{"id":6252,"date":"2011-11-01T00:23:59","date_gmt":"2011-11-01T07:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2011\/11\/01\/occupy-portland-update1112011\/"},"modified":"2011-11-01T00:23:59","modified_gmt":"2011-11-01T07:23:59","slug":"occupy-portland-update1112011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2011\/11\/01\/occupy-portland-update1112011\/","title":{"rendered":"Occupy Portland Update–11\/1\/2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

Things have been busy at Occupy Portland.  First some demonstrators staged a separate demonstration intending to be arrested, creating tension with Mayor Sam Adams.  I have an article and video covering that, an Olbermann video, and a video of Michael Moore\u2019s visit to Occupy Portland today.<\/font><\/p>\n

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\"1Occupy\"Occupy Portland protesters are not all supportive of Sunday morning\u2019s staged protest at Jamison Square resulting in 27 arrests. <\/p>\n

Riannah Weaver, an Occupy Portland supporter, said she is angry at her fellow protesters for disrupting the peace Sunday morning.  Weaver organized a peaceful demonstration in Jamison Square Sunday evening at 7 p.m. attracting a small crowd.<\/p>\n

Weaver said the protest at Jamison Square was counterproductive and the purpose of the protest was not clear.<\/p>\n

"I saw Mayor Adams come here and they chased him out of here<\/strong>," said Weaver. "That\u2019s not what Occupy Portland is about<\/strong>." <\/p>\n

Weaver said the Occupy movement is facing some challenges at the downtown camp due to subcultures. <\/p>\n

"There is no difference in the subcultures taking over that park and the subcultures people ignore everyday in this city. We don\u2019t have the authority to kick those people out, and if we did, we wouldn\u2019t because we see them as victims of society." <\/p>\n

Less than 24 hours after more than two dozen arrests at Jamison Square, a KOIN Local 6 camera crew faced an angry protester inside the downtown camp.  A volunteer in the kitchen shoved the camera lens before cursing and yelling at the crew<\/strong>\u2026 [emphasis added<\/em>] <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Inserted from <KOIN TV<\/a>><\/p>\n

One of the movement\u2019s biggest strengths is also one of it\u2019s biggest weaknesses.  Unlike the Tea Parties that are organized top down by America\u2019s greediest corporate criminals, the 99% movement has no leaders.  They normally operate by consensus, but that was clearly not the case here.  Whoever chased Sam Adams out was clearly wrong.  Whoever acted abusively to the reporter was also wrong.<\/font><\/p>\n

At issue here is that Jamison Square is a park in an upscale urban renewal area.  The park has a curfew to prevent homeless people from camping there.  In the past, aggressive panhandling has interfered with local residents use of the park.  Both sides have legitimate issues.  Fortunately the demonstration was peaceful, and the demonstrators well behaved and well spoken.<\/font><\/p>\n