[pjw] [ROPNET] Rural Oregon speaks out!

[Peace and Justice Works]

An update from Rural Organizing Project on the occupation in eastern 
Oregon.
dan h
peace and justice works

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2016 16:23:00 -0600
From: Jessica Campbell - Rural Organizing Project <jessica at rop.org>

February 8th, 2016

Dear ROPnet,

Last week was a whirlwind of resistance from across the state! Across 
Oregon, thousands of people have taken the streets to tell paramilitaries 
and militia groups to leave Harney County, including 350 folks outside of 
the Harney County Courthouse who chanted a simple message to the militia 
occupying their community: you are not our voice! Communities across 
Oregon stood together to Free Occupied Burns, including Roseburg, 
Prineville, Cottage Grove, Scappoose, Eugene, Portland, joining Bend, La 
Grande and Ashland who held actions during the prior weeks. Check out 
photos from the actions below!

Last Monday, hundreds of Harney County residents closed their businesses, 
took the day off of work, or showed up during their lunch breaks to stand 
in front of the Harney County Courthouse to make it clear that the 
militias are not welcome, do not represent them, and need to leave. Locals 
held the Courthouse steps as around 150 pro-militia folks, the vast 
majority of whom were from out of town, assembled in the street. Carrying 
signs condemning local County Commissioners and the Harney County Sheriff, 
some people with the militias began harassing, threatening, and 
intimidating locals, including shouting in their faces and putting orange 
targets on them. Locals stuck close together, holding the Courthouse 
steps, chanting, drinking hot coffee provided by the local coffee shop, 
and exchanging stories of acts of resistance to the militias, including 
witnessing groups of grandmothers admonishing militia coming to town with 
Islamophobic bumper stickers.

As a result of a big, bold, and LOUD action that directly confronted and 
dispelled the militias' claim that they have local buy-in, we are seeing 
paramilitaries and militia groups cancel events and head home. The Pacific 
Patriot Network had called for daily rallies at the Courthouse, but out of 
town militia supporters decided to head home after several days of 
receiving no local support. Their action called for last Saturday, which 
surrounded the four remaining armed occupiers of the Malheur National 
Wildlife Refuge, was canceled. The "All Call" put out by the 3%ers and 
Oath Keepers is now off.

Our work is far from over; four armed occupiers continue to hold the 
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Committees of Safety are being set up in 
several counties as shadow County governments, and "educational events" 
featuring prominent militia and paramilitary leadership are being 
scheduled across Eastern OR. Thankfully, national attention means that the 
media is beginning to dig into the growing militia and "patriot" movement 
and how they are recruiting local law enforcement. Stay tuned for a more 
in-depth ROPnet detailing all that is happening and how rural Oregonians 
are organizing to uphold local democracy!

Below you'll find more photos of the Harney County action, as well as 
solidarity actions from across the state. Take a look, share with your 
neighbors, and celebrate! Together we have raised our voices in powerful 
and inspiring ways!

Warmly,
Jessica


Harney County


Grant County

On January 26th, over 50 Grant County residents showed up with signs to 
protest a meeting called by militia groups who intended to set up a shadow 
county government. The meeting was spearheaded by the Bundys, one of many 
meetings in the region where they were attempting to spread the tactics 
they employed in Harney County prior to occupying the Malheur National 
Wildlife Refuge. The Bundys and militia groups brought in people from 
Nebraska, Wyoming, Arizona, and Kansas who got up to speak multiple times. 
In fact, out of state militiamen tried barring the doors when protesters 
attempted to enter the meeting -- but after an exchange about 
Constitutional rights, the protesters pushed their way in. Great job Grant 
County!

Scappoose

Prineville

Eugene

Albany

Portland