Don't Shoot the Messenger! - A Call to Action for OccupyPDX

Dear Friends,

As you have probably heard by now, Mayor Sam Adams and Portland Police have threatened to evict the Occupy Portland encampment beginning tonight at 12:01 AM.

I would like to relate some important information, as well as encourage you to support the Occupy Movement in one of the ways listed below.

I'll start with Actions:

1.) Please call/ email any of the phone numbers/ email addresses below to ask that the police not be used to clear the camp tonight, and to voice support for real and lasting solutions to city-wide issues of homelessness, mental health treatment, wealth inequality, and joblessness in Portland.  Our messages DO make a difference, and they make a difference right now:

Mayor Sam Adams: (503) 823-4120
Samadams@portlandoregon.gov

City of Portland General Line: (503) 823-4000

Portland Police Non-Emergency Line: (503) 823-3333   (A 24-hr number)

Amanda Fritz, City Commissioner:  (503) 823-3008
amanda@portlandoregon.gov 

Dan Saltzman, City Commissioner:  (503) 823-4151
dan@portlandoregon.gov  

Nick Fish, City Commissioner:  (503) 823-3589
Nick@portlandoregon.gov

2.)  If you're in Portland, come down to the Occupy site for festivities, music, rallies, a potluck, and demonstrations to support our right to peacefully assemble.
        A full description and schedule of Events HERE. 

3.)  If you can't make it in person, please consider following events by watching livestream coverage - people-powered media, broadcasting live around the world:  http://occupystreams.org/item/occupy-portland

4.)  Keep up to date with information and announcements on Occupy Portland's website

5.)  Please forward this information widely and encourage your friends to make their voices heard tonight, too!

Additional Information and a Personal Reflection on Occupy Portland

On Thursday morning, Portland mayor Sam Adams announced notice of the eviction, citing drug use, violence, and general lawlessness as reasons for clearing out camp.  Over the last week, and especially in the last several days, mainstream media have hammered these negative points over and over again, with hardly a balance to the reporting.  The focus has inordinately gone towards a very few negative acts by disturbed individuals, whom to my knowledge had not been identified with nor recognized as part of the the Occupy movement.  While violence of any kind is reprehensible, the vast majority of occupants and activists are dedicated to and maintain strict resolve for nonviolent tactics. The General Assembly repeatedly reaffirms Occupy Portland's commitment to nonviolence.

I personally have spent a good deal of time at the Occupy camp.  I have attended several General Assembly meetings per week since the occupation began on October 6th.  I was present on Thursday night, when a group of 200-300 citizens voted on measures to peacefully and creatively preserve the People's right to assembly in both Chapman and Lownsdale Square, site of Occupy Portland. 

From my experience, I can say this:  There are a lot of homeless people living in the Occupy camp.  In fact, I would guess that the majority of the camp consists of chronically homeless and transient folks.  It did not begin this way, as activists seemed to make up a much larger presence in the first weeks.
  However, the services in camp including free meals, basic medical care, freedom from harassment, and a safe(r) place to sleep quickly attracted the homeless.  In the last week I've heard varying figures and rumors.  I know the kitchen serves well in excess of 1200 plates per meal - to a camp of about 300.  By some estimates Occupy is feeding at least half the homeless population in Portland.  One night the security team reported that local area psychiatric hospitals have been using Occupy as a drop-off point for their discharged patients with nowhere to call home.

These facts have, as might be imagined, placed tremendous strain on activists and volunteers seeking not only to create and operate a 24 hour independent occupation, but to organize and forward a political agenda (per the Occupy Movement) as well.  The General Assembly - the remarkable nightly democratic people's forum that serves as official policy and decision maker for the community - is now primarily comprised of non-resident activists.  In other words, only a small fraction of the encampment actually participates in the political procedures of Occupy Portland.  Most activists, of which there are many, mainly "visit" during the day/evening to help in camp, participate in committees, and join the Assembly.  But all this good work goes unrecognized.  Mainstream television and newspapers have been viciously critical with their near single-minded vision for certain negative aspects of the encampment, thus misinforming the public, distorting intended messages, and damaging the reputation of Occupy Portland. 

This is not to say there aren't problems in the camp.  Yes, there are untreated mentally ill folks. Yes, there is drug and alcohol use by some.  Yes, there has been some violence, and other problems that often follow the sad plight of the Poor.  But my point here is that Occupy Portland did not create these problems, does not condone any associated illegal activity, and most importantly did not create the overwhelming numbers of homeless persons on the streets of Portland - nor the multi-faceted factors that landed them there.  What Occupy has done is bring the vast reality and true extent of human suffering to the attention of city officials, the mainstream media, and the people of Portland.  And now, just five weeks into the occupation, the city and its police have put Occupy Portland on the chopping block! 

I am reminded at this point, of an old phrase; one I'm sure you remember:  "Don't Shoot the Messenger".

By going after Occupy, the city and the police seek to decapitate maybe the bravest message-bearer of our times.  Occupy is not just a place, it is a movement.  It is an idea and a message that shines a bright light on the dark truths of our society:  There are a whole lot of people with nowhere to live.  There aren't enough jobs.  Crime, drug use, and related problems are all very real and stem from deeper social inequities.  But when Occupy creates and holds a space that illuminates these issues in all their stench and richness, certain segments of society just want to shove it all back under the rug.  The holiday season is coming, and the Better Business Bureau would rather not have the Poor living in the heart of downtown.  Holiday shoppers mean big bucks to big box retailers.  There are powerful monied interests behind this eviction, and the people of Occupy know it.

We're not going to give up this time.  Fire as they will at the harbingers of reality, there are too many of us ready to stand up for the Truth, ready to protect the weakest among us, ready to do our part to create a better world.  There will be clergy members from faith communities all around the region, bringing witness to tonight's events.  There will be veterans groups standing for peace.  There will be Union members marching in solidarity.  I am going to be there tonight too.  Please, make a call right now to the city of Portland.  We're making a stand for Justice, and this is one Message that's too important to fail. 

Thank you!

~ Blessings to All ~