Occupy Eugene / Bankbusters Benefit Movie: Jekyll Island

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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.

Press Release: Municipal Court Hearings Set for Occupy Eugene and SLEEPS Activists

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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lauren Regan, CLDC, 541-687-9180; Alley Valkyrie, 541-954-3779

Municipal Court Hearings to Dismiss Charges Against 20 Free Speech Activists

In Eugene Municipal Court, Courtroom 2, on Monday, July 15 at 9 a.m., Judge Karen Stennard will hear arguments regarding motions to dismiss criminal charges based upon constitutional challenges to the underlying arrests. Defense attorneys will argue that the Court must dismiss second-degree criminal trespass charges against 20 activists who refused to leave the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza in Eugene, in two separate incidents last winter as they were exercising First Amendment rights to assemble and protest government action. Lane County officials are expected to deliver testimony justifying the County’s decision to restrict access to the plaza.

The cases stem from two incidents that took place during a campaign at the plaza organized by an offshoot of Occupy Eugene called SLEEPS, to challenge Eugene’s camping ban and allow unhoused people access to safe and legal places to sleep. Both cases will rely upon an assertion by defendants that their actions were protected by both Oregon and U.S. Constitutional rights to protest.

According to Civil Liberties Defense Center attorney Lauren Regan, the Wayne Morse Plaza is a “traditional public forum,” which means the government’s ability to restrict activities there is extremely limited. Regan adds that similar charges of trespass against SLEEPS activists for refusing to leave the plaza in front of the Federal Building on 7th and Pearl in December were dropped by the Federal government.

The first case to be heard on Monday concerns an incident on December 13 when one protester refused to leave the Free Speech Plaza after it had been closed by an “indefinite closure order” issued by Lane County Administrator Liane Richardson. In another gross overstep by Richardson, she imposed the order without any prior consultation with Lane County Commissioners. The closure order followed a two-day lawful demonstration by SLEEPS at the plaza. At the time of the closure, Richardson alleged SLEEPS demonstrators damaged the building and created a bio-hazard. Other County staff people denied the activists were responsible for the minor incidents. Richardson also ordered the plaza surrounded by an iron barricade.

The SLEEPS protesters vigorously denied Richardson’s claims and said no evidence existed to support them. On December 13, one day after the closure, a group of activists entered the closed barricaded plaza to protest the closure of this revered Free Speech Plaza, and, when ordered to leave by the Eugene police, one protester remained and was cited for trespass. After this arrest, Richardson amended the long standing guidelines for the Wayne Morse Plaza and imposed a night time curfew that bans any First Amendment activity at the plaza.

The second case concerns an incident on January 7, when more than 100 activists remained at the Free Speech Plaza after the curfew took effect at 11 p.m. After the Eugene police ordered the protesters to leave, 21 remained and were cited for trespass. The protesters cited ranged in age from 16 to 68 and included a recent war veteran. The group contended that they have the right to protest at the plaza regardless of the hour and that recent lawsuits affirmed the law that curfews are generally deemed unconstitutional restrictions upon First Amendment rights. SLEEPS activist Jean Stacey said that the group was taking a stand for the right to protest and for the rights of un-housed people. On Monday, Judge Stennard will hear arguments from several defense attorneys regarding motions to dismiss the charges against 19 of this group.

This press release is from the Communications Committee of Occupy Eugene that has been empowered to speak on behalf of the larger Occupy Eugene body.

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Occupy Medical Fundraiser

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Come support OCCUPY MEDICAL ~ Eugene’s free and mobile health care clinic ~ on Sunday, June 23, 2013!
Cozmic Pizza will host an evening of local musical talent that opens with some acoustic Americana from Satori Bob, followed by Steel Wool’s funky world beat folk rock. Indulge your senses with a slice of delicious organic pizza and a cold microbrew while enjoying the musical delights of both Satori Bob and Steel Wool. Your support allows OCCUPY MEDICAL to continue their work by providing free, inclusive health care for all.

Swarm Monsanto

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Occupy Eugene will gather for coffee and donuts at the Old Federal Building Saturday May 25th at 10:00 AM to prepare for the March Against Monsanto. Occupiers will head over to the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza at 10:45 AM.
The World Wide March Against Monsanto begins at 11:00 AM. There will be a rally, march and party.

Please join Occupy Eugene and affinity groups to demand a sustainable GMO free food supply.

SWARM MONSANTO
An Occupy Eugene Action

10am Saturday May 25 at Old Federal Building, 7th & Pearl Eugene OR

Let’s march together as Occupy in the March Against Monsanto on Saturday, May
25. Swarm into the Old Fed for coffee and donuts potluck (or drink/food of
your choice or nothing— please join in!) We’ll leave at 10:45 to buzz over to
the Wayne Morris Free Speech Plaza and join the march at 11:00.

Costumes & street theater:
Bees — black clothes or garbage bags with yellow duct tape stripes. Wings,
antennae. Monsanto —dress at you please, bring corn: corn stalks (real or
fake), ears of corn on strings/sticks to temp the bees. Bees buzz around with
signs “Save the Bees!”, Monsanto tempts, Bees die, Bees turn their signs over
“NO GMOs” and rise-up to pollinate again.

Needs to be a quick loop as we will be moving. If you don’t want to play in
the skit, please come with signs (or not) of your choice.

Occupy bandannas (message Brave Beatrice if you want one), patches, ribbons
etc. & Occupy signs will give us exposure, education, and recruitment
opportunities. Plus, it will be a ton of fun!

