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| Image by paparutzi via Flickr |
#OccupyChristmasPDX
Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011
I am getting this event organized quickly due to a relatively short timeframe, and I thought you might want to get involved in this. As you may already know from your interaction with the Tribes and other
unhoused people, Christmas day is perhaps the worst day of the year for those who live outside. Basically, to make a long story short, nothing is open -- and that means no place to be, and no access to
food or other necessities. Added to this is the weather. Long-term forecasts predict a pretty nasty weather towards the final two weeks of December both in temperature and precipitation.
Therefore, if there is any small thing we can do to become a part of the solution -- and to take a first step towards solidarity and justice -- is to ameliorate the conditions for this particular day. As much as I hate having to say this every year, in this predominantly Christian-based country, observance of Christmas has become a privilege.
Building on the success of #OccupyThanksgivingPDX, I am putting together an all-day (possibly 24-hour) indoor mini-occupation on Christmas Day (or a period running from late Christmas eve). And in
the spirit of social justice and solidarity that is at the heart of the Occupy movement, we try to do this entirely apart from the conventional charity model. Rather, I hope to use this occasion for community-building and to talk about issues that matter to participants in their daily lives, while also having a fun, memorable holiday.
Let me know if you have any input.
Sarah Morrigan
#OccupyPortland Interfaith Guild of Chaplains
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