Humboldt Revolution

May 9, 2007

As you may know, from April 21 to May 2, PEOPLE PROJECT created an
encampment based on the principles of non violence to reclaim sleep in
public spaces, highlighting the need for a people-run campground. The
action exposed the current ban on public sleeping and the local policy of
harassment towards poor and houseless communities.  It wasn’t difficult to
reveal these policies of cruelty; the harmonious and dignified space
created through the encampment prompted the City of Arcata to respond with
more threats, intimidation, and force.

Building on the previous weeks’ events, PEOPLE PROJECT invites your
participation in a preparatory encounter meeting, this Saturday May 12, to
strengthen and build relationships and alliances.

One focus of the meeting will be preparing for an upcoming public forum.
The public forum, scheduled for the last week of May, is another step
toward broadening PEOPLE PROJECT’s ongoing effort– to address injustices
and hardships facing the houseless community through creative collective
dignified community solutions.

The preparatory encounter, on the heels of the encampment action, will be
a chance for various folks and organizations in the area to see each
other, determine how they can help organize the forum, and ultimately
begin working together toward community that recognizes dignity and
respect for all.

We encourage at least one representative from each of the organizations
listed below to participate in meeting Saturday afternoon (May 12) from
3:00pm to 6:00pm at the Labor Temple, 840 E St. Eureka.  Snacks will be
provided and welcomed.

We apologize for the short notice. If your organization cannot come to
this meeting, any input through email or phone conversations is greatly
appreciated.

Please forward this letter to any other supportive organizations or
individuals.

We look forward to coming together with you soon.

PEOPLE PROJECT Assembly Collective

HOPE Coalition Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County

Bar None Women in Black

American Civil Liberties Union Civil Liberties Monitoring Project

Veterans For Peace Accion Zapatista de Humboldt

Californians for Alternatives to Toxics Human Rights Commission

Communities For Peace Unitarian Universalist Church

Redwood Peace and Justice Center War Tax Resisters League

Green Party (Hum Co.)          WildPhyre Rose Gathering

Redwood Curtain CopWatch Food Not Bombs

Raven Project             Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

Art As Resistance Collective Ethnic Studies Collective (of HSU)

Northcoast Environmental Center Native American Studies Collective

Women’s Studies (of HSU) Industrial Workers of the World/IWW

Grow GMO Free (of Humboldt County) Sewing for Peace

Humboldt Friends Meeting, Quakers Humboldt Free Radio Alliance

Emma Center Black Student Union (of HSU)

Law Office of Tracy D. Herrin We Do Not Consent

Citizens Pulp Mill Committee Humboldt Watershed Council

The Legacy Connection Mattole Wildlands Defense

Church of the Joyful Healer Dream Big Coalition

Campaign Against SunValley Floral Farms’ Toxic and Unethical Practices

Mobile Medical Services Blue Lake Lightning Farm

Arcata Educational Farm (Community Supported Agriculture)

Arcata Playhouse, Vagabond Players  Synapsis

Blake Richard Organic Fern Gully Tree-Sit Affinity

Environment and Community Masters Program (of HSU)

From April 21st to May 2nd, PEOPLE PROJECT enacted an encampment, a
non-violent direct action to expose the criminalization of
houseless people and the human rights violations that accompany an
intentional policy of cruelty.  Ultimately, the encampment aimed at
engaging in dialogue and connecting with other people in the
community to generate support for a free, people run, ecologically
sustainable campground.  PEOPLE PROJECT participants were
exercising constitutionally protected activities, primarily one’s
freedom of speech, assembly, and the right to sleep.

Over the course of those 11 days, PEOPLE PROJECT witnessed and
received an enormous outpouring of support and found that many residents
were not aware of the situation and policies effecting houseless and poor
people locally.  In addition to peaceful dialogue and well attended public
dinners at the encampment wherein people shared their experiences, the
City’s policies and the effects of criminalizing houseless people were
highlighted through the City’s violent actions to repress the encampment
on April 25th.  It is important to note, that the City, through numerous
regional police agencies, awakened over 50 encampment participants and
either arrested or forced them to vacate public space despite there being
no
legal location for houseless people to get necessary sleep.  Police
also seized vital belongings, including medication, from nearly 100
individuals which further exposed a much repeated human rights
violation wherein the police confiscate and destroy houseless people’s
survival gear.

At a well attended City Council meeting on Wednesday May 2nd, PEOPLE
PROJECT participants, supporters, and observers chastised local
government regarding their behavior and urged them to stop their
policies of harassment and human rights violations.  In a rare display
of public outpouring, people spoke of their inspiration generated by
the PEOPLE PROJECT encampment and the true community it created.  Not
surprisingly, the Council further exposed their bigotry toward houseless
people and an unwillingness to recognize basic human rights.  The only
council member to have visited the encampment, Mr. Paul Pitino, motioned
for a town hall meeting.  The other council members remained silent.
Similarly, they failed to respond to the Public’s comments.

The City of Arcata is still holding much of the property that they
seized on April 25th.  Earlier on Wednesday May 2nd, police arrested a
man seeking a return of his confiscated medication.  He remains jailed.

PEOPLE PROJECT will continue to mobilize and to create safe places
for dialogue and houseless people to exist.

Arcata, California - PEOPLE PROJECT announces the culmination of their
protest encampment beginning Wednesday morning with the completion of the
encampment, a rally and march that Wednesday afternoon, and a press
conference on Thursday.

Wednesday’s rally and march, beginning at 1pm at 14th and Union Street,
will be an opportunity for the entire community to come together to
celebrate, support and discuss the homeless encampment action and the
relevant issues that it has raised.

PEOPLE PROJECT wants to be clear the encampment is not asking for money,
services or help from government.  “We have found that to be useless” said
longtime PEOPLE PROJECT participant. For many years, the City of Arcata
has claimed it would do more to address the issue of homelessness. Many
view the Homeless Task Force as one costly but fruitless effort by the
City that created numerous road blocks for every clearly articulated
solution presented. With the encampment action, People Project instead
seeks to connect with caring community members and strengthen the
houseless community’s vision of a campground.

PEOPLE PROJECT began a demonstration Saturday afternoon April 21 and later
that evening created the protest encampment. On April 25th Arcata Police
Department, University Police, Eureka Police Department, California
Highway Patrol, Humboldt County Distract Attorney and Fortuna Police
Department mobilized to tear down the encampment, take the belongings of
nearly 100 people, and remove the primarily houseless demonstrators. Many
consider this the largest police action in Humboldt County in the last 15
years.

Visits to the PEOPLE PROJECT encampment involved discussions about the
illegality of the City’s policies that target houseless people.  In mid
2006, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in ‘Jones v City of Los
Angeles’ that it is unconstitutional for a city to ticket or arrest
individuals who sleep on city property if no other option exists.  “For a
community that considers itself progressive, it seems unthinkable that
there would be such an increasing number of poor and houseless people
falling victim to constant harassment and violations of their rights”
stated Squiggy Rubio.

After the police raid, demonstrators spent three days and two nights on
the front lawn of City Hall demanding the return of police-seized
property. “After violent police repression, we found it appropriate to
temporarily move to the often hostile downtown business area where money
is prioritized over human rights” said PEOPLE PRJOECT participant, Willie.

On Saturday night April 28, PEOPLE PROJECT human rights demonstration
moved to the base of Redwood Park on 14th and Union Street declaring “we
will not disappear.”

The PEOPLE PROJECT encampment that is claiming public space will be
completed on Wednesday May 2nd. It is the first phase in a longer process
to expose the cruelty, dehumanization and criminalization of houseless
people, to open up dialogue with other community members and to generate
support for a free, people-run, ecologically sustainable campground.

On Thursday May 3 on the corner of 11th and D street at noon, a press
conference will be held to further discuss the situation facing homeless
people here locally and around the nation. Upcoming events to be organized
by the PEOPLE PROJECT will be announced during the press conference.