Every tuesday evening at 6pm Occupy Missoula hosts an open forum to talk about issues facing the movement. The forum is held in the Union Hall upstairs. The topic varies from week to week, so  check back to see what is the upcoming topic.

Thanks!

Occupy Missoula General Assembly

January 29, 2012

Throughout its life, The Occupation inspired compassion and exposed deep mistrust. It served to both unite and divide. Our Occupation was a paradox. Looking back, this seemed unavoidable.

So what now? What remains?

The open questions of our Civil Liberties remain: The Right to Freedom of Assembly; The Right to Free Speech; The Right to Petition for the Redress our Grievances.

The houseless remain also; not just the ones visible on the sidewalks and city streets or invisible in the back woods or nooks and crannies of our community, but the countless others who work by day and sleep in their vehicles at night. Unemployed. Under-employed. Facing Foreclosure. Collateral damage from a jobless recovery.

And the Greed remains. Is it getting better? Worse? Does this bother you?

And our Government is still broken. Unable to respond to a world where things on the ground are moving faster than the top.

So what remains is the Work. Much Work to be done. The hard Work for Real Change — not political rhetoric about Change.

You have now seen the Tents and heard each other’s Voices. This will happen again. How can it be any other way? There is nowhere left to go. We are the 99%.

Money is not speech, and Corporations are not People!!! Join us for a lunchtime rally and March in support of a Nationwide Occupy the Courts Action

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20th, 11:30-1 PM Move to Amend- Occupy the Courts!!! Rally

• 11:30 meet at the Caras Park Pavilion
• 11:45 march to the Federal Courthouse on Pattee and Broadway
• Rally@ Noon

We invite all participants to bring signs , noisemakers, drums, etc.

“I am a PERSON”, “Money is not speech, and Corporations are not People”

On January 20 Occupy Missoula will be holding a protest rally to commemorate the second anniversary of theCitizens United Supreme Court Decision that granted first amendment protection to unlimited contributions by corporations and individuals to political campaigns as a form free speech. This rally is part of a nationwide Occupy the Courts day of action called by the Move to Amend Coalition (not itself an occupy organization) to build momentum toward the passage of an amendment to the US Constitution to overturn this anti-democratic interpretation. Organizations in more than 100 cities throughout the nation will be engaging in similar actions that day.

The idea of a constitutional amendment was supported by the City of Missoula in a city-wide referendum –which passed with a 75% majority – on November 8 of last year. Recently the Montana Supreme court courageously defended the state’s own Corrupt Practices Act against the countervailing Citizens United ruling which held that even state laws that constrain election spending are constitutional.

Missoula’s Occupy the Courts rally will be held in front of the Russell E. Smith Federal District Court, 201 E. Broadway, during the noon hour on January 20. Participants are encouraged to gather at Caras Park at 11:30 with signs, banners, and noisemakers for an 11:45 march to the courthouse.

The noon-hour rally will feature a panel of speakers well-known to Missoulians: City Councilors Cynthia Wolken & Jason Wiener, State Representative Dick Barrett, Political Science professor Paul Haber, Labor Council Executive Officer Mark Anderlik, and Missoula small business owner Aimee McQuilkin.

OccupyCourtsPoster

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: TODD JORDAN, CASEY LOUIS, KIM BOSTROM

note: this press release represents the views of occupy missoula participants but does not seek to speak for the entire Occupy missoula movement.

OM Right to Peaceably Assemble and Seek Redress of Grievances

January 5, 2012. On January 4th the Missoula County Commissioners held a meeting to hear public comment on a proposed resolution to require permits for camping on county property. More than thirty people, representing a broad range of the community, came to the hearing to make public comment. In over two hours of commentary, an overwhelming majority presented evidence and testimony to show the lack of any real need for this resolution, and to state that it is in opposition to both United States and Montana constitutional law. Many of those who gave testimony raised concerns that the resolution was a knee-jerk reaction in an historic political moment, enacting a law that affects the entire county while addressing none of the underlying problems. The only consideration appears to have been their desire to remove the Occupy Missoula tents from the court house lawn and possibly the prevention of their return in the spring. With no significant proof to their stated concerns of costs, health and safety, and public nuisance to support the immediate necessity for this resolution to be enacted, the county commission, without deliberation in regards to the public comment, passed the resolution.

Two important facts not taken into account by the county commissioners are: 1) that Occupy Missoula is peaceably assembled on the courthouse lawn, exercising constitutional rights, and 2) the encampment is working to save the city and county tax payers money through promoting the peace and providing human services to those in need. In addition, tax expenditures for costly public meetings likely could be avoided through local officials’ democratic participation in a General Assembly.

Many of those who spoke at the meeting described positive solutions to address the existing sanitation issues of the downtown area, as well as the issues of homelessness that exist within Missoula county. The county commissioners did appear to take interest in ideas and suggestions for solutions to the very real problem of the lack of available public bathroom facilities downtown. We hope that they will consider these suggestions, and not think that by passing this resolution the public need for accessible restrooms will go away.

On the other hand, with this arbitrary action they violated their oath of office, which requires them to improve the quality of life for those individuals in the county, by not providing basic necessities that protect those individuals. Following in the wake of the land development approval for lands north of Lolo, this is the second action in a month the county commissioners have passed in clear opposition of the public commentary that was presented to the commissioners and the media. This presents distressing evidence that the county is working autonomously from the people it represents, and the public commentary that they request is a mere formality rather than a true request for public input.

We encourage all individuals and organizations to join in solving the real problems which the average citizen is facing and demand that our government follow their constitutional requirements to all of its citizens.  We are committed to reaching out to the rest of our community, expanding our movement so that the real problems of our society, including for those who are being ignored by the Missoula county commissioners in passing this resolution, are truly addressed. While not seeking to represent Occupy Missoula as a whole, the OM protesters peaceably assembled on the courthouse lawn practicing free speech and seeking redress of grievances from our larger government will disobey this unjust resolution.

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Missoula County Response: Permit Application Response

We write this letter to address the implications of Resolution No. 2012-__ “Prohibiting Camping and Structures on County Property Without a Permit,” proposed by the Missoula County Board of Commissioners (the said Resolution may be read in full at www.OccupyMissoula.com).

We understand the ramifications of this resolution to reach far beyond the current political moment of Occupy Missoula’s encampment on the courthouse lawn. While serving as a public sounding board for citizen dissatisfaction with our current political/economic conundrum, Occupy Missoula’s presence on the Courthouse lawn has also illuminated the symptoms of a society that does not take care of its most vulnerable: its veterans, its elderly, its mentally ill, its substance-addicted, and its houseless. While we recognize and value Missoula’s efforts to address this situation (as detailed in a letter from the County Commissioners on Dec. 16th), the resources of these largely non-profit efforts are already strained.

With home foreclosures still on the rise, Missoula’s increasing houseless population will find themselves at the sharp end of this resolution by virtue of their circumstance, which in effect would be criminalized. Sleeping, not just camping, in said areas becomes cause for a citation, thereby compounding a situation which is already intolerable. “Camping,” as broadly defined by this proposed ordinance, would incriminate not only those without houses, but many working poor, who often sleep in their vehicles in pursuit of temporary employment, as well as other populations, such as travelers passing through who could be cited with criminal trespass for pulling an RV off the road in Missoula county.

In fact, many public spaces that Missoulians take for granted would fall under it’s broad definitions, as county properties include: Missoula County Fairgrounds, portions of Fort Missoula, and the Commons of the County Courthouse Lawn.

Whereas hypothetical expenditures of public funds to mitigate the health hazards of camping on said properties are cited, very real and actual expenditures of public funds will be required to administer and enforce the proposed resolution.

Occupy Missoula’s encampment on the Courthouse lawn has, for nearly 3 months, vigilantly asserted a citizen’s right to peaceably assemble and our freedom of speech by demonstrating and promoting the peace and well-being of all who gather there. The proposed resolution is one more swipe in eroding public access to the commons. The common basis of freedom of speech and right to assembly, universal across the political spectrum, would be further truncated by this resolution.

OM strongly encourages the Commissioners and the general public as a whole to carefully consider the far-reaching consequences of the county’s proposed ordinance. It is vital that the public attend the upcoming public hearing on this matter, Wednesday, January 4th at 1:30PM in Room 201 of the Courthouse Annex.

Respectfully,

Occupy Missoula

MISSOULA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING
REGARDING PROPOSED RESOLUTION RELATED TO COUNTY
PROPERTY

Missoula County Commissioners will hold a public meeting on
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 in room 201 of the Missoula County
Courthouse Annex at 1:30 p.m. The meeting will provide the public an
opportunity to comment on a proposed resolution that would prohibit
camping and structures on County property. The proposed resolution is
available on the County’s website.

Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend. Citizens can
also submit comments on the proposed resolution by calling or emailing
the Commissioners’ Office – 258-4877 or bcc@co.missoula.mt.us

Text of Resolution after the jump.

