update: homeless protest in portland
an update on the protest happening this week at Portland city hall from one of the student supporters:
Hi friends, I wanted to give you the update on last Wednesday and let you know what we have in the works for this coming Tuesday and Wednesday.
About 10 of us went out to the camp with the folks outside Portland City hall who are protesting their rights to affordable housing and/or a safe place to stay outside. We met people of all ages, genders, some of whom have been homeless for a few weeks and others for 30 years, and many with jobs. They all have compelling and unique stories of triumph and loss. I assure you, if you could take the time to listen to their stories for a few minutes, an hour even, you could see some reflections of your life in theirs. My evening spent sleeping on the hard cold cement with trucks and buses bustling by was one filled with love and solidarity.
I asked Larry, (an organizer and spokesperson) what we as students could do to help and he replied to please come and listen to their stories, to show compassion, love, and support. They want to know that they haven't been forgotten, they want their voices to be heard.
Not much, huh? But it means the world to them.
So here's the plan: Wednesday morning at 9:30 am 4 of the main organizers for the movement will be going into city hall to put forth their requests at the city council meeting. Here are two links, one with the agenda and the other explaining how city council works:
http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm? c=26997&a=196476 http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=27481&a=9113
We are trying to mobilize at least 200 people (you know what Saul Alinsky says, you've got to have the numbers) to be out there before 9 am supporting them as they go into city hall to let Mayor Potter know that we are paying attention, and that we care what happens to these people. And if you are feeling real ambitious, you could spend the night with us Tuesday night adding to the numbers of blue tarps and signage on the sidewalks, making it more difficult for others to turn their heads. I feel like this is our chance to give breath to the voices that are going unheard and overlooked.
In their own words:
Why are we protesting at City Hall?*
Our Civil rights are being violated in that we are asked to be on the move continuously, never able to stop and rest. This is cruel and unusual punishment for a crime not committed. Being homeless is not a crime, and Portland is our home. We are human and we are your neighbors. WE are trying to live our diverse lives with dignity and respect. We have nowhere to go, no houses, some of us have been living under bridges and have been swept out, and that is why you see us here in front of City Hall; it is the only safe place to sleep in Portland.
We are not allowed to camp within city limits and shelters are not an answer to our houselessness, only a band-aid that continues to keep us dependent on the system that needs us to survive. WE are tired and weary: we are not looking for a hand out: we are looking for creative solutions that involve our entire community. This is not just a homeless issue; this is a community issue.
*What Do We Want?*
Short-term – the immediate repeal of sit/lie ordinances and the decriminalization of homelessness
Long-term- affordable and safe housing in Downtown Portland REAL dialogue where we can share and listen to each others' creative ideas and solutions
*Want to Support Us?*
Housed and houseless UNITE! Many have already come to sleep with us on the sidewalks; but we need more allies to spend a few hours, a day or a night, or three in our shoes, hear our stories, and then spread the word far and wide.
Tell the Mayor's office at 503-823-3597 as well as your neighbors, co-workers and friends that we want open participatory communication, not just forums for talking to one another!
Make Wednesday morning’s city council meeting standing room only. On May 14th, 2008 at 9:15 in the council chambers, stand in solidarity as we collectively demand that our unalienable rights to life, justice and equality are upheld by OUR representatives.
Additional Links:
- Call City hall and express your concern:
* Mayor Potter's 24-Hour Opinion Line: 503-823-4127
* Mayor's Office Front Desk: 503-823-4120
- Write a letter to Mayer Potter (this week!)
- Find out more about the issues and post so we can get a well rounded idea of the issues at hand, and share them with folks in your community. Here are a few links:
http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=764715&category=22101
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1210130710124480.xml&coll=7
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/05/mayor_tom_potter_meets_with_ho.html
http://www.portlandonline.com/mayor/index.cfm?c=38500&a=195308
Hi friends, I wanted to give you the update on last Wednesday and let you know what we have in the works for this coming Tuesday and Wednesday.
About 10 of us went out to the camp with the folks outside Portland City hall who are protesting their rights to affordable housing and/or a safe place to stay outside. We met people of all ages, genders, some of whom have been homeless for a few weeks and others for 30 years, and many with jobs. They all have compelling and unique stories of triumph and loss. I assure you, if you could take the time to listen to their stories for a few minutes, an hour even, you could see some reflections of your life in theirs. My evening spent sleeping on the hard cold cement with trucks and buses bustling by was one filled with love and solidarity.
I asked Larry, (an organizer and spokesperson) what we as students could do to help and he replied to please come and listen to their stories, to show compassion, love, and support. They want to know that they haven't been forgotten, they want their voices to be heard.
Not much, huh? But it means the world to them.
So here's the plan: Wednesday morning at 9:30 am 4 of the main organizers for the movement will be going into city hall to put forth their requests at the city council meeting. Here are two links, one with the agenda and the other explaining how city council works:
http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm? c=26997&a=196476 http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=27481&a=9113
We are trying to mobilize at least 200 people (you know what Saul Alinsky says, you've got to have the numbers) to be out there before 9 am supporting them as they go into city hall to let Mayor Potter know that we are paying attention, and that we care what happens to these people. And if you are feeling real ambitious, you could spend the night with us Tuesday night adding to the numbers of blue tarps and signage on the sidewalks, making it more difficult for others to turn their heads. I feel like this is our chance to give breath to the voices that are going unheard and overlooked.
In their own words:
Why are we protesting at City Hall?*
Our Civil rights are being violated in that we are asked to be on the move continuously, never able to stop and rest. This is cruel and unusual punishment for a crime not committed. Being homeless is not a crime, and Portland is our home. We are human and we are your neighbors. WE are trying to live our diverse lives with dignity and respect. We have nowhere to go, no houses, some of us have been living under bridges and have been swept out, and that is why you see us here in front of City Hall; it is the only safe place to sleep in Portland.
We are not allowed to camp within city limits and shelters are not an answer to our houselessness, only a band-aid that continues to keep us dependent on the system that needs us to survive. WE are tired and weary: we are not looking for a hand out: we are looking for creative solutions that involve our entire community. This is not just a homeless issue; this is a community issue.
*What Do We Want?*
Short-term – the immediate repeal of sit/lie ordinances and the decriminalization of homelessness
Long-term- affordable and safe housing in Downtown Portland REAL dialogue where we can share and listen to each others' creative ideas and solutions
*Want to Support Us?*
Housed and houseless UNITE! Many have already come to sleep with us on the sidewalks; but we need more allies to spend a few hours, a day or a night, or three in our shoes, hear our stories, and then spread the word far and wide.
Tell the Mayor's office at 503-823-3597 as well as your neighbors, co-workers and friends that we want open participatory communication, not just forums for talking to one another!
Make Wednesday morning’s city council meeting standing room only. On May 14th, 2008 at 9:15 in the council chambers, stand in solidarity as we collectively demand that our unalienable rights to life, justice and equality are upheld by OUR representatives.
Additional Links:
- Call City hall and express your concern:
* Mayor Potter's 24-Hour Opinion Line: 503-823-4127
* Mayor's Office Front Desk: 503-823-4120
- Write a letter to Mayer Potter (this week!)
- Find out more about the issues and post so we can get a well rounded idea of the issues at hand, and share them with folks in your community. Here are a few links:
http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=764715&category=22101
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1210130710124480.xml&coll=7
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/05/mayor_tom_potter_meets_with_ho.html
http://www.portlandonline.com/mayor/index.cfm?c=38500&a=195308
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