Another Under-Paid, Over-worked Caregiver.

Occupy Eugene! Largest March in Eugene History

Occupy Eugene is HAPPENING! Saturday, October 15, was the biggest march in Eugene history. Over 2,000 people participated! 150-200 people camped out in the Park Blocks downtown Eugene. The energy was amazing. We met at Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza where there were many speakers, some songs, and a lot of people getting together, making signs, and talking about the movement.

There were so many people, we were on both sides of the bridge waving at each other. Once we were off the bridge we could look back and see an endless stream of people continuing on! In solidarity!

Samba Ja took the lead on the march and then stopped at the courthouse for more drums and dancing before heading to the occupation site!

It was beautiful to see how many children are involved and participating!

And of course, there were several bike cops around and some cop cars, but it stayed calm and mostly friendly between the people in uniforms and the people marching. There was a Homeland Security vehicle hanging around, too, of course...

Positive vibes and Solidarity!

The lovely little tent village.

Malik Rahim, former Black Panther and founder of the Common Ground Collective in New Orleans joined us. He and many other speakers were so inspiring! In fact, EVERYONE THERE was inspiring! Malik Rahim reminds us, "The number one issue is saving our environment, and then ending these unjust wars! We can find peace! It starts like this!" and he reminds us they may evict us from a certain site, "but they cannot evict a movement!" Malik told us that when he comes back from the 45th anniversary of the Black Panthers, he will be camping with us in Eugene. :)

 

Occupy Eugene is very well organized, and getting more organized as we learn how to live and work together as a community striving for change! We have several committees, including Sanitation, Medical, Communications, Community Outreach, People of Color, Sobriety Support, Children and Families, Research, Peace Keepers, Collective Visioning, Food, Facilitation, Morale, and Engineering. Many of these committees have several sub-committees, too. If you would like to be involved, please check out the website, and PLEASE, come down to 8th and Oak and show your support in person! Join the occupiers! You can also donate money or needed items to the occupation.

7am General Assembly 10/16.

The General Assemblies have been going very well. Eugene has been using 100% Consensus and it has been working amazingly well! You can watch the General Assemblies, and many other goings-on on livestream. We have adopted St. Paul's Principles. General Assembly meetings will happen every day at 7am and 7pm.

The media is finally starting to pay attention to these movements. The Register Guard wrote a pretty good article about Occupy Eugene.

I want to reiterate, because some have expressed concern about this, that Occupy Eugene committees are discussing ways we can work with, and not interfere with, the Saturday Market.

In Solidarity!

Occupy Oregon! Several Oregon Cities Participating in the Occupy Movement.

Occupy Portland began on October 6. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 people participated in the march Thursday. Occupations in solidarity with Occupy Wall St are happening all over the country, all over the world, even! "Occupy Together Meetups" planned or happening in 1,168 cities. Occupy Together has confirmed 68 occupations currently happening in the United States and 22 occupations currently happening in international cities. 

I've been involved with Occupy Portland and Occupy Eugene. I've been hearing about several other occupations planned in Oregon, and so I did some research. Here is what I found out!

Portland : The occupation began on October 6, 2011. 7-10,000 marched and hundreds occupied. The occupation site is located at the Plaza Blocks Park between 3rd and 4th Avenues. The Plaza Blocks are separated by SW Main Street, with Lownsdale Square on the north side and Chapman Square to the south. General Assemblies are every day 7am and 7pm. The website is updated daily, they are having infoshare classes, marches, and group meditations. A list of needs is regularly updated on the website. 

Seaside:  The occupation began Friday, October 7th at City Hall. There are 437 people who "liked" the facebook page, but they are in need of support! There is a City Council meeting at 7pm on Monday, they are hoping for a big turnout that night.

Manzanita: The occupation began Saturday, October 8. They met in front of Manzanita Library at 571 Laneda Ave. Not sure if this is still going on, or if it was simply a rally in support of Wall St and other occupations...?

Salem: The occupation begins Monday, October 10, at 12:30pm, at Willson Park (on the West side of the Oregon State Capitol Building). That same day, the ACLU of Oregon will be representing Michele Darr et.al vs. the State of Oregon in a case which will be heard by the Oregon State Court of Appeals (on the East side of the Capitol Building in Salem) after 2 years of struggle to reassert the Peoples Constitutional Right to peaceably assemble 24 hours a day at the seat of government to request Redress of Grievances. The Liberation Commons Collective has been involved in organizing for this.

Eugene : Occupy Eugene is having its 4th General Assembly meeting  on Thursday, October 13, at the West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue, 1274 W. 7th Ave. For those who do not have regular access to the internet, there is a phone line: 541-525-0130. You can call this number if you would like to be updated about meetings by phone. The occupation begins Saturday, October 15.

Ashland: The occupation begins Monday, October 10, 2011, 12:00 PM at Chase Bank.

