EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) -- With an eviction notice served to Occupy Portland protestors on Thursday, Occupy Eugene members are speaking out, with many determined to avoid the problems that have arisen in Portland.
Occupy Portland protestors were served an eviction notice on Thursday, November 10th, 2011, after a press conference with Portland Mayor Sam Adams and the Portland Police Bureau.
Protestors are being asked to vacate the downtown parks in Portland due to health and safety issues. In the last week, paramedics have responded to two drug overdoses in the Occupy Portland camp. Police have also found evidence connecting a fire bombing with a Molotov cocktail to an Occupy Portland protestor. Several reports of assault have come from the movement as well.
Occupy Portland protestors are being asked to leave by 12:01 a.m. Sunday morning. Portland Police say they’re prepared to take action once the deadline is reached, but wouldn’t comment on the plan Thursday.
In Eugene, Occupy protestors are now in the city’s Washington Jefferson Park on 6th and 7th Avenues in the Whiteaker District.
While the protestors in Eugene say they stand in solidarity with Portland protestors and Wall Street protestors, several NewsSource 16 spoke with Thursday say it’s important to recognize they’re different than those movements as well, in that Eugene’s group has not caused any major issues.
Occupy Eugene protestors say they’ve kept issues minimal due to a strong dialogue with Eugene City Council, Eugene Police and the Eugene City Manager’s Office. Throughout each move, the groups have met to make sure the location is suitable for everyone involved.
Protestors say organization is key too. Occupy Eugene protestor Nicholas Ingram says when problems like drugs, mental health issues, and fights pop up, local volunteers and protestors have been prepared to help mitigate the issues.
“We just need to know how to control the sense like, say have people come up and put this person in a safe place for five ten minutes until they can calm down. I mean that's how it works when there is a population, there's going to be violent type acts and overdose type acts,” says Ingram.
Councilors have given Eugene’s occupiers until December 15th, 2011 in Washington-Jefferson Park. That deadline could be extended though, depending on whether or not certain guidelines are met.
Occupy Eugene protestors and Eugene Police say they’re watching the Occupy Portland protests closely to see how they could impact the local population of protestors.
