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| BLOCKING MAIN STREET |
Today is the Portland Marathon. But one year ago, Occupy Portland had taken over the parks for which the Marathon had permits to use.
Portland Marathon holds a long-standing permit for Lownsdale and Chapman parks this wknd Fencing will begin on Oct 7 at 9a#occupyportland
Though the City had barricaded Main Street to accommodate the Marathon, Occupy Portland hijacked the blockades and kept the road closed for seven more days.
General Assemblies (Mic check!) were held in the middle of Main street to keep it populated. And the City let them block the traffic for buses, cars and the law abiding.
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| Parody of Marathon Map by Dalight Disinfectant |
One of the most amusing moments of covering this debacle was when I tried to drive my car past the barricade. Women, CHILDREN and the usual rabble wouldn't open the barricade. I sat for several light cycles with nary a honk behind me as I continued demanding they let me through.
Finally, a woman came closer to my window and asked, "Do you know you're blocking traffic?" I laughed, went home, and called the cops.
1) In that compromise, Occupy Portlanders agreed to vacate one of the two blocks for the marathon. The other block was fenced off, with people remaining inside, with the understanding that we would have little or no ability to leave or re-enter the park for several hours. I stood on a park bench just inside of the fence and clapped for the finishing runners.
ReplyDelete2) I'm almost certain the barricade only remained for about 3 more days after the marathon, not 7. There were intense discussions at the GAs about reopening Main Street. I remember a car stopped at the barricade for several light cycles. When I talked to the driver, he said "I'm waiting for the road to be open." I said, "I think it will be open on Friday."
JM,
ReplyDeleteOh so benevolent, compromise --- only occupying only one block??!
Several conversations and I said Main Street "will be open on Friday".
Translation, our rights our more important than yours and perhaps Friday you can have yours back ???!
Xerxes, Robespierre, George III and Mao Zedong would be so proud of you!!!!
Pete, yes, your right to use that road was violated, and we were working on restoring it, while maintaining our right to assemble. Our right to assemble had been denied for many, many years, and after we won it on October 6th, we occasionally did get fanatical and arrogant in defending the occupied territory. So I apologize for the inconvenience of that road being closed and for any other rudeness you experienced.
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