Occupy Portland day 5 update...

[Rabblevox]

The Occupying force is still set up in Chapman Park and Lownsdale Square, settling in for what looks to be a couple of soggy days. There are still several dozen tents set up and, as of 10am today, a couple people waving signs and getting an occasional honk from traffic. Taking in the scene, I immediately wondered: What happens if Occupy Portland stops being an Occupy protest and starts becoming a homeless encampment? I could see that being a distinct possibility if the parks remain okay to legally sleep in for the next couple weeks.

I was up in Seattle this weekend and stopped by their protest. It's a bit different—smaller, but also more visible. They've set up camp right in the middle of Seattle's commercial core, surrounded by Nordstrom's shoppers. Seattle's mayor says he supports the protest, but there have been bizarre crackdowns on umbrellas and drivers who honk in support.

Anyway, today is the most imperialist of holidays: Columbus Day! A Columbus Day Convergence is slated to start at noon across the river at NE 8th and Oregon, with some activities (open mic, free chili) and an eventual march at 6pm in support of indigenous rights.

Over at the main Occupy site, the big debate is over whether the protesters should open up Main Street, the currently barricaded block between the two parks where the elk statue is. The city and police have been asking Occupy to open up the block to traffic since Friday and I ran into police Captain Sara Westbrook doing the rounds at the protest and trying to meet with organizers to get them to open up the thoroughfare. But so far, no dice. The street remains lined with barricades and soaked cardboard protest signs

We are going strong in the Rose City!!! I'm on my way back down with batteries, hand sanitizer, and cookies.

(and btw, I'm incredibly proud of occupiers, marathon runners, and the mayor for reaching a solution that all could live with yesterday)

I LOVE PORTLAND!

More here:
http://occupypdx.org/

Original article here:
http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2011/10/10/occupy-portland-day-5-update

[gratuitous]

1. Yup, they're still there

And I don't think it's going to become a homeless camp, and even if it does, I don't know that that's so very wrong. People gotta be somewhere, and the Occupy Portland space is probably safer than a lot of other places homeless people hang out.

As for opening the block of Main Street between 3rd and 4th, I rather wish the occupiers would open it up. Buses crossing the Hawthorne Bridge have to go around the block, and all the traffic heading south on 3rd is an inconvenience for my bicycle commute. However, I'm okay with the blockade as long as it continues to draw attention from folks, and keeps the public talking about a more just society.

[Rabblevox]

2. I agree on a practical basis that they should give up the Main Street blockade, but damn, I love...

occupying the Elk!!!