RESOLUTION NO. 2012 – _____

PROHIBITING CAMPING AND STRUCTURES ON COUNTY PROPERTY WITHOUT A PERMIT

WHEREAS, pursuant to §7-5-2101 MCA and §7-8-2201 MCA, the Board of County Commissioners has jurisdiction and power to preserve, take care of, manage and control County property; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to §7-5-2102 MCA, the Board of County Commissioners has jurisdiction and power to make and enforce such rules for its government, the preservation of order and the transaction of business as may be necessary; and WHEREAS, Missoula County property lacks the necessary infrastructure and capacity to support camping; and

WHEREAS, camping on Missoula County property may cause public health and safety hazards for the public and County staff, resulting in the expenditure of public funds to mitigate; and

WHEREAS, camping on County property may result in violations of state law, the Missoula Municipal Code and the Missoula City-County Health Code; and

WHEREAS, the erection and maintenance of structures on certain County property may cause damage to County property or create a public nuisance; and

WHEREAS, unattended personal property on Missoula County property may cause safety hazards for the public and County staff, cause damage to County property or create a public nuisance.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that under this resolution, camping is defined as sleeping overnight, with or without temporary shelters.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that camping is prohibited on Missoula County property and shall be considered a criminal trespass, unless the Board of County Commissioners has issued a permit for the proposed activity and site in advance. Camping may be allowed, subject to a permit, when the proposed site is furnished by the applicant with adequate sanitary facilities, including toilets, water supply and waste disposal, for the duration of the event, and other conditions as may be appropriate.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the placement, erection, modification or removal of structures, temporary or permanent, is prohibited on any County property unless the Board of County Commissioners has issued a permit for the proposed activity in advance. “Structures” includes, but is not limited to, tents, yurts, canopies, awnings, trailers or recreational vehicles. Unpermitted structures may be removed from County property by the Missoula County Facilities Manager.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, unattended personal property on Missoula County property maybe removed from County property by the Missoula County Facilities Manager.

ADOPTED THIS ______ DAY OF __________________, 20___
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MISSOULA COUNTY, MONTANA

Bill Carey, Chair
Michele Landquist, Commissioner
Jean Curtiss, Commissioner
ATTEST: Vickie Zeier, Clerk & Recorder

Sunday, Jan. 1, join other Occupy participants in an enjoyable potluck and forum starting at 2 at Union Hall, 208 E. Main. It was decided at the Dec. 18 GA to substitute a forum and potluck as a nice way to begin the New Year. Bring whatever you’re comfortable with sharing, including just yourself.

The Occupy Missoula Encampment retains a positive outlook despite the removal by county workers of a disabled homeless veteran’s tent at 5:30am on the 21st, under the pretext that it was “abandoned property,” as well as the calculated removal of the porta- potty the same afternoon, in order to create a public health issue. The Commissioners also saw fit to request that porta-potty providers not “get involved,” and our attempts to secure another porta-potty have been unsuccessful for that reason.

We continue to remain hopeful, despite today’s actions by the Sherrif, once again at- tempting to confiscate a disabled veteran’s tent under the premise of its being aban- doned. We would like to remind the Commissioners that the tents are a form of Political Protest, protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United Staes of America.

In the holiday spirit of goodwill and peace, we are asking the County Comminssioners to let us enjoy Christmas without engaging the police, without threats of arrest before we have a public forum next week.

press release_OME

Please feel free to contact the Commissioners’ Office with questions.

Commissioners’ Statement Regarding Occupy Missoula
12/21/11

We have directed County staff to communicate with Occupy Missoula about their encampment since its inception in October. We have increased the frequency of our correspondence with them in the last two weeks in an effort to encourage them to remove their tents from the Courthouse lawn. Despite attempts from both our staff and many of the Occupiers to engage in constructive communication, the tents remain, as do the problems the tents present. As a result of Occupy Missoula’s unwillingness to help Missoula County solve the problems their camp presents, we are developing a policy that will prohibit camping on County property. The City of Missoula’s No Camping Ordinance does not apply to the Courthouse lawn. The County policy and the resulting ordinance are still being developed, but would require any group using the Courthouse lawn to secure a special use permit. Please do not mistake this policy as a means to limit free speech. Protests and demonstrations are still welcome on the Courthouse lawn, but sponsors of demonstrations that encourage prolonged use of the public space – a space we are charged with managing – must offer assurances that activities on County property will not jeopardize the health, welfare, and safety of the general public, or restrict the public’s rightful use of a public space.

We have removed the port-a-potty we have been providing from the Courthouse lawn in an effort to encourage the removal of their tents. We cannot continue to subsidize the Occupy camp with tax payer dollars. The port-a-potty was provided as a means to reduce instances of unsanitary conduct and protect the public and our staff from pathogens. We will continue to protect the public and our staff, but can no longer provide a facility to the camp that is funded with tax payer money.

As an interim measure, before the County ordinance is passed, we have directed County staff to identify unoccupied tents on the lawn as abandoned property and remove them.

We have received numerous calls and emails from constituents complaining about the camp for months. We have made every effort to acknowledge the concerns of those constituents while protecting Occupy Missoula’s right to free speech. We ask that Occupy Missoula acknowledge that they have a responsibility to conduct their protest in a way that is accountable to the Missoula community.