More about #OccupyThanksgivingPDX tomorrow

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Thanks to many people in the #OccupyPortland community, tomorrow's #OccupyThanksgivingPDX event has been very widely publicized beyond our initial expectation, including on the KEX radio (thanks to Jordan LeDoux, the OP media team press liaison).  Also last night someone in the Spokes Council incorrectly announced that the event starts at 1 p.m.; it is noon.

The #OccupyThanksgivingPDX is not an official #OccupyPortland event -- and we, the Interfaith Guild of Chaplains, is not part of the #OccupyPortland organization although we were founded in the original Occupation camp and continue to maintain a very close collaboration with the #OccupyPortland.  Therefore tomorrow's event should not be construed as representative of the movement and the members of the press are requested to keep this in mind (a bad example: headlines such as "Occupy Portland holds Thanksgiving potluck" -- we are not "Occupy Portland").  Neither the General Assembly nor any of the OP committees is involved in the planning of this event -- and it is an event to celebrate the community that grew out of the Occupation and also a way for us to say thank-you to all who have become an important part of our lives since October 6.

Since this is not under the official sanction of the #OccupyPortland, technically the event is not under the code of conduct of the #OccupyPortland; however, we expect you to be on your best behavior.  This is a family-friendly event and we would like to keep it a safer space.  Please refer to the Interfaith Guild of Chaplains' safety protocols for our safer space policy particularly the article number 2 (specifically we remind you: absolutely no use of alcohol, cannabis and other illicit substance will be tolerated, and also we request no smoking).

As an organization whose purpose is to build mutual understanding and promote peace and reconciliation, we are inviting a number of VIPs -- although there is no guarantee that any of them would show up, since I am pretty sure they have their own family commitments and such -- including Mayor Sam Adams, Commissioners Nick Fish, Amanda Fritz, Dan Saltzman, and Randy Leonard; Chief Mike Reese, Capt. Sara Westbrook, as well as the infamous pepper-spray cop whose name is unknown (please come if you see this), in addition to local elected officials such as County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury, Rep. Mitch Greenlick and Sen. Suzanne Bonamici.

And please NO TENTS or other structures. Just to avoid any misunderstanding or miscommunication here, no attempt at camping at this park will be tolerated and will result in immediate dismissal from the event.  The event ends at 7 p.m. and the park closes at midnight.  This is Thanksgiving Day and the Portland Police Bureau is required to pay out triple- or quadruple-overtime on anyone who has to work that day.  So do Portland taxpayers a favor and please keep all the troubles and drama for another day and for another place.  Thanks.