My article for the day
This is an article I published today on the Portland Indymedia site. It is written specifically for people who live in the Portland metro area. Of course, I guess it could apply to people in any other metro area as well.
DECLARING WAR ON THE HOMELESS
The homeless of Portland are beginning to face an uphill battle, the likes of which has never been seen. Two recent ordinances have been passed that criminalize homelessness, and a shooting downtown has added to a public conception of a "threat" posed by the homeless in downtown Portland. When corporate retail executives survey the area, they are not looking at real human beings. They are seeing potential threats to their precious profits, and are using their influence within the city government to try to eradicate these people from their environment.
This is a very troubling development. The level of tension on the streets has increased significantly in the last week. I have spoken with many homeless people downtown who feel that they are being targeted, and have nowhere else to turn. It angers me to no end to see my friends who live on the streets victimized by an overall negative and pejorative attitude toward the homeless that is fueled by biased media coverage. What is a person to do?
I realize that there are many steps that need to be taken. The homeless downtown need people who are willing to stand up for them and challenge the validity of the recently adopted ordinances. This will be a long and arduous process, like anything else in city politics. However, there is also something that anyone reading this can do, and chances are it won't put you out of your normal routine at all. It's very simple: just go downtown.
That's right, just keep going downtown. After last week's shooting, the city and downtown business are all but expecting a wave of fear to sweep the city. If people stay away from downtown for fear of their lives, those in power will have even more ammunition in their war against the homeless. They will be able to saddle them with the blame for keeping people away from downtown. So it is very important that we prove them wrong. Downtown Portland is, for the most part, not a dangerous place. The shooting last week was an isolated incident that really had nothing to do with the "homeless problem" or "aggressive panhandling." Do not let the media's uneven coverage of this incident change what you already know. This is just like the Bush administration's manipulation of the fear of terrorism to justify an illegal war. Well, the city is about to begin an illegal war on the homeless unless people show the city that they are not going to be swayed by fear mongering.
So go downtown. Enjoy the vibrant culture of Portland. Spend some money somewhere. If you are inclined to go shopping at a mall, don't go to Lloyd Center or Clackamas, just go downtown! Show them that you are not afraid. And while you're down there, actually talk to some of the homeless people downtown. You'll find that most of them are just regular people who have been dealt a bad hand. Many of them are amazing musicians, writers, and artists. In fact, there are even venues around the city where you can see their work, hear their music, etc. The bottom line is that we need to show the city that the homeless are not a threat, they are a part of the community that deserve our respect.
I realize this is not the most radical technique for helping those in need. But it is a small part that anyone and everyone can do. The ball is rolling in the war that the city is declaring on the homeless, and we must act as quickly as we can to change the tide.
DECLARING WAR ON THE HOMELESS
The homeless of Portland are beginning to face an uphill battle, the likes of which has never been seen. Two recent ordinances have been passed that criminalize homelessness, and a shooting downtown has added to a public conception of a "threat" posed by the homeless in downtown Portland. When corporate retail executives survey the area, they are not looking at real human beings. They are seeing potential threats to their precious profits, and are using their influence within the city government to try to eradicate these people from their environment.
This is a very troubling development. The level of tension on the streets has increased significantly in the last week. I have spoken with many homeless people downtown who feel that they are being targeted, and have nowhere else to turn. It angers me to no end to see my friends who live on the streets victimized by an overall negative and pejorative attitude toward the homeless that is fueled by biased media coverage. What is a person to do?
I realize that there are many steps that need to be taken. The homeless downtown need people who are willing to stand up for them and challenge the validity of the recently adopted ordinances. This will be a long and arduous process, like anything else in city politics. However, there is also something that anyone reading this can do, and chances are it won't put you out of your normal routine at all. It's very simple: just go downtown.
That's right, just keep going downtown. After last week's shooting, the city and downtown business are all but expecting a wave of fear to sweep the city. If people stay away from downtown for fear of their lives, those in power will have even more ammunition in their war against the homeless. They will be able to saddle them with the blame for keeping people away from downtown. So it is very important that we prove them wrong. Downtown Portland is, for the most part, not a dangerous place. The shooting last week was an isolated incident that really had nothing to do with the "homeless problem" or "aggressive panhandling." Do not let the media's uneven coverage of this incident change what you already know. This is just like the Bush administration's manipulation of the fear of terrorism to justify an illegal war. Well, the city is about to begin an illegal war on the homeless unless people show the city that they are not going to be swayed by fear mongering.
So go downtown. Enjoy the vibrant culture of Portland. Spend some money somewhere. If you are inclined to go shopping at a mall, don't go to Lloyd Center or Clackamas, just go downtown! Show them that you are not afraid. And while you're down there, actually talk to some of the homeless people downtown. You'll find that most of them are just regular people who have been dealt a bad hand. Many of them are amazing musicians, writers, and artists. In fact, there are even venues around the city where you can see their work, hear their music, etc. The bottom line is that we need to show the city that the homeless are not a threat, they are a part of the community that deserve our respect.
I realize this is not the most radical technique for helping those in need. But it is a small part that anyone and everyone can do. The ball is rolling in the war that the city is declaring on the homeless, and we must act as quickly as we can to change the tide.