For more information or to get involved contact Beatrice at
beatrice@bravebeatrice.com
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MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO

11am Saturday May 25 at Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, 8th & Oak Eugene OR

Fight for our food!! Join us for a Rally and March and Party for a sustainable
food system. Speakers, Music and more information to be announced as
available. This event is being held in conjunction with the worldwide March
Against Monsanto. Please spread the word!!

For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/events/425053897590793/

Benefit for Occupy Eugene

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You are invited! Save the date!

What: Celebration of Art, Poetry, and Music: a benefit for Occupy Eugene

Where: Tsunami Books, 2585 Willamette Street, Eugene

When: Sunday, May 19, 2013, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Readings by Robert Hill Long, a Web Del Sol featured poet, Kirk Toncray, author of Behind the Signs, and Plaedo of Occupy and beyond.Also, Occupy Library Committee will present an Occupy Online Poetry community project.
Music by Scotty Perey and the Madison Meadow Music School. Silent auction includes paintings and sculptures by Mary Wagner, Dianne Story Cunningham, Cooper, Scott Fife, Margaret Matson (prints). Photography by Robert Hill Long and Rob Sydor. Other contributors include Hannah Goldrich, Shel, Tim Boyden, Chris Bellini, Graham Lewis, and vendors at Saturday market.

Also, Occupy Library Committee will present an Occupy Online Poetry community project. Everyone is invited to join in at https://www.facebook.com/groups/oneline.poetry/?fref=ts.Music by Scotty Perey and the Madison Meadow Music School. Silent auction includes paintings and sculptures by Mary Wagner, Dianne Story Cunningham, Cooper, Scott Fife, Margaret Matson (prints). Photography by Robert Hill Long and Rob Sydor. Other contributors include Hannah Goldrich, Shel, Tim Boyden, Chris Bellini, Graham Lewis, and vendors at Saturday market.

Contact Katia Siskron at siskron[at]yahoo.com or Christina Bellini at giulia.c.bellini[at]gmail.com for more information.

May Day Celebration

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May Day Celebration
Whose Streets?   Our Streets!
People of Eugene, RALLY for your Rights!
Make your voice heard in the fight for Economic and Social Justice, Workers' Rights, Immigration Reform, and Environmental Sanity.
Exercise your First Amendment Rights to speak, sing, march, and organize!
5:00pm Celebration Rally at Kesey Square, W. Broadway & Willamette
5:30pm Solidarity March from Kesey Square to the Old Federal Building
6:00pm Party & Potluck at the Old Fed--Family Friendly Speakers, Music, & Entertainment into the night!
Brought to you by:  Occupy Eugene, The Civil Liberties Defense Center, and Community Alliance of Lane County.

FUND HUMAN NEEDS NOT WAR

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A coalition of peace, justice and labor activists, including Occupy Eugene have organized 
several actions on Tax Day, Monday April 15th.  The coalition's message is calling on 
Congress to redirect war dollars to fund human needs.  Also, activists are demanding 
continued USPS Saturday delivery and to keep the Springfield Gateway facility open. 

11:00 AM @ The downtown Post Office, 520 Willamette Street, Eugene OR.  Organizers will be 
providing taxpayers the opportunity to decide where their tax dollars go, by inviting them 
to participate in a penny poll.  The poll participants will be given 10 pennies to put in 
jars representing a 6-category breakdown of the Federal budget.

12:00 Noon @ The downtown Post Office.  There will be a rally with speakers and music

1:00 PM.  Procession mourning the human costs of war from the Post Office to the New 
Federal Bldg, with a 1:30 pm rally.  Marchers will turn in cards to the Congressional offices of Senators Merkley, Wyden and Representative DeFazio that call on 
them to take action to fund human needs and not war.

Occupy Eugene/Occupy Bankbusters Benefit

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Occupy Eugene and Occupy BankBusters will hold a fundraiser at Cozmic Pizza, Monday, April 8th, at 6 PM. Everyone is invited. Participants can get up to date on what Occupy is doing, buy raffle tickets for gift certificates from local businesses, watch the movie “The Secret of Oz” and discuss the historical events behind our current economic crisis and what some real solutions to our situation might look like. All this over beer and pizza.

Cozmic Pizza is located at 8th and Charnelton, in downtown Eugene, and their phone number is (541)338-9333. Donations accepted at the door. Twenty per cent of lifetime Cozmic gift certificates sold at the fundraiser, for later use, goes to support the local Occupy movement.

Buy Nothing Day

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Occupy Eugene activists are staging a protest Friday 10:30 – 11:30 AM at the Eugene West 11th Walmart to bring attention to 1% media blitz targeting the 99% to buy buy buy on Black Friday. Unfettered consumerism leads to debt and time away from the family while at the same time large corporations reap record profits. Many of these big box stores, including Walmart, have abysmal employee wages and benefits.

Please join Occupy Eugene in buying nothing and challenging the Corporate Status Quo.
Bring a Sign
Here are some Ideas:
• OCCUPY CHRISTMAS
• STAND UP AND LIVE BETTER
• STEP OFF THE CONSUMER TREADMILL
• SHOP LESS LIVE MORE
• KEEP CALM AND DON’T SHOP
This is a companion action to the protest taking place simultaneously at the Green Acres Walmart , which is being held by the Eugene Solidarity Network, Pacific Green Party and United Food and Commercial Workers.