LASC (Latin America Solidarity Committee’s) is raising money for local and national work to close the School of the Americas/WHINSEC, and defray costs of local activists going to the national protest.
September 30, 2017 7pm to 9pm
Wellsprings Friends School 3590 W. 18th Ave.
Eugene OR, 97405
Contact Information:
(541) 485-8633 or email lasc@efn.org
What is LASC? Link to their website
Author Archives:
International Women and Women Aligned Day Rally
Intersectional People’s Network of Eugene/Springfield (a newly forming community organizing group), Disrupt! Eugene and So Just Collective invite the community to join them at A Rally for International Women and Women Aligned Day at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza this coming Wednesday, March 8th at 6:00 p.m. to celebrate “International Women’s Day,” as the groups take time to honor women and transfeminine people across all intersectionalities, as a community.
They gather to celebrate and center the lives and experiences of women of color, transgender, queer, non-binary people who are women aligned, disabled, indigenous and immigrant women. The three groups recognize how these identities intersecting with “womanhood” can directly interfere with a person’s prerogative to identify as simply “woman.” This event will have an anti-racist framework to give voice to people who have been underrepresented or misrepresented.
Ashanti Gilbert, one of the event’s organizers, says, “As an African American woman living in Eugene, I felt there was a need for marginalized women’s voices to be heard and celebrated from our own perspectives, whether immigrant, women of color, Muslim, disabled or woman aligned. Much of the organizing that happens here in Eugene usually is centered on the voices of white women. While I appreciate their efforts, many of us are not afforded the freedom to identify as just ‘woman.’ We are mostly identified by the adjective before woman, that is, Black woman, Muslim woman, disabled woman, et cetera. In conjunction with International Women’s Day, we celebrate those intersections.”
Emily Semple Wins City Council Seat
Emily Semple (Occupy Eugene’s Brave Beatrice) has officially won a position on Eugene’s City Council. Lane County Elections has finalized the results and Emily won by 140 votes. We welcome her as our new representative for Ward 1 in Eugene. With national politics in turmoil we have managed to get one of our own occupiers in office to represent us locally! We have come a long way since the Eugene City Council was deciding our fate in Washington Jefferson Park. Congratulations and thank you for all you do and for being so awesome as to take on the system for us again.
Occupy Eugene’s own “Brave Beatrice” (Emily Semple) Is Running For Eugene City Council Ward 1
CANVASSING TRAINING AND PIZZA PARTY!
1pm Fri, Sat., and Sun. (May 6, 7, &8)
409 W. Broadway (Lawrence & Broadway), Eugene OR
RSVP helpful but not required
(so we can have plenty pizza and cookies ready)
Beatrice REALLY needs volunteers who can give even as little as a couple hours toward bringing pamphlets to the doors of residents in Ward 1. We need to let them know about their opportunity to vote for Emily as soon as possible! Call anytime to be trained individually. Right now we don’t have enough helpers to do this important job, so we are calling Occupiers to action. Please help us get one of our own into a place of representation, so we can be better represented!
Volunteer Campaign Manager Kristen Brandt: 541-515-2102
FLURRY OF LAWN SIGNS
Lets get the last of Emily’s lawn signs up in Ward 1 from 7th to 29th Avenue and Willamette to City View. If you live there please call or email so we can bring you a lawn sign. If you know someone who lives there, let them know about Emily and help them get a lawn sign. Please help others know “the choice is Semple”!
Volunteer Campaign Manager Kristen Brandt: 541-515-2102
FLASHMOB AT INTERSECTIONS
DURING RUSH HOUR
Picture several intersections with people holding signs for Emily! Cars honking in support as they drive by… By showing our support and energy for her candidacy, we can show neighborhoods that voting for Emily is the best choice. The more people see us supporting her, the more they will want to. Please call or email to come get signs for a flashmob
Volunteer Campaign Manager Kristen Brandt: 541-515-2102
LETS HAVE A PARADE!
If enough people respond, we could parade downtown and in Ward 1 neighborhoods with signs for Emily! The more people see us on the streets, the more people will want to follow our lead and support Emily Semple for Ward 1 City Councilor. Come help Emily get elected. Help her help you! Please call or email to discuss when you might want to parade Eugene with signs for Emily.
Volunteer Campaign Manager Kristen Brandt: 541-515-2102
Elect EMILY — The choice is SEMPLE!
Go to http://emilysemple.org/ for more information.
