Occupy Eugene

Friday January 4, 3pm to 7pm
Meeting 2:30pm at the Atrium on 99 W. 10th

SLEEPS is calling for a Flash Mob Die Off action & Guerrilla Street Theater. This action is being done in an effort to bring attention to the ever growing number of unhoused people who die each year in the streets and parks of Eugene Oregon. We will meet up at the Atrium Building at 2:30pm, and divide into teams of twos or threes. Each team will then be given directions to where, at 3:00pm, they will do their chalking.

This action will be in two parts. The first act will be the setting of chalk outlines The second act will be in conjunction with First Friday Art Walk, and will be the animation of the chalk outlines. Chalk, & a candle will be supplied to all activist teams participating in this action. We encourage everyone to come out and play with us, and help us draw attention to the ever growing number of preventable deaths among the unhoused in Eugene Oregon.

Act #1:
Teams will be at their assigned location(s) at 3:00pm. One member of the team will drop to the ground, while the other member draws a chalk outline around the body. The eyes are to be “X”, and the word “Unhoused” written inside of the chalk outline. If a team has a second location, they will then move on to it and continue till their assignments are completed. This action is meant to be fun, thought provoking, as well as informative.

Act #2
At 5:15pm Act #2 will kick off with teams of two going to the 4 sites of the First Friday Art Walk. One team member will re-pose thyself into the chalk outline, the other team member will stand silently while holding a candle, and handing out flyers that help explain what we are doing.. The art walk progresses from one location to another, and each team will follow the art walk and do the re-posing at each of the four locations.

~First Friday Art Walk:
5:15 Mecca Railroad Station
5:45 Clar Studio 760 Willamette
6:15 New Rose 168 West Broadway
6:45 Jazz 124 West Broadway

Monday, January 7 at 10:30pm
Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza at 8th & Oak, Eugene

Celebrate freedom, stand up for your rights, and stand in solidarity with community members who wish to legally challenge Lane County’s unconstitutional curfew at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza. Bring joy, cookies, protest signs, and musical instruments.

Background:
On December 11, 2012, Lane County Administrator Liane Richardson closed the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza in Eugene, Oregon by emergency order as a response to the 24-hour SLEEPS protest, falsely claiming that there were public health and safety concerns. A few days later, the Plaza was reopened with signage stating that it was only open from 6 am to 11 pm. SLEEPS was then evicted from the Plaza on December 22nd at three in the morning by the Eugene Police Department after setting up their protest camp the afternoon before. It is clear at this point that Lane County and the Eugene Police Department are intent on enforcing an unprecedented and unconstitutional curfew on the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza until further notice.

Article 1, Section 8 of the Oregon Constitution states the following:
“No law shall be passed restraining the free expression of opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write, or print freely on any subject whatever; but every person shall be responsible for the abuse of this right.”

The Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza “curfew” is an unconstitutional restraint upon free speech and public assembly, and this is a call to action for all citizens of Eugene to stand up for the Constitution and the right to protest 24-7 in traditional public forums such as the Plaza. Our aim is to have the curfew declared unconstitutional in a court of law. To achieve this, SLEEPS in conjunction with local activists is planning a day of protest followed by a night of celebration and civil disobedience next Monday, January 7th. Free speech and unhoused activists along with other community members, both housed and unhoused, intend on being arrested in numbers for violating the Plaza curfew.

We invite you to come in celebration and solidarity to make a statement to City and County government that we as a community will not accept the violation of our constitutional rights. This will be a party, a celebration, a joyous expression of our freedoms under state and federal law. There will be music and treats and wonderful people. Sometime after 11pm, Eugene Police will request that we clear the plaza. Those who do not wish to be arrested will be free to leave and will able to stand on the sidewalk. Those who wish to be arrested will remain in the plaza. As a united force, we plan to plead not guilty to the charges and assert our constitutional rights in court as a community.

For more information email alley[at]practicalrabbit.com

After 136 days, Occupy Eugene’s longest occupation to date came to a successful conclusion on December 10.  A closing ceremony marked the return of the property at 1191 Lawrence — previously in foreclosure — to the control of its owner, Karen Atkinson.

