#OccupyMissoula - Police Dropping Off Drunken, Hostile People

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Primary Recipient - Mayor John Engen:

mayorstaff@ci.missoula.mt.us

With cc to local paper - Missoulian:

newsdesk@missoulian.com

Send any message you wish or you can copy and paste this:

Subject: Do Not Harass Occupy Missoula

Dear Mayor Engen:

On November 19, 2011, a woman who was extremely drunk and belligerent was dropped off at the Occupy Missoula occupation by Officer Kasey Williams of the Missoula Police Department, Badge #348. This extremely intoxicated individual headed directly into the occupation and was immediately belligerent and threatening. This is a tactic of harassment that has been used by several cities. It is unsafe for the intoxicated person as well as the occupiers and should not be tolerated.

*   *   *

So, here's the story...

I had heard from several of the 24/7 occupiers at Occupy Missoula that the police have dropped off drunken, belligerent people at the occupation. I happened to be there when just that happened. A woman who was extremely drunk and was belligerent was dropped off by Officer Kasey Williams of the Missoula Police Department, Badge #348. She headed directly into the occupation and was belligerent and threatening. This very small occupation was forced to handle this on their own (which, by the way, they did very well).

As soon as I left I called Sgt. Jerry Odlin to speak to him about it. I informed him of the situation and informed him that the occupation has rules prohibiting intoxication. He denied that anything had been done to create disruption at the Occupy Missoula occupation.

For those of you who may not have seen the post regarding the authorities' backhanded eviction attempt of Occupy Missoula - here's that link.  Occupy Missoula is still in dire need of funds and supplies to re-establish and Winterize the occupation - list here.

#OccupyMissoula - Police Dropping Off Drunken, Hostile People

#OccupyMissoula Update

Hey everyone - can barely keep my eyes open, but wanted to thank everyone who has helped. When I got involved last Sunday, the camp had been evicted. We formed a legal team and got the supposed arrest threats straightened out and then turned to getting the camp Winterized. I pretty much put out a call for help to friends, family and the internet at large. Bottom line, we're almost there and I really can't thank everyone enough.

So, the really good news - we got this tent today:

We still owes $275 for it - the seller agreed to take payments).

At this point, we need:

~ At least 2 coleman fuel lanterns, and bulk coleman fuel
~ chairs
~ Warm things to place on the ground. Throw rugs are great.
~ Good blankets

In addition to this, we need people to help out prepaying our accounts for propane at Axmen, and our food account at the Good Food Store. You can call these businesses and donate to the Occupation. Call the Good Food Store, (406) 541-3663 and Axmen at (406) 728-7020 and tell them you want to help out OccupyMissoula and add some funds to our prepaid accounts.

If you wish to make a donation please email me at taryn dot hart at gmail dot com and we can arrange the logistics of any donation.

Right now we have lost our full-time finance person and are in the process of transition. In the meantime, I am taking all donations for Winterizing the occupation.

Cash payments can go to my Pay Pal, which is at taryn.hart@gmail.com. Supplies can be sent to:

Occupy Missoula
c/o Taryn Hart
10355 Highway 12
Lolo, Montana 59847

#OccupyMissoula Update

OMG - Pepper Spray Video

OMG - Pepper Spray Video

#OccupyMissoula and Blogging Update

Hey everyone - so, we're starting from ground zero in Missoula, but at least we held on. I haven't been able to blog at all and that will probably continue through, at least, Sunday. Groobiecat filled in the live blog yesterday (thanks Groob).

We have raised $425 and have been told that many supplies are being sent. We did get Occupy Missoula placed on the OWS donation page so, hopefully that helps. Also, I'm working on getting a liason lined up between Occupy Missoula and Firedoglake's Occupy Supply, which should definitely help get some much needed supplies to the occupation - unfortunately I couldn't get anyone lined up in time for today's training so, that lifeline will have to wait until at least Tuesday's training.

So, bottom line we still could really use donations to get the camp Winterized. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks to everyone for their very generous support.

Taryn

#OccupyMissoula and Blogging Update

#N17 Global Day of Action - #OWS

Glued to the live stream -

Watch live streaming video from globalrevolution at livestream.com

#N17 Global Day of Action - #OWS

Live Blogging #OWS - 11/17/11

8:48 AM: Occupy Wall Street's Day of Action
Live Updates / Live Streaming





11:00: LRAD apparently used on protestors while singing national anthem...