Contact Emily: http://emilysemple.org/email-emily/
Global Fast Food Strike – Rally and March
The fast-food worker movement for higher pay is about to go global.
At a press conference outside a Midtown Manhattan McDonald’s on Wednesday, Fast Food Forward, a group representing U.S. fast-food workers, announced that workers from dozens of countries on six continents are joining the push for higher pay and workers’ rights.
The group announced nationwide strike plans for May 15 — a date which mirrors the $15 per hour pay they are demanding. On that same date, workers from dozens of countries on six continents will hold protests at McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC outlets. It is not known how many workers will strike, but thousands of the nation’s estimated 4 million fast-food workers are expected to take part in the one-day strike.
February 11th 2014 is The Day We Fight Back Against Mass Surveillance
Occupy Eugene calls on freedom loving Americans to speak out in solidarity next Tuesday, February 11: to stand together in support of our constitutional rights against illegal government surveillance. Please join us as we flood congress with the message that we support the USA Freedom Act and reject uncontrolled, secret mass surveillance of American citizens.
Last June, security contractor Edward Snowden confirmed our worst fears about the extent and intrusiveness of secret government surveillance on American citizens. Though regarded by the Obama administration as a common criminal or even a traitor, Snowden has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his disclosures about the nature of the American security state and the surveillance practices of the National Security Administration. Snowden’s disclosures have caused diplomatic and political turmoil around the world, yet the Obama administration continues to stonewall calls for reform from Congress, the advisory panel the President selected himself, the American public and the information technology industry, which has lost billions due to international mistrust of US information technology following disclosure of NSA abuses. On January 27, Snowden gave an extensive interview on German TV which has been withheld from the American people, but can be found at LiveLeak.com Why is there US media blackout on hearing Edward Snowden explain his case? Perhaps it’s because he accuses the US Director of National Intelligence of lying to Congress about NSA mass surveillance.
A chief author of The Patriot Act, Republican Representative Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, chair of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism and Crime, has joined with the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democratic Senator Leahy of Vermont in calling for passage of the USA Freedom Act, which will force the Obama administration to rein in its illegal surveillance practices and bring some measure of public oversight to our government’s massive surveillance programs. Senator Sensenbrenner has pledged to lead a fight to de-fund the NSA if it continues in its lawless behavior of mass, illegal spying on American citizens, and he needs our support to be able to carry through on his pledge.
On February 11, Occupy Eugene will add our voice to a rising chorus in support of the USA Freedom Act. We invite everyone to join us, and to support Senator Ron Wyden in his efforts to bring our secret government to light.
There will be two key points expressed, in the message, to Congress
For more on Edward Snowden and NSA surveillance:
NY Times: Edward Snowden, Whistleblower
NSA insiders blow the whistle on illegal, ineffective surveillance
Where Does the President Stand on NSA Reform? | American Civil Liberties Union
Whoville Granted Reprieve Through February 28
On January 27, 2014, the Eugene City Council granted Whoville a 30-day stay of execution until February 28.
City Manager Jon Ruiz has assigned Deputy Chief of Special Operations, Joe Zaludek, to work with Whoville to find a new location. After our first meeting with him, we are hopeful. Our next meeting with him is scheduled for Tuesday the 11th of February.
We are informed the City Manager prefers private instead of public land for Whoville. All are aware that we are unlikely to secure private land within our thirty day clemency period. Therefore we are seeking public land for a short period of time (6 months) until we can develop an exit strategy and destination from that temporary site.
Three temporary sites on public land are currently being discussed for Whoville. All three sites are listed for future development. However, Whoville’s need is short term.
1. Eighth and Mill, directly south across the street from the new Federal Building which was on the City Manager’s original list of properties that meet Council criteria for a Rest Stop.
2. Under the Ferry Street Bridge.
3. Underutilized parking lot just west of Louis Chinese Restaurant on Franklin.
We currently perceive three possible choices that the Council might make though more may evolve. Obviously, the first choice is not acceptable and will require a dramatic and immediate response from the SLEEPS community. Choice three will require lots of us to help with the move and with the cleanup of the current site.
1. Shut Whoville down without providing a new site for them, forcing them back to the streets
2. Extend Whoville’s stay at the current location for a length of time to complete arrangements for a new site
3. Transition Whoville to a new site on the 28th.
Council members have noted that when Whoville first settled at Broadyway/Hilyard, Council members heard lots of objections. After four months at the site, objections have diminished greatly and increasingly, they are receiving email and phone calls supporting a “place to be” for Whoville!