Corvallis:  The occupation begins Monday, October 10, at 12noon, at the Bank of America on 3rd St. and SW Adams. 324 SW 3rd St.

Cottage Grove: There are currently 23 people discussing this on facebook. This will take place Wednesday, October 12, 5pm, and 1500 Main St. It seems details may still be being worked out, please visit their page for more.
Coos Bay: The proposed beginning time and place for this is Friday, October 14, 9am, at 125 Central Ave.
Roseburg: There are 57 people currently on the facebook page. They are planning on beginning on Saturday, October 15.
Medford: Also beginning Saturday, October 15, at12:00pm. Medford Oregon Alba Park.
Bend: The occupation will begin Saturday, October 15, at 12noon. It is proposed to begin at Drake Park and march to Pioneer Park.
Astoria:  1st Planning Meeting is on Wednesday, October 12, at 4:30pm-6:30pm, at the Astoria Labor Hall. 926 Duane St. 3rd floor.
McMinnville: The date is not yet set. The place is 3rd St, possibly US Bank Plaza.
Rogue Valley: No real information on this one. Is it happening? There is a facebook page, and 93 people "like" it.
Vale: No real information on this one. There is a Meet Up page.
Cave Junction: There is a facebook page, and a proud grandmother, and 20 people "like" it. No real information yet.
Brookings: There is a Meet Up page. No information yet.
Hillsboro:  There is a Meet Up page. No other information.
John Day: There is a Meet Up page. No other information.

If you don't know what the Occupations are all about, please check out Occupy Wall St.'s Official Declaration. These Occupations, though many may release their own declaration or grievances, are in solidarity with Occupy Wall St.

Occupy Portland! Thursday, October 6

An estimated 7,000 people joined the march Thursday October 6 in Portland, OR. It was AMAZING and INSPIRING! The occupiers are still there. They are currently occupying Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square. Mayor Sam Adams has been negotiating long term occupation solutions with our Tactical Committee.

The occupiers, their supporters, the demonstrators and protesters....we all have a common cause. Of course, we are individuals with different ideas and different beliefs, but we are united in our call for change. We are united in our outrage at the way our government serves the few greedy wealthy at the expense of the many struggling. 1% of the world owns over 50% of the wealth. We are the 99% and we are not just pissed off, we are hopeful that we can unite and create real change!

If you can't occupy, march! If you can't make it to the marches, support the occupiers! There is a list of occupier needs on occupyportland.org

 Estimated 7,000-10,000 people showed up and participated in the march!

So many leaders. It is inspiring to watch people speak, lead, and inspire others to do the same. It is cooperative and beautiful. There is no single leader or single group of leaders in this movement. As one sign I saw Thursday read, "We Are the People We've Been Waiting For!"

 

A popular chant as well!

 

People cheered us on from all the buildings, clapping, throwing peace signs, and making impromptu signs!

People gathered in the Federal park before being told that the Mayor had approved the two parks next to it which were city property. We were told riot cops were on their way, but we departed to the other parks and there was no conflict.

No "Get out of jail free card" for you, BANKSTERS!

Just look around at the signs and you will see that we are all united for a common cause.

YES!!

Portland Occupation Begins Tomorrow, Eugene and Others Planning

Tomorrow at 12noon, people will gather at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, North Waterfront Park and Ankeny Plaza, at The Pavilion in Portland, OR, where Saturday Market touches the river, just south of the Burnside Bridge and we will march to the site of the demonstration. This is a nonviolent movement in solidarity with Occupy Wall St.  This is an occupation, so many will sleep outside as a group, with sleeping bags, tarps, and duct tape (tents are illegal). Please go to OccupyPortland.org for details. I am going to Portland tomorrow morning to take part in this. It is our hope that this will be a peaceful demonstration. However, the occupation at Wall St. has remained peaceful on the part of the protesters, and they have been met with police brutality and mass arrests. We must be prepared. 

Those of us who are trained in CPR and First Aid and other medical and health issues must especially be prepared. We must also have people available who can support people with mental health issues, panic, and trauma. 


Some important things to bring: 

• Typical First Aid kit stuff if you have it and especially if you are trained in CPR and First Aid
• Some sort of herbal courage tincture 
• A bandana soaked in cider vinegar (in case of pepper spray, to help you breathe)
• Squirt-top bottle with 50/50 water and liquid Maalox (for your eyes, in case of pepper spray) 
• Squirt-top bottle with 25% Dawn dish soap and 75% water (for your skin in case of pepper spray)
• An extra t-shirt in a bag
• Emergen-C packets 
• Granola bars
• Sugar packets or tube of icing (in case of diabetic emergency) 
• Rosehip Medic Collective based out of Portland, Oregon, has some really helpful resources for those interested in being street medics.

The Eugene occupation is also underway as far as planning goes. You can visit OccupyEugene.com for more information on that. One important thing before a huge and ongoing demonstration that is needed, however, is sleep. And sleep I must.