Now out of state, Ms. Atkinson expressed great appreciation to Occupy Eugene for the occupation, which began July 27.  She says that without it, she would not have become aware of the illegality of the bank’s foreclosure actions.  To the Eugene community, she expresses about Occupy Eugene, “I wish them continued success in their endeavors to inform, educate, and help correct the mortgage system, which not only failed myself but countless others, not only in this community but across our state and our great country.”

OH-FAC (Occupy Housing and Foreclosure Action Committee) coordinated the ending of the occupation with Karen, following a fortuitous confluence of events.  After a weekend of cleanup at the corner property in a residential neighborhood and the short closing ceremony, participants held a candlelight walk to the SLEEPS rally and first “Constitutional Camp” and Eugene City Council meeting.

The dearth of safe, legal places for unhoused people to sleep was a focus of testimony before City Council.  Brief statements from OH-FAC and Karen were read.  Unstated was the countless number of person-nights with a safe, legal place to be that had been provided by the occupation at 1191 Lawrence.

Throughout most of the occupation, it was referred to as Outpost A.  (See the Sept.-Oct. Eugene Occupier for more information.)  OH-FAC and the Fed-Up Committee carried out the joint project at the location, along with countless individuals.  As the weather changed and public outreach became more difficult, and with Fed-Up inactive, OH-FAC continued until coordinating the “changing of the guard” back to the owner for her next steps with the property.

OH-FAC’s ongoing activities include a support group for homeowners facing foreclosure, held every Wednesday at Growers (454 Willamette).  Karen’s legal situation was not unusual, and many more homeowners can be helped with the variety of maneuvers available.

Sunday, Dec. 9, 1:30 to 3:30pm at First United Methodist Church, W. 13th & Olive St., Eugene

All are welcome!  Join faith community activists working locally for justice & equity!

Homelessness/Health Care/Democracy for ALL

One World–One Heart–Let’s Work Together!

For more information contact Patty Hine at 541-343-5091, zap_oregon@msn.com.

Rally with Health Care for ALL- Oregon, Occupiers and  other participating groups.

Monday, Dec. 10, noon at Harris Hall, County Administration, 8th & Oak

Be there for Quality Health Care for all Oregonians!  Bring your stories.  Wear your t-shirts.  Music and speakers to be announced.  For more information contact Ruth at ruthduemler@comcast.net

Come stand up for those who are unhoused!

Monday, Dec. 10, 6pm to 9pm at Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, 8th & Oak

Rally at the Free Speech Plaza with SLEEPS, Safe Legally Entitled Emergency Place to Sleep!  Those who would like to speak for lifting the camping ban at the 7:30pm City Council Public Forum can sign up in Harris Hall at 7pm.  EVERYONE will go into Harris Hall at 7:30pm to show support by sitting in solidarity.  At 8:30pm the City Council will hear and discuss a report from staff about potential sites for Opportunity Village Eugene.

For more information contact Jean at eugeneSLEEPS@hotmail.com

Tuesday, Dec. 11, 5:15pm at Growers Market, 454 Willamette St., Eugene

Downtown needs some more badass activists!  This is a workshop and discussion in which Alley Valkyrie tries really hard (really really hard) to share and convey how to be an effective local government watchdog/advocate/rabble rouser.

Topics that will be covered include interacting with police, media and messaging, a breakdown of rules and regulations, a rundown of relevant players, and how to work with (or without) city and county government.  This workshop will be a mix of factual and procedural information combined with personal philosophy and lessons learned the hard way.

Bring a notebook and a pen.  If you want to be a super cool kid, bring cookies as well.

We are gradually moving our content and community from the old website. To participate online, please register (there is a link on the right of this page or under “Join Us” on the main menu). You should also check our calendar for the next General Assembly and join us in person!

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Tuesday, Nov. 27, 7pm at the Growers Market Round Table, 454 Willamette St.

OEMG has a new office at the Growers Market!  To celebrate, we will be having a Grand Opening at 7pm, November 27.  Come watch Occupy Eugene Media with us, share food, drink and conversation.  Let’s celebrate our accomplishments!  As Occupiers, we have had a great year and came a long way!