Council Meeting Monday, February 10, 7:30. Arrive after 7:00 but before 7:30 if you wish to speak at the public forum. Your voice is VERY important….and if you prefer to simply attend in solidarity, then your presence alone is a powerful message (especially in this weather!).
A decision on Whoville will be made at either the Monday February 24th 7:30 meeting OR the Wednesday, February 26th Noon meeting. When we know which, we will let you know. In any event, please plan to attend the Monday 24th meeting as the last time our voices can be heard before a decision is made.
Please! Continue to contact your representatives on the Council (info below).
To write the Eugene Mayor, Councilors and City Manager all at once, email to:
mayorcouncilandcitymanager@ci.eugene.or.us
If you prefer to write to them individually, email to:
MAYOR, Kitty Piercy: 541-682-5010 Kitty.Piercy@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 1, George Brown: 541-682-8341 George.r.brown@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 2, Betty Taylor: 541–338-9947 Betty.L.Taylor@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 3, Alan Zelenka: 541 682-8343 Alan.Zelenka@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 4, George Poling: 541-517-3110 George.A.Poling@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 5, Mike Clark: 541-682-8345 Mike.Clark@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 6, Greg Evans: Greg.A.Evans@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 7, Claire Syrett 541-682-8347 Claire.M.Syrett@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 8, Chris Pryor: 541-682-8348 Chris.E.Pryor@ci.eugene.or.us
CITY Mgr., Jon Ruiz: 541-682-5010 Jon.r.ruiz@ci.eugene.or.us
Occupy Eugene Launches Sustaining Donor Drive
Occupy Eugene’s overhead is minimal. With no paid staff, its expenses consist of office rent, supplies for actions, and the printing of the Eugene Occupier five times a year. These costs total $5000 a year. While we were at Washington Jefferson donations came in steadily. However, these days donations are few and far between and all too often organizers and activists are spending much of their volunteer time raising funds, time that would be better spent doing the work of Occupy
If 40 people were to donate $120 a year, $10 a month, Occupy Eugene’s costs would be covered, freeing up people to do the work that brought them to Occupy in the first place. Becoming a sustaining donor is easy and there are several ways you can do so. You can make a direct deposit to Occupy Eugene’s account at Oregon Community Credit Union. Or you can mail a donation to P.O. Box 744, Eugene, OR 97440. Or, visit our website, occupyeugenemedia.org, and click on the link on the left below “Donate to Occupy.” There you can set up a recurring donation by downloading the form on the page to arrange for automated monthly debit from your bank account. The form can be mailed to the post office box or returned at the 3rd Friday GA at Growers Market, 454 Willamette. This form can be accessed by clicking on the Direct Debit button. Or, donate using the WePay button on the page,though please understand that 3% of your donations goes to WePay.
Donations below the sustaining donor amount of $120 are gladly accepted, as are amounts over. You may donate anonymously if you prefer. If you are unable to donate financially, the donation of your time is greatly valued. Join our mailing list, on our website’s left column, to receive Occupy Eugene Announcements which notify you, once a week, of various actions and events of Occupy Eugene and its allies.
Judge Rules for Free Speech
From the Register Guard
By Greg Bolt
The Register-Guard
Published:
SLEEPS protestors Peter Grotticelli (left) and Bethany Clement walk their tents down Sixth Avenue in Eugene from their campsite near the Ferry Street Bridge to the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza at the Lane County Courthouse after being evicted by Eugene Police. (Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard)
Lane County is 0-for-2 in its efforts to control the use of a public plaza after a judge on Thursday threw out trespassing citations issued to 21 protesters earlier this year, again saying the action violated their free speech rights.
It’s the second time in a week that the county’s actions against protesters in the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza have been found to violate the state and federal constitutions. Last week, the same judge dismissed a trespassing charge against a single protester who remained in the plaza after the county said it had to be closed for cleaning.
Eugene attorney Lauren Regan, executive director of the Civil Liberties Defense Center, said the two rulings show that government must tread lightly when it comes to rules that put any kind of burden on the rights of people to assemble and speak out.
“Our intentions in bringing this case before the court in this way was to have a court rule on what our constitutional rights are at this very public forum in this community,” she said. “We will continue to zealously advocate on behalf of our community’s First Amendment right to exercise free speech and to protest.”
