*From:* Cara Shufelt - Rural Organizing Project <cara@xxxxxxx>
*Subject:* Portland Action on Sat. 1/30: End the Occupation in Harney County
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Dear Friends of ROP,
The situation in Harney County is far from over. There are several armed
occupiers still at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and dozens of militia
members still in Burns. Recently, patriot militia groups made an
announcement calling on thousands to descend on Burns this weekend
<http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/01/thousands_called_to_burns_to_t.html>.
Please join us on Saturday in Portland to send another message, one in
solidarity with the local community. Share this email with your lists or
invite people through this facebook event.
<https://www.facebook.com/events/955817361167939/>
------------------------------ ----
*Portland Action: End the Occupation in Harney County
<https://www.facebook.com/events/955817361167939/>*
*Saturday, January 30th*
*10am: Sign making*
Meet at PSU Smith Hall in the Lounge overlooking the park blocks
*11am: March down Broadway from PSU to Pioneer Square*
Meet in front of PSU Smith Hall on park blocks
These are family friendly events. We will be walking down the sidewalk and
following pedestrian laws.
*Bring your signs, flags and messages of support! Portland stands with the
people of Harney County and the Burns Piaute Tribe! No to Militias!*
For More information contact terezat@xxxxxxxxx or 503-475-9787
*There will be actions all over the state coordinated by the Rural
Organizing Project. See below for more details.*
------------------------------ ----
*STATEWIDE DAY OF ACTION: END THE OCCUPATION OF HARNEY COUNTY *
Contacts:
Jessica Campbell, Organizing Director, Rural Organizing Project:
541-999-8144
Cara Shufelt, Director, Rural Organizing Project: 503-349-3918
January 29th, 2016
The Rural Organizing Project is coordinating a statewide Day of Action in
Solidarity with the people of Harney County and the Burns Paiute Tribe
on January 30th. People and groups from across the state will participate
in actions in their home communities to send the message that militias,
paramilitaries and their tactics of threats and intimidation are not
welcome in any of our towns or in rural Oregon.
Earlier this week, multiple leaders of the armed takeover at Malheur
National Wildlife Refuge were arrested. One of the armed occupiers was
killed during a confrontation with police. The Rural Organizing Project
mourns this loss of life, and hopes for a quick and peaceful resolution to
the ongoing standoff without further bloodshed.
Several militia and paramilitary groups issued a call for their supporters
to come to Burns immediately for an "operation" on Saturday. The Rural
Organizing Project calls on all militias and armed occupiers to leave
Harney County now before there is any other loss of life in accordance with
the wishes of the local community and the Burns Paiute Tribe. Actions will
be taking place in Portland, Scappoose, La Grande, Prineville, Albany,
Eugene and Cottage Grove, among other small towns across Oregon.
“We do not accept that our political differences should be settled by armed
groups through tactics of fear and intimidation,” says Joe Lewis, Board
member of the Rural Organizing Project and an organizer of the action in
Scappoose. “Our communities have a rural tradition of collaboration,
conversation and resolving disputes without resorting to threats or
violence.”
The occupation in Harney County is not an isolated event; over the last
several years there has been a growth of militia and so-called patriot
groups in rural communities in Oregon. Communities across Oregon who have
already been suffering from an ongoing economic crisis are now being
subjected to an increasing atmosphere of tension and potential violence.
Militias and paramilitaries continue to exploit the insecurity rural
Oregonians feel as the result of underfunded public services in order to
advance their own agenda, offering only more divisions.
“Our rural communities across the state are struggling to stay connected,
and these armed groups offer only more divisions,” says Joe Lewis. “It’s
time to talk about real solutions for the issues facing hard-hit small
towns.”
Communities rallying across Oregon on Saturday call for meaningful
investment to build a new economic engine and to fund basic services—such
as 24 hour 911 dispatch, rural fire districts, funded K-12 education, and
broadband internet access—so that they have the support they need on a day
to day basis.
Communities participating in the Day of Action are also supporting the
people of Harney County and the Burns Paiute Tribe by fundraising for the
Harney District Hospital’s a Sip for the Cure Masquerade Tea Party
<https://www.facebook.com/events/943643379047295/> and The Burns Paiute
Tribe's Tu-Wa-Kii-Nobi "Kid's House" after school program
<http://burnspaiute-nsn.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=269&Itemid=73>
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