Topless women in masks bang gong outside City Councilor's home
EUGENE, Ore. - The mayor met the press regarding protests outside the house of a Eugene City Council member.
Mayor Kitty Piercy called an emergency press conference Friday to discuss what City Councilor George Poling and his wife are calling an act of "intimidation and terrorism."
Five topless women wearing masks and claiming to be connected to the Occupy movement protested outside the Poling home overnight.
On Friday, the City of Eugene set up security measures including a chain link fence at the house, as well as security cameras.
For now police say they are placing extra 24 hour patrols in the Councilor's Sheldon neigborhood off Willakenzie.
People have previously pitched camp in Councilor Poling's yard.
"I don't care what they say, they are Occupy people and it showed what they're after: intimidatation and terrorism," Poling told KVAL News.
“We were individuals engaged in an independent action with open minds and a shared purpose. This action was not discussed with nor consensed upon by Occupy Eugene,” a press release from Occupy Eugene credited one of the participants.
This is a developing story. Watch KVAL.com and KVAL 13 TV News for updates
Press release from Occupy Eugene
Poling Protests Organized by Independently Empowered Affinity Group
It has come to the attention of Occupy Eugene that Councilor George Poling and others are upset about recent actions at Councilor Poling’s home that are perceived to be a part of Occupy Eugene.
The actions at George Poling’s residence were made up of participants of Occupy Eugene who acted on their own free will as part of an affinity group affiliated with the Occupy Eugene Actions committee.
Occupy Eugene does not require consensus from the General Assembly for independent actions, and our members are empowered to act independently as long as their goals and methods align with Occupy Eugene’s principles. Last night’s action was a symbolic expression of protest on the part of the women involved.
“We were individuals engaged in an independent action with open minds and a shared purpose. This action was not discussed with nor consensed upon by Occupy Eugene,” said one participant in last night's protest action.
Individual participants of Occupy Eugene may either agree or disagree with the content or message of the demonstrations that have occurred at George Poling’s residence. Demonstrating at the residence of a public official is a longstanding tradition in this country and such demonstrations are a time-honored and essential exercise of our constitutional rights.
As a community, we are actively and currently engaged in robust discussion regarding the issues presented before us after these actions. We hope this Occupy Eugene Action can further the discussion centered on the issues of homelessness, community building, and freedom to protest.
This press release is from the Communications Committee of Occupy Eugene that has been empowered to speak on behalf of the larger Occupy Eugene body.