Anne Marie Levis, a spokeswoman for Lane County, said county officials hadn’t had a chance to review the ruling Thursday and couldn’t yet comment on it. But she said the curfew rule that sparked the protest is likely to come up for discussion by county commissioners at a future meeting, possibly in two weeks.
Some protesters returned to the Morse Plaza Thursday night, both to continue a protest over the rights of homeless people and to celebrate the court ruling. The group moved to the plaza from a site under the Ferry Street Bridge next to East Sixth Avenue, where they had been camping to protest police treatment of homeless people.
“We’re exercising our rights to freedom of speech and that was our goal, to protest for the homeless for safe places to sleep,” said James Chastain, a protester who was helping to erect tents at the plaza early Thursday evening.
Thursday’s court ruling centered on a county-imposed curfew on the Morse plaza that closes the public space from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. In January, a group of activists defied the curfew in a protest over free speech rights and the county asked Eugene police to cite them for trespassing, charges that were then challenged in court.
Attorneys for the protesters asked Eugene Municipal Court Judge Karen Stenard to dismiss the citations, saying the curfew does not pass constitutional muster. In her ruling issued Thursday, Stenard did not strike down the curfew itself but agreed that the citations were unconstitutional.
Stenard said she empathized with the county’s challenges in maintaining its facilities with a limited budget and its claim that the curfew was not aimed at stifling speech but keeping the plaza safe and clean.
“Nonetheless, enforcement of a curfew which closes the very area that the county designated ‘Free Speech Plaza’ (much of which is barely distinguishable from a sidewalk) for a third of every day significantly limited defendants’ rights to speech and assembly, regardless of the curfew’s intent,” the judge wrote in her decision.
Even under the least stringent analysis of the case, “the curfew does not withstand constitutional scrutiny,” Stenard wrote.
Regan said she is willing to work with county officials to rewrite the curfew rule in a way that doesn’t infringe on people’s legal rights. She said that would be cheaper for the county than facing another lawsuit in state or federal court asking that the rule itself be revoked.
Stenard stopped short of saying that the curfew rule itself was unconstitutional, limiting her ruling only to the 21 citations issued in this particular case. She suggested that a city judge might not have jurisdiction to rule on the constitutionality of what is essentially an internal county rule.
But given the judge’s analysis, it’s unlikely anyone else brought before her for violating the curfew under similar circumstances would be convicted. Regan said that essentially makes the rule unenforceable, and she called on the county to change it.
“If there is common sense among any of our county officials, they will sit down with us and figure out a way to resolve this situation in a way that protects the constitutional rights of all our community members,” she said.
The curfew was added to the county’s administrative procedures manual by former county administrator Liane Richardson, who has since been fired over alleged improprieties in how she was paid. She made the change in December after she shut down a protest, claiming she had smelled human feces in a planter and needed to have the plaza cleaned, an argument that Stenard also rejected as unconstitutional in her earlier ruling.
Although the curfew rule allows people to apply to use the plaza at night, Regan said the county did not have any clear procedures or application form for requesting an exception and no clear criteria for deciding whether to grant such requests. One protester testified that she tried to get a permit to use the plaza at night but was told she didn’t need one and that county employees seemed unaware of any process for granting one.
Stenard said she found that testimony troubling and indicated it weighed in her finding that curfew citations were unconstitutional.
“Any permitting or exception process should be so transparent and accessible that all government staff involved in the process are well aware of it, can explain it to the public and laypersons can navigate the requirements,” she wrote. “The curfew imposed by the administrative procedures manual is unconstitutional as applied to the defendants.”
Reporter Samuel Stites contributed to this report.
“We’re exercising our rights to freedom of speech, and that was our goal.”
— James Chastain, protester
Occupy Eugene / Bankbusters Benefit Movie: Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island: The Truth Behind the Federal Reserve gives a history of our monetary system very different from the one you may have learned in school. Global bankers have waged an unrelenting war on popular government in the United States since the American Revolution, until they were able to trick congress into establishing the Federal Reserve system 100 years ago. By gaining the power to control the money supply, the private bankers who own the Federal Reserve system have taken control and made a mockery of self government. Through manipulation of a constant series of economic booms and busts, wealth has been concentrated in the hands of a tiny elite. Our economic vitality and the common good have been sacrificed to make a shrinking ruling class even richer.
Join us for the movie and a discussion of the real steps we can take locally to create a money system which builds democracy and prosperity for all.