(Source: We are the other 99% live blog)

11:05 AM: New post by Glenn Greenwald: OWS Inspired Activism

"It was only a matter of time before a coordinated police crackdown was imposed to end the Occupy encampments. Law enforcement officials and policy-makers in America know full well that serious protests — and more — are inevitable given the economic tumult and suffering the U.S. has seen over the last three years (and will continue to see for the foreseeable future). A country cannot radically reduce quality-of-life expectations, devote itself to the interests of its super-rich, and all but eliminate its middle class without triggering sustained citizen fury."

11:30 AM: AdBusters Blog Post: Renewing Occupy resolve--and entering a new phase

"This assault has stiffened our resolve. Now begins the second, visceral, canny, militant phase of our nonviolent march to real democracy. We regroup, lick our wounds and begin our counterattack..."

11:38 AM: Taibblog post: Woman Gets Jail For Food-Stamp Fraud; Wall Street Fraudsters Get Bailouts

"Had a quick piece of news I wanted to call attention to, in light of the recent developments at Zuccotti Park. For all of those who say the protesters have it wrong, and don’t really have a cause worth causing public unrest over, consider this story, sent to me by a friend on the Hill. Last week, a federal judge in Mississippi sentenced a mother of two named Anita McLemore to three years in federal prison for lying on a government application in order to obtain food stamps."

12:10 PM: @LucyKafanov Twitpic

12:35 PM: Kevin Gosztola post: 84 Year Old Woman Tells Story of Being Pepper Sprayed, Saved by Veteran at Occupy Seattle Protest




2:28 PM: Videographer reports assault by undercover cop (from OWS Web site).


3:41 PM: Not what democracy looks like:

4:38: In spite of the violence, think it's safe to say that the theme of the day is: Re-energized and inspired.

Inspiring Words from Redditor Aniadrift "Sorry for gushing, but I feel the need to right now. When the mass evictions started happening, I was filled with a sense of despair. Now that I see this, that despair has been replaced with inspiration. My heart bursts with it. I want you people to know, all of you who have been in the streets fighting, that you have given me hope for the country that I never thought I would have before." (OWS Web site)

Live Blogging #OWS - 11/17/11

Live Blogging #OWS - 11/16/11

9:15 AM: Apparently, all the crackdowns were coordinated with the help from--surprise!--the FBI, Homeland Security, and other federal agencies. According to the Examiner's piece Occupy Crackdowns Coordinated with Federal Officials: 

"Over the past ten days, more than a dozen cities have moved to evict "Occupy" protesters from city parks and other public spaces. As was the case in last night's move in New York City, each of the police actions shares a number of characteristics. And according to one Justice official, each of those actions was coordinated with help from Homeland Security, the FBI and other federal police agencies."

Live Blogging #OWS - 11/16/11

Open Letter to Friends of the #OWS Movement: Occupy Missoula needs IMMEDIATE HELP!

FOR DONATIONS, PLEASE SEE UPDATES BELOW


Open Letter to Friends of the #OWS Movement:

RE: Occupy Missoula needs IMMEDIATE HELP!

Before I even introduce myself, let me express solidarity with our brothers and sisters at Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oakland and all occupations currently under attack.

I am a member of Occupy Missoua - a very small, little-known occupation in Missoula, Montana. Over this past weekend we were subject to an eviction attempt by Missoula County that very nearly succeeded.

We are encamped at the Missoula County Courthouse. For Veteran's Day, Occupy Missoula agreed to de-camp so that a Veteran's Day celebration could be held at the Courthouse. We did this in good faith and in an attempt to be good neighbors.

Following Veteran's Day, we began re-encamping and were told by County officials that we could have use of a small gazebo, but nothing else. Members of our logistics working group were told on Sunday that if we re-established a full occupation we would be arrested. There were also insinuations that our encampment would be raided due to "health violations." An emergency GA was held on Sunday night and the occupation retreated to the Gazebo. The front page of our local newspaper labeled us quitters.

However, over the next two days, we lawyered up - thanks to the generous help of several attorneys in the Missoula community. This afternoon, a member of our legal team met with a County official and the County completely retreated. We won! We defended our encampment from an attempt to kill it.

And here's the funny thing: Prior to this underhanded attempted eviction, we were having very serious thoughts of decamping for Winter - we have almost no money, we have few tents, we have only one very small, partially functioning heater. But this duplicitous attempted eviction united us in a way that is impossible to describe and at tonight's GA we unanimously decided to re-encamp. We have no idea how we are going to make it, but we took what can only be characterized as a leap of faith. I've never been prouder to be a part of something in my life.

