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Houseless Community Protests Sit/Lie Law Following police sweeps of their campsites in late April, dozens of houseless citizens of Portland began a 24-hour protest in front of City Hall to call attention to the unjust anti-camping and Sit/Lie (sidewalk obstructions) ordinances, and the lack of affordable housing. Within a few weeks, Mayor Tom Potter lost patience and declared the protest to be an illegal campsite. In the subsequent sweep, 7 people were arrested on the first day, with 4-5 other arrests in subsequent days when people refused to move. None were charged with camping or with violating the Sit/Lie law; instead most charges were "interfering with a peace officer." The momentum built by the crowd--which grew to over 100 at times and included housed members of the community who participated in solidarity-- led to the reassessment by long-time homeless advocacy group Sisters of the Road Cafe of their participation in the SAFE group, which oversees the Sit/Lie law (see PPR #42). On May 8, Sisters announced their withdrawal from the group, citing the fact that nearly everyone who has been ticketed or warned under Sit/Lie has been listed as "transient" or as having no address. By coincidence, Portland Copwatch had scheduled a "Your Rights and the Police" seminar for the protestors on May 10, the morning anti-camping notices went up. We interrupted the training as protestors scrambled to ensure police would not throw out their belongings. They linked arms across the sidewalk while Central Precinct Commander Mike Reese and an assistant walked through. When two protestors refused to move from the side of City Hall along a bus route, police engaged in a standoff. Other protestors sat down in solidarity; then arrests began. "Interfering with a police officer" carries a maximum fine of over $6000, compared to the $250 maximum for violating Sit/Lie. It says a lot that the police did not charge anyone under the law they were actively protesting. Sgt. John Holbrook (#32026) later handed out a fact sheet that bore no letterhead or other official stamp explaining the parts of the sidewalk the protestors were expected to use. The figures he gave were contrary to the law itself, which calls for an 8 foot passageway in the center of a sidewalk the size of the one around City Hall; Holbrook instructed the protestors to stay on the curb side of the sidewalk, even though it was such a presence that allegedly made Tri-Met drivers nervous enough to call for the arrests on May 10.
Other actions have included repeated appearances at City Hall's "communications" slots, three minutes per person each week. In a dramatic presentation by Patrick Nolen of Sisters' Community Action Group, they presented nearly 2000 postcards taped together like clotheslines around the chambers. City Council was not moved. However, with the addition of new Commissioner Nick Fish and two public hearings, it is expected that the Sit/Lie law will at least be given some serious scrutiny and may even be lifted. Sisters of the Road held a "Truth Commission" on August 7 at which 30 or so people spoke out about the Sit/Lie law and other issues related to treatment of homeless people. Commissioner Fish was the only City Council member there. The SAFE committee held its formal hearing on the law four days later. The testimony there was balanced by businesspeople who praised the trade-off of money and services for civil liberties represented by the law, though others begged to differ.
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September, 2008
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Portland Copwatch Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.
People's Police Report
#45 Table of Contents
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