An open letter to all Occupiers

An open letter to all Occupiers of #OccupyPortland #OPDX

November 11, 2011

The Day 37 of the Occupation is upon us, and the City of Portland's stated endgame time of 12:01 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 13 is approaching. To look from another angle, we have one and a half days to occupy, to say the least, and we ought to make the best of the time left. This is a time to get fired up and bring more people to the Occupation, especially those who have never been there.

The City tried to divide and polarize the movement, hoping that we would scapegoat and reproduce the 1 Percent's oppression of the unhoused people and street youth. This was a very heated issue within our community too, but ultimately we rejected this idea that some people do not belong to our movement community, and some people are not deserving of our inclusion into our community as equal members.

Instead, for the past 36 days, we have created a safer space to sleep out of rain, wind and elements, that is accessible around-the-clock, provided everyone with food and "community needs," as well as basic healthcare from the medical and wellness tents, and more importantly, a community and place for voicing their opinions and engaged in a participatory collective process.

When the politicians, bureaucrats, mass media smear campaigns, and big business interests tried us to stop this from continuing, most of you voiced a resounding no. The General Assembly upheld the collective no to injustice, prejudice, classist oppression and discrimination, and placed humanity and human needs before political expediency.

You are the conscience of Portland.

Each of you is the conscience that collectively coalesces into the worldwide #Occupy movement, which is the new, emerging conscience of the planet earth. The #Occupy movement is more than economic and political; it is also a spiritual and social movement.

I am proud of all of you for occupying in solidarity for 38 days.

You have exercised the rights enshrined in the Oregon Constitution article 1, section 3, the rights to conscience. This conscience spoke against greed, concentration of powers into the Institution, and against all forms of oppression.

You are the conscience of Portland and of the world.

I salute you. Thank you.

As we prepare for the big night at which the entire world watches, just pause and recall our many, many achievements and accomplishments so far. How far have we come. I remember the first night, and how fast we had developed into a functional village-within-a-city. We have helped end big bank greed. We have awoken and raised the consciousness of thousands and thousands of Portlanders from all walks of life.

The last five weeks have been among the most meaningful experiences in my entire life. I have learned and grown so much -- this reclusive introvert, who generally lived in her own brain and kept to herself, found herself loudly mic-checking in the General Assembly several times in one day. I learned a great deal about organizing, community-building and leadership in a way no one could in classrooms or books. Many, many times I have also discovered my own hidden prejudice and actively made actions to counter it. You all taught me very well.

I am proud of all of you.

In solidarity,

Sarah Morrigan
The #OccupyPortland Interfaith Guild of Chaplains

This is not an official statement of the Interfaith Guild of Chaplains.

Related articles

• Occupy Portland explains the big picture... (wilderside.wordpress.com)
• Occupy Movement Brings Attention to the Homeless (alternet.org)
• 4 Occupations Embracing the Homeless (As Cities Increasingly Can't Take Care of Them) (alternet.org)

#OccupyPortland Spiritual Life Newsletter, Nov. 10, 2011

The #OccupyPortland Interfaith Guild of Chaplains

An open letter from Sarah to fellow Occupiers and all Portlanders: Mic check! I am typing this as the mayor was wrapping up his press conference.  It is important to remember in this occasion that the Occupy movement is far bigger than the three parks in downtown Portland and it must become even bigger to occupy the hearts and minds of all people.  We are at the forefront and beginning of a major social, spiritual and political transformation.  While I share the sentiment of sadness and disappointment, as well as a deep sense of anxiety and uncertainty for the future of this community, I also have a faith that this movement and our community will ultimately be stronger and bigger as a result of this latest development.  

Having said this, however, a number of things really do bother me.  The Occupation thrived, survived, and received supports from many Portlanders including elected officials -- as long as the Occupation was still portrayed as a group of younger middle-class activists who voluntarily left their homes to pitch tents.  The public opinion and the attitudes of the government officials changed as soon as this perception changed into another "homeless encampment."  I smell a classist double-standard here.  The city attempted to crack down on the Right2Dream Too on the very first hour of its opening in contrast, because it was publicly advertised as a "homeless rest area."  Even within our own community this was the issue that divided us.  We have done what the city, county, and the non-profit sectors failed to do, not only by housing and feeding them, but more importantly, incorporating as valued members of our community, as equals, as humans -- instead of just another caseload, another number, and another disempowered (euphemistically called) "guest."  All of sudden it was OUR problem, and OUR fault.  

As a protest, the #OccupyPortland community brought up the hidden white elephant -- the long-standing and worsening social issues no one wanted to admit that they exist in this city -- in the very eyes of public officials and business owners.  It comes not surprising, therefore, that the timing of the mayor's announcement coincides with the building pressures from local department stores, malls and retailers as they prepare for another orgy of consumerism that has long replaced the original holiday spirit of sharing, generosity and community with the "Black Friday" insanity.  As such, I strongly believe that what the mainstream media deride us as "homeless camp" was an integral part of our exercise of free speech.  Furthermore, it is for us a matter of conscience to provide all willing Occupiers a space to camp and food, regardless of how they might look outwardly or their socio-economic status, or whatever the other factors.  Especially, from a social justice standpoint, we believe in a "preferential option for the poor" -- it would be against our conscience to deny the marginalized, vulnerable, and dispossessed individuals a campsite and food -- as well as an equal place and voice in our community and authentic human relations that are never replicated or imitated by the carefully controlled social service and charity models.  The Oregon Constitution, Article 1, Section 3 states: "No law shall in any case whatever control the free exercise, and enjoyment of religeous [sic] opinions, or interfere with the rights of conscience."  I argue that the City of Portland has violated our constitutional rights when it began pressuring the Occupation to get rid of the "homeless" and "street kids."  This conscience has been repeatedly expressed in our General Assembly meetings and camp safety meetings.

We will continue our struggles in this revolution.  The Occupy movement will continue, with or without these parks.  It is time for courage, unity, and vision.  We, the interfaith and very diverse group of protest chaplains with deep roots in this Occupation, also will continue our journey together to explore what it means to be spiritual in this dawn of the Occupy era.

In solidarity,

Sarah Morrigan

Resident Coordinator

The #OccupyPortland Interfaith Guild of Chaplains

Important announcements

• Sarah will be officially decamping the Occupation at 10 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12.
• All Sunday events are hereby relocated to the previously announced contingency locations.
• Friday and Saturday events will be held on the Occupation as scheduled.
• Monday, 6 p.m. femme/queer spirituality group will tentatively meet on Monday, Nov. 14 as scheduled at the southeast corner of the Director Park.  The group may then decide where to go thereafter.

The services and events this week

Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 10-12: Come spend more time with us at the Occupation!

Friday, Nov. 11, 3 p.m.: Interfaith Day of Solidarity.  At the Camp Beta obelisk, rain or shine.  Please share your songs, chants, etc. as we focus our thoughts, prayers and intentions on the well-being and future of the Occupation community, the movement, and Portland.

Saturday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m.: Havdalah.  It is both sad and sweet moment when observing the ceremony of havdalah.  The word havdalah in Hebrew means separation, as it marks the end of shabbat and the start of a new week.  This evening, we also would like to celebrate the community that is the Occupation, its accomplishments and successes, and also to celebrate the courage and solidarity of the #OccupyPortland movement as it embarks on a new journey in the uncharted territory beyond the Occupation.  Everyone is welcome.

Sunday, Nov. 13, 3 p.m.: Interfaith Peace Gathering.  This event will be held at the Shemansky Fountain on South Park Blocks, at the corner of Main and Park Avenue, which is five blocks west of the Camp Beta.

Sunday, Nov. 13, 4 p.m.: Roman Catholic Mass.  The Rev. Steve Newton from Downtown Chapel returns once more to share the Eucharistic liturgy with the Occupy community.  Also at the Shemansky Fountain.

Monday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m.: Femme/Queer Spirituality Discussion Group.  Meet at the southeast corner of Director Park at 6 p.m. -- and we decide.

Wish list, volunteers, etc.

As we continue our missions and visions, we will remain connected to the #OccupyPortland movement and will try to be active in its actions and meetings.  

In the mean time, we might need a few necessities to keep this group moving and growing:

• Mailing/contact address to receive letters, packages, etc.
• Indoor meeting spaces (we have zero budget, but we can collect donations so long as that would not create barriers to anyone), both small and mid-sized.
• Various basic office necessities
• A closet to keep some of our activity materials, etc.

And we are still recruiting volunteers.

Contact information

Phone: 503-427-8269 (urgent matters: 503-890-7724) -- both numbers can receive text messages also.

Email (use this form)

Twitter DM @OccupyPDXigc

Facebook page: http://tinyurl.com/opdxigc

Friday Nov. 9: Interfaith Day of Solidarity for #OccupyPortland

Image by juliejordanscott via FlickrOn Friday afternoon, we are calling many people with spiritual practices to gather and give a mindful intention according to whatever the tradition or practice they might have.

This is a nonsectarian gathering to pray, meditate, visualize and raise positive spirit for the well-being of all #OccupyPortland community members and for the future evolution, directions and growth of this movement, and for a renewal and reinvigoration of visions, energy and focus of the #OccupyPortland movement.

Gather at the Obelisk in the Camp Beta (Lownsdale Park) at 3 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 11 (the 11-11-11 day).

This is an interfaith event and everyone is welcome.

Contingency location: Shemansky Fountain, South Park Blocks, west of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, just five blocks west of the Occupation.  Use contingency location if the camp has been vacated or is impending within 6 hours of the event's start time.

IGC contingency plan (important)

Important 
Nov. 9, 2011

Like the Occupy movement itself both in Portland and elsewhere, it has always been our vision as the Interfaith Guild of Chaplains to evolve beyond the current stage of this Occupation.

During the last three days, we have seen a beginning of some volatility over the continued existence of the Occupation at Chapman and Lownsdale parks in downtown Portland.  While we make advance plans for services and events with a presumption that this Occupation will continue, we also must think flexibly in terms of how this movement changes over coming days.  Additionally, changing weather patterns and unpredictability of events at the Occupation also require us to be always ready for unexpected developments.

Therefore I have made this contingency plan in case of any event that makes our already scheduled events and services not possible to be held at the locations specified, as follows:

• A.  For interfaith gatherings and other larger event that meets at the Obelisk: In case when the encampment is/has been dismantled or vacated, or it is deemed that such an event is impending within 6 hours, go to the Shemansky Fountain on the South Park Blocks, between SW Main and Salmon streets behind the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.  This is five blocks west of the Occupation.
• B.  For smaller gatherings, meetings and such that meets at the Sacred Space or at the Temple or at the Occupy Portland University Library: In case when the encampment is/has been dismantled or vacated, or it is deemed that such an event is impending within 6 hours, go to the southeast corner of the Director Park across the street from the Regal Cinema, which is the corner of Southwest Taylor Street and Southwest Park Avenue.  This is five blocks west, then one block north of the Occupation.

Also, we are looking for volunteers to dismantle the sukkah tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 10).  Regardless of any future development it is a good measure to get rid of that structure at this point.
I will maintain my on-site presence until it becomes no longer safe to continue so.  When this occurs, an announcement will be made.

On Thursday, Nov. 10 chaplains meeting will be held as scheduled at 4 p.m. at the Sacred Space (or its contingency location, Director Park).  The meeting will discuss plans based on both possibilities.
I will continue closely monitoring on the ongoing situation.  The mayor is scheduled to hold a meeting tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Portland City Hall.

Sarah Morrigan
IGC Resident Coordinator

An #OccupyPortland points of unity and solidarity

#OccupyPortland points of unity and solidarity - an individual occupier's viewpoint.

Sarah Morrigan
Resident Coordinator
The #OccupyPortland Interfaith Guild of Chaplains.

Nov. 9, 2011

As the Portland Occupier @PDXOccupier noted in its latest article, #OccupyPortland and its comrade #Occupy movements around the world is a social platform for transformation.  On the ground, we are reconnecting with humanity and engaging in dialogues, co-creation, and co-learning.

Regardless of what drove individual Occupiers to this movement and to the Occupation, I see that there is a common thread behind every individual narrative of what made this movement necessary -- for this world and for that particular individual.

The common thread is our discontent, grievances, and disapproval of the Institution that had become too big, too impersonal, too powerful, and too monstrous.  The modern society has come to idolize the Institution, and upholding, serving and defending the Institution became its religion.  Even though sometimes Institutions promote worthy-sounding goals, ultimately, the Institution became more important than the needs of each living, breathing individual human being.

Yet, we the humans created this monster called Institution.  We gave the Institution this untameable, super-human powers.  We are taking the power back to our own hands to address real human issues and concerns with our own ingenuity, creativity, innovation and our love for the shared humanity.

The Institution has harmed us.

The Institution often goes to war and murders people around the world.

The Institution destroys our liberties in the name of "law and order."

The Institution rather prefers to deny basic human needs so that it can "uphold its integrity."

The Institution rather forecloses people's homes in the middle of winter so it can make obscene profits.

The Institution pays lip service to social responsibility, welfare of the people, and charity while undermining the social justice and disempowering people it deems unworthy.

The Institution divides and conquers people along class lines, racial and ethnic lines, immigration and citizenship status, gender and sexual orientation, ever promoting the idea that there are "us" and "them" and we ought to fear "them" and don't even think of "them" as our equals.

The Institution attempts to curtail or deny our freedom to create, write and speak, unless the Institution can profit from it.

The Institution profits from institutionalizing human beings in many ways.

The Institution withholds and denies life-saving medical care to protect the insurance greed and government agencies.

The Institution profiteers from human miseries, so as to pay the Big Pharma, the for-profit prison business, the social service executives, and others.

The Institution exiles, displaces and deports humans and destroying communities and families both internally and externally, home and abroad.

The Institution shows utter contempt of human dignity, human rights, and true justice all in the name of "law and order" and "justice."

The Institution monetizes our existence, capitalizes on our human desires and needs, and commodify human experiences in the name of consumerism.

We have lost our humanity in the service of the Institution.

Like the prophets of old, we are calling for a healing of the world gone astray.  We are calling for the world to cease the idolatry of the golden calf called the Institution.  We put our humanity before the Institution.

Thus we occupy today.  We will keep occupying.

Until our land becomes the promised land.

This is not an official statement of the Interfaith Guild of Chaplains.

An open letter to Mayor Sam Adams

Nov. 8, 2011

I am one of the early Occupiers, having been part of this encampment community since its first day on Oct. 6. Like you, other public officials, and the members of the general public, safety issues are important to me. After all, I am among the first to be personally touched by these issues and my own safety is at stake. Likewise, unlike many in the mass media, some of the city employees, and talkshow hosts, I am far more qualified to speak on the topic of safety and how the Occupation functions than most of these people by the virtue of being a personal witness to what happens on the ground on the day-to-day basis.

While I understand the issues regarding police overtime, one of the things I keep noticing during the last couple of weeks is the marked decrease in police presence at the parks. During the first week of the Occupation, they were almost always around, including Capt. Sara Westbrook, who made personal visits to the encampment several times every day. My question is, where are they now? I do not see many of them any more.

The issues of safety and health concerns voiced by City officials related to substance abuse, homelessness, and mental illness far predate the beginning of #OccupyPortland. We are in downtown Portland, within walking distances of shelters, social services, and resources. They have been around as long as I know, and if it is not Lownsdale and Chapman parks, it is at the Waterfront Park and South Park Blocks. It is not fair for you or any City of Portland officials to blame the social issues of downtown Portland on#OccupyPortland, since they were never caused by #OccupyPortland in the first place. Rather, the City of Portland, in spite of its 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, and after millions of taxpayer dollars are spent on funding the Julia West House, the Bud Clark Commons, and other agencies for years, has not successfully addressed these issues now we are forced to deal with -- using very limited resources, funds, and all-volunteer labor, unlike the City agencies with far more resources.

The #Occupy movement is about standing up in unity for the 99 percent. As such we are a microcosm of the greater society that is Portland, that is Oregon, and that is America. We try to address these issues in an innovative and creative ways so as not to replicate the systemic inequity and injustice that created these problems in the first place. The people that the City officials, the mass media, and some of our fellow Occupiers demonize are the discarded people, who fell through the cracks and abandoned by the government and nonprofit sectors. At the very least, we have not abandoned them; rather we try to engage them as part of our community, as fellow human kinds. We address behaviors, instead of simply trying to discard some people as "undesirables" and sweep them under the rug as if they don't exist.

I hope that the City of Portland makes a good-faith effort at reaching out to these people, before pointing fingers at the whole #OccupyPortland community and its hard-working members. We have limited resources and lack any legal authority or recourse to exclude someone from a public park, which resides in the Portland Police Bureau.

Your letter attempts to encourage us to "evolve" as a movement, presumably "evolving" past the encampment. What you may call "evolve," I call "disintegrate." We are effective at organizing because we have a central focus of organizing in which many people are present around-the-clock. A daily meeting does not and cannot adequately replace the dynamic and creative natures of the encampment.#OccupyWallStreet is still in place and continues its encampment, and so are the other #Occupymovements around the world, including Hong Kong where you visited the other day. Both symbolically and practically, the tents and camping have become iconic symbols of this movement. While Bend and other smaller towns have opted for daily meetings and occasional marches, it is not a good model to follow for as big a movement as #OccupyPortland, the world's largest Occupation.

I do appreciate your patience, diplomacy, and continued willingness to remain collegial. I also deeply understand the urgent nature of the situation that must be addressed, not only for the sake of your interest, but also and more importantly for my own interest. But solutions do not come when the City of Portland is not doing its own part. The police must be more visibly present, and also provide training to our safety team, perhaps based on the highly acclaimed Citizens' Police Academy program of the Police Bureau. Likewise, the closure of the public restrooms by the Portland Parks & Recreation contributes to more public sanitation problems and damages to parks.

Sincerely,

Sarah Morrigan
Resident Coordinator
The #OccupyPortland Interfaith Guild of Chaplains
503-427-8269 http://chaplainsoccupypdx.blogspot.com

This is not an official statement of the Interfaith Guild of Chaplains.

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