Misplaced Pages

#972027

58-483: The movement's initial October 6 march drew an estimated 10,000 to Pioneer Courthouse Square . The protesters later set up an encampment in the Plaza Blocks Park near Portland City Hall . The Plaza Blocks include Lownsdale Square on the north side and Chapman Square to the south, which were the focus of the encampment. On November 10, Portland mayor Sam Adams gave the protesters a deadline to clear out of

116-947: A Postmodern pit. It is intended to be a citywide park. It needs big, empty spaces. If it's empty, then [Director Park] should be full." In 2004, the square was ranked as the world's fourth-best public park by Project for Public Spaces , bested only by two squares in Venice and one in Siena , Italy. Project for Public Spaces ranked it the third best public square in North America in 2005 after New York City's Rockefeller Plaza and New Orlean's Jackson Square . The American Planning Association designated Pioneer Courthouse Square as one of 10 Great Public Spaces in 2008. 45°31′08″N 122°40′45″W  /  45.51887°N 122.6793°W  / 45.51887; -122.6793 Pearl District Too Many Requests If you report this error to

174-586: A "peaceful, effective, and orderly event where everyone is safe". The Portland Business Alliance issued a security warning and encouraged downtown businesses to use caution. According to the organizers, the protest is based on frustration with " corporate greed and a lack of government accountability ." Demonstrators met at Tom McCall Waterfront Park near the Burnside Bridge at noon and began marching along Yamhill Street to Pioneer Courthouse Square starting at 2:30 p.m. Portland Police estimated

232-401: A closed structure to prevent transients from congregating. Former governor Tom McCall , then a television commentator, was indignant: "It would be a shock ... to learn that a few power brokers have decreed that the result of the nationwide design rivalry is meaningless..." The square's construction required $ 3 million for land acquisition and $ 4.3 million for the structures and amenities,

290-416: A large enough amount that Ivancie's opposition nearly doomed the project. Martin, