbeing of our community, the person will be barred from accessing the kitchen, coffee shop and any participation in the activities of the camp.
Everyone is welcome at Occupy Portland, but individual freedoms are not to supersede our collective safety and well-being. That is what much of the 1% is doing.

*We define “communal” as any space shared with others or affecting others.
*Right 2 Dream Too, a project of Right 2 Survive: http://right2survive.wordpress.com/

Solidarity with Chicago

OccupyPDXfood — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 07:03:58 +0000

Our brothers and sisters in Chicago need our support tonight. Give the Chicago Police Dept. a call at 312-744-5000.

According to a Chicago Tribune article from 10/15/11:

When a group of protesters sat defiantly in their tent and refused to leave, the officers dismantled the tent with the people still in it.

“I’m going down with the ship!” one man shouted, right before the group was arrested.

Let’s make sure Chicago knows we stand in solidarity with them!

Saturday, Oct. 15th March

OccupyPDXfood — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:25:16 +0000

Proposal approved by 10/13 General Assembly

Occupy Portland will be marching!

We are joining forces with the “10 Years in Afghanistan: End the Wars – Bring our $$ Home” Actions being planned by Peace and Justice Works. The action is planned for Saturday, Oct. 15th. At 12:30PM we will assemble at Shemansky Park, located at the South Park Blocks on Salmon, to join the rally with P.J.W. (Update: We march with their cause in addition to the Oct. 15th Global Day of Change.)

(Update as of 10/14 4:15PM)
Time:
12:30PM Assemble at ~~Shemansky Park (South Park Blocks at Salmon)~~ the Elk at Main St. and begin marching to Shemansky Park (South Park Blocks at Salmon)
1:00PM Rally at Shemansky Park
1:30PM March from Shemansky Park
2:30PM End March at SW 12th and Main
2:30PM Forum at First Unitarian Church (SW 12th and Main)

March Route Map

Why?
War and militarism are both deep causes and recurring symptoms of the corrupt system of domination Occupy Portland is opposing. A feeder march will make use of O.P’s occupation site capacity as a staging ground for creative actions directed at various aspects of the corrupt system of domination. The organizers of the Saturday anti-war action have explicitly defined it in terms that connect to OP’s issues.

Event Demands

Self Determination for the Middle East
End Militarism
Money for Jobs and Health Care
Protect Human and Civil Rights

10/13 G.A. Agreement Regarding Recent Arrests, Solidarity and Future Actions

OccupyPDXfood — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:51:35 +0000

Acknowledging the General Assembly agreed to continue to hold Main Street and that those arrested were arrested while attempting to uphold our agreement, we affirm:

The charges against these individuals are charges against us all, and we are in solidarity with them. We call for any and all charges against them to be dropped.

We further agree that all agreements taken by the general assembly express explicit methods of implementation and / or action.

Occupy Wall St. Update and Support Info

OccupyPDXfood — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:43:27 +0000

update 10/14 8AM

The owners of Zuccotti Park, where our brothers and sister of Wall St. occupy, have rescinded their request to clear the park. Please see these sources for more information:

Occupywallst.org – Victory Announcement

STATEMENT OF DEPUTY MAYOR CAS HOLLOWAY ON BROOKFIELD PROPERTIES POSTPONING THEIR CLEANING OF ZUCCOTTI PARK

SUPPORT OCCUPY WALL STREET

Urgent — The New York City police plan to evict the Occupy Wall Street protesters either tonight or early tomorrow morning. See the original post at occupywallst.org

The only way to stop the eviction is a roaring outcry to New York’s billionaire mayor, Mike Bloomberg, and to the owners of the protest park. We must show them that their global reputations are on the line.

Call the Mayor and Brookfield Properties Here:
New York mayor Michael Bloomberg: +1-212-NEW-YORK (639-9675)
Brookfield CEO Richard Clark: +1-212-417-7063
Brookfield US headquarters: +1-212-417-7000
Brookfield Canada headquarters: +1-416-369-2300
Brookfield Australia headquarters: +61-2-9322-2000

Suggestions for your call:
Say that you have a message for Brookfield CEO Richard Clark or NYC Mayor Bloomberg (depending on who you are calling)
-Stop the eviction of Zuccotti Park
-We have a constitutional right to protest.
-This is one of the biggest shows of public outrage in decades and these people represent hundreds of thousands across the world who stand with the protesters and the movement for real democracy.
-The protesters are cleaning up the park, keeping it clean and safe.

***This is a message from the Information Committee, information sourced from Avaaz.org***

Arrests on Main St.

OccupyPDXfood — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:15:48 +0000

10/13/11 6 AM Main St. Arrests

Around 6am on Thursday, October 13th, 2011, eight protesters holding signs behind the road block located at Main street and SW 3rd were arrested. Police officers on bicycles rode into Main St. through the line opened for bicyclists and surrounded the protesters on Main Street. Simultaneously, motorcycle police rode west on Main street from SW 4th Avenue. Shortly after, police on foot arrived and lined both sides of Main street. After the occupiers were surrounded, they were arrested in an act of civil disobedience.

Those arrested were: Brandon Lee, Brad Whisler, John Saunders, Ashley Jackson, Jacquellyn Miller, Joshua Macnayr, Andrew Barnick, and Keller Henry. They were transported to east precinct to be processed as quickly as possible. They will return downtown and should be released by 3pm today. Arrestees were taken peacefully. Additional updates on these arrests will be posted upon confirmation from Occupy Portland sources.

Main Street is now open to regular traffic. Chapman Park and Lownsdale Square remain occupied indefinitely.

Mayor Adams on Main St. Opening

—–UPDATE 3:21PM—–

6 of the 8 arrested have been released as of 3:21 PM. Some but not all of the charges have been dropped.

Video: Release of 6 of the 8 arrested this morning

—–UPDATE 6:56PM—–

All 8 of the original arrestees have been freed. Details of charges upheld or charges dropped are not available at this time.

***This is an update shared by the information committee***

Attention!

OccupyPDXfood — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 21:13:32 +0000

All are invited to join us in another peaceful march this Sunday, Oct. 9th at noon. We will be gathering at the PSU park blocks. The march will be ending after the Portland Marathon back home at camp. Occupy Together is about maintaining a community. Come out and show we’re still together.

Occupy Portland will make a MAJOR Announcement to the press & community at 4:30 pm today regarding tomorrow’s Portland Marathon!

(edit: The exact start location is front of the Millar Library)

Immediate Needs 10/8

OccupyPDXfood — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:12:03 +0000

(10/9 EDIT: All future needs will updated and available on the Occupier Needs Page, please use this to find out what the Occupation needs to stay strong. We thank you for your continued support. The needs listed below may have changed.)

If you’re coming to the Occupation, if you are able to, please offer your services or bring an item on these lists:

Off-Site Occupier VOLUNTEER ROLES
Nearby Kitchens to Boil Water
Runners with Trucks or Bicycle Trailers to Remove Compost, Recycling, and Trash
Laundry Service for Kitchen Towels
Opening Nearby Homes for Showers for Occupiers (come to info to add your name to list)

On-Site Occupier VOLUNTEER ROLES
We have many committees and would love for you to become involved in one. Visit the info booth upon your arrival to get plugged in.

URGENTLY NEEDED:
Folding Tables
Tarps
Tents
Huge Pots
Towels and Rags
Folding Tables
AAA Batteries
Seasonings (salt, pepper, ground cumin, ground turmeric, paprika, fresh ginger, garlic, ground coriander, chilies, cinnamon, curry powder, lemons, soy sauce, braggs, vinegar, etc)
Battery Powered Lanterns

FOOD
Mugs
Funnel and Rubber Hose to Refill Water Containers

LIBRARY
Cardboard boxes
Spray paint
Couches!
Lanterns and Lights – Electric and Solar
Paint Brushes
Paint
Twine
Laptop Table Lock (to present TED TALKS)

INFO
Micro SD Chargers
Pillows (to create a rest lounge)
AAA Batteries (we have plenty of AA’s)
Flashlights
Scissors
Radios for Broadcasting Local Stations
Rubber Bands

MEDICAL
Biohazard Bags and Receptacles
Sealable Storage Tubs
Apple Cider Vinegar
Rubber Hot Water Bottles

GENERAL
Rope
Tools
Ladder
Large Bins
Car Batteries
Power Cables
Power Strips
Fan Belts
Alternators

KIDS VILLAGE
Socks
Rain Gear
Toys
Books
We will take any kid related items

MEDIA
Lanterns (no fire)
Lights
Hot Spots
External Batteries Energizer X18000
White Board

COMPONENTS FOR BICYCLE POWERED POWER GENERATOR VAN
Permanent Magnet Motors
Charge Controller
RV Car Batteries
Blocking Diodes
Bike Trainer Starts
Old Permanent Magnet Alternators
Belts
Cables
Pallets for Wood
Old Cheap Bikes
Gearbox