Protesters: City OKs tents as a symbol of protest
EUGENE, Ore. -- Eugene SLEEPS protesters have been evicted from 8 different protest sites over the past few weeks, but organizers said that they’ve finally made some progress in their fight.
SLEEPS (or Safe, Legally Entitled Emergency Places to Sleep) members have rallied against laws that ban sleeping in a tent or sleeping bag in a public space, as it violates Eugene's anti-camping laws.
Many of the group’s protests have taken place at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, where Eugene Police has enforced a curfew on protesters staying overnight.
The group has held protests aimed at allowing its members to camp out for their cause.
Recently, however, activist Jean Stacey told KVAL News that the City of Eugene agreed that the organization does have a right to protest publicly.
“What they acknowledged that night is we can use the tents as symbols. So that's step one. Step two is that we can live in the tents as symbols,” Stacey said. “Also for those that are un-housed, they can live in them legally in Eugene as soon as we get these anti-sleeping codes changed.”
Stacey said that SLEEPS is set to meet with Eugene Police on Tuesday to discuss a possible solution.
Camping in the heart of town seems stupid logistically for them. The are better places closest to the food banks and soup kitcens, where the ground is softer, less traffic, more cover. But, panhandering is more lucrative downtown. More public restrooms and heat shelters too. It is also easier to barter their food stamps cards for cash, alc., and tobacco. And, easier to find refundables. Easier to deal/courrier drugs, etc., dirty deeds done dirt cheap, etc.
NIMBYs are everywhere and righfully so. Even the jails do not want them.
We need to try another Rashneeshpuram (somewhere) so they have somewhere to go. Any ideas? I will volunteer as the meadmaker, if someone else volunteers as the beekeeper. Kinda' like that Stone Soup saga...only a much bigger production. Some kind of chaotic sub-par utopian society for the homeless that need only last as long as THE GREAT RECESSION. An insane dream, but I don't have any other good place to put my heart these days. I am all panhandered out, and shopping for a tent myself!Â
So, there will be tent city in the heart of downtown Eugene? That should be good for businesses. I wonder how the owners and employees feel about this...maybe it's time for them to protest!
 @UsaidWHAT Sorry, non-homeless are not permitted to express themselves because their speech is prohibited by hate speech legislation.Â
First of all we need to ban corner panhandling as a traffic impairment.
Second we need to vigorously enforce the no-camping ordinance.
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Why are we encouraging these people to squander our public resources?
The people of this city need to get some balls. It's time to get rid of the whole bunch of them and give someone that has balls a chance to run the city. Shame on you for letting a few people run the show.
Seriously? Didn't we just get rid of these guys last year under the name "Occupy"?
our elected officials are puppets.
Just when you thought the city of Eugene couldn't get any dumber.
Sweet!! Villages of homeless tent dwellers set up in every nook and crannie before the summer arrives.
The City of Eugene....getting what it deserves from the officials it elects.