But we're in Montana and the weather is already a challenge. So we need immediate help - money, tents, food, Winter clothing, heaters, generators, anything at all you can provide would mean the world to us. (SEE UPDATE BELOW)

If you wish to make a donation please email me at taryn dot hart at gmail dot com and we can arrange the logistics of any donation.

Your in Solidarity -

Taryn Hart
Occupy Missoula

Update: Right now we have lost our full-time finance person and are in the process of transition. In the meantime, I am taking all donations - Occupy Missoula will verify receit.

Cash payments can go to my Pay Pal, which is at taryn.hart@gmail.com. Supplies can be sent to:

Occupy Missoula
c/o Taryn Hart
10355 Highway 12
Lolo, Montana 59847

UPDATE 2 (11/20/11): Right now, our goals are: 1) to raise $275 to pay remaining amount owing on huge tent (Yay!); 2) get one month's worth of food and propane paid for. To donate to the food account you can call the Good Food Store at (406) 541-3663. To donate propane you can call the Axmen at (406) 728-7020. Have a credit card ready and tell them you'd like to donate to the account; 3) Get a small amount of cash to have on hand at the site ($200).

Open Letter to Friends of the #OWS Movement: Occupy Missoula needs IMMEDIATE HELP!

November 15, 2011

Occupy Wall Street Sign of the Day (Maybe my favorite sign of all time)

There is No Alternative - Taxing the Rich Edition

So, here's the thing: The cat's out of the bag - the 1% in this country have laid claim to more than three decades of steady growth and now have an obscene amount of the nation's wealth. One offshoot of this grave injustice is that the elite and their lackeys have to spend a huge amount of time trying to convince everyone there is no alternative. They don't usually defend the arrangement itself (you're envious for even thinking about that), but rather focus on policy proposals that would threaten the status quo.

There is No Alternative - Taxing the Rich Edition

Live Blogging #OWS - 11/14/11

November 14, 2011

Occupy Wall Street Sign of the Day

Live Blogging #OWS - 11/14/11

#InternationalBowieDay

In honor of the fact that it's International Bowie Day (and because I happen to be interviewing Sarah Jaffe tomorrow, who blogs at OhYouPrettyThings.net and tweets at @seasonothebitch), here is David Bowie, Oh! You Pretty Things:

#InternationalBowieDay

The Matrix, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and #OWS

So, in the context of OWS, reform and government generally, a friend of mine brought up the speech in the Matrix about human beings being like a virus, destroying everything in their path:



Without getting into an interpretation of the Matrix - which actually I'm kind of dwelling on - I have some initial thoughts.

The Matrix, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and #OWS

Hippie Crap Saves the World

Here's the note from my Mom:

I don’t save many articles—maybe 2 a decade, or something. Anyway, what Matt Taibbi wrote about changing his mind on OWS became one of those. And that reminded me of one I saved almost a decade ago—Hippie Crap Saves the World. It was written in 2003, but it’s really, really, really applicable to today. I’d have posted it up, but I don’t know how to make two pages of it, and it’s long.

Anyway, here it is. Please, PLEASE, consider posting it. It’s fucking brilliant.

Article over the fold...

Hippie Crap Saves the World

Occupied Media: Interview With Dean Baker

I'm extremely pleased to present the most recent Occupied Media installment, our interview with economist Dean Baker. Dean Baker is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C. He is the author of several books, including, most recently, The End of Loser Liberalism: Making Markets Progressive. He regularly blogs at Beat the Press, which features commentary on economic reporting.

We discuss Dr. Baker's diagnosis and prescriptions for the economy. Unlike most of the econ folks I've spoken with, Dr. Baker expressed specific concern with our trade imbalances and argues making the dollar more competitive is important for recovery from our short-term economic crisis. Additionally, Dr. Baker has some really interesting ideas for tackling the housing crisis, including giving foreclosed upon homeowners the right to rent their former home for a significant period of time - an interesting solution that would give homeowners in default much-needed leverage in their negotiations with lenders.

Occupied Media: Interview With Dean Baker

Live Blogging #OWS - 11/13/11

November 13, 2011

Occupy Wall Street Sign of the Day

Live Blogging #OWS - 11/13/11