[pjw] Action: Portland Action on Sat. 1/30: End the Occupation in Harney County

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hi
Just got this info from ROP about the action tomorrow here in Portland, 
looks as if the meet up is between 10 and 11 AM at Smith Hall at PSU.

dan h
peace and justice works



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2016 18:12:05 -0600
From: Cara Shufelt - Rural Organizing Project <cara at rop.org>


Dear Friends of ROP,

The situation in Harney County is far from over. There are several armed 
occupiers still at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and dozens of militia 
members still in Burns. Recently, 
http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/01/thousands_called_to_burns_to_t.html 
patriot militia groups made an announcement calling on thousands to 
descend on Burns this weekend.  Please join us on Saturday in Portland to 
send another message, one in solidarity with the local community. Share 
this email with your lists or invite people through 
https://www.facebook.com/events/955817361167939/ this facebook event.

----------------------------------

https://www.facebook.com/events/955817361167939/ Portland Action in Solidarity with the People of Harney County and the Burns Paiute Tribe

Saturday, January 30th

10am: Sign making

Meet at PSU Smith Hall in the Lounge overlooking the park blocks

11am: March down Broadway from PSU to Pioneer Square

Meet in front of PSU Smith Hall on park blocks

These are family friendly events. We will be walking down the sidewalk and 
following pedestrian laws.

Bring your signs, flags and messages of support!

Portland stands with the people of Harney County and the Burns Piaute 
Tribe! No to Militias!

For More information contact mailto:terezat at gmail.com terezat at gmail.com or 
503-475-9787

There will be actions all over the state coordinated by the Rural 
Organizing Project. See below for more details.

----------------------------------

STATEWIDE DAY OF ACTION: END THE OCCUPATION OF HARNEY COUNTY

Contacts:

Jessica Campbell, Organizing Director, Rural Organizing Project: 541-999-8144

Cara Shufelt, Director, Rural Organizing Project: 503-349-3918

January 29th, 2016

The Rural Organizing Project is coordinating a statewide Day of Action in 
Solidarity with the people of Harney County and the Burns Paiute Tribe on 
January 30th. People and groups from across the state will participate in 
actions in their home communities to send the message that militias, 
paramilitaries and their tactics of threats and intimidation are not 
welcome in any of our towns or in rural Oregon.

Earlier this week, multiple leaders of the armed takeover at Malheur 
National Wildlife Refuge were arrested. One of the armed occupiers was 
killed during a confrontation with police. The Rural Organizing Project 
mourns this loss of life, and hopes for a quick and peaceful resolution to 
the ongoing standoff without further bloodshed.

Several militia and paramilitary groups issued a call for their supporters 
to come to Burns immediately for an "operation" on Saturday. The Rural 
Organizing Project calls on all militias and armed occupiers to leave 
Harney County now before there is any other loss of life in accordance 
with the wishes of the local community and the Burns Paiute Tribe. 
Actions will be taking place in Portland, Scappoose, La Grande, 
Prineville, Albany, Eugene and Cottage Grove, among other small towns 
across Oregon.

"We do not accept that our political differences should be settled by 
armed groups through tactics of fear and intimidation," says Joe Lewis, 
Board member of the Rural Organizing Project and an organizer of the 
action in Scappoose. "Our communities have a rural tradition of 
collaboration, conversation and resolving disputes without resorting to 
threats or violence."

The occupation in Harney County is not an isolated event; over the last 
several years there has been a growth of militia and so-called patriot 
groups in rural communities in Oregon. Communities across Oregon who have 
already been suffering from an ongoing economic crisis are now being 
subjected to an increasing atmosphere of tension and potential violence. 
Militias and paramilitaries continue to exploit the insecurity rural 
Oregonians feel as the result of underfunded public services in order to 
advance their own agenda, offering only more divisions.

"Our rural communities across the state are struggling to stay connected, 
and these armed groups offer only more divisions," says Joe Lewis. "It's 
time to talk about real solutions for the issues facing hard-hit small 
towns."

Communities rallying across Oregon on Saturday call for meaningful 
investment to build a new economic engine and to fund basic services--such 
as 24 hour 911 dispatch, rural fire districts, funded K-12 education, and 
broadband internet access--so that they have the support they need on a 
day to day basis.

Communities participating in the Day of Action are also supporting the 
people of Harney County and the Burns Paiute Tribe by fundraising for the 
Harney District Hospital's 
https://www.facebook.com/events/943643379047295/ a Sip for the Cure 
Masquerade Tea Party and The Burns Paiute Tribe's 
http://burnspaiute-nsn.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=269&Itemid=73 
Tu-Wa-Kii-Nobi "Kid's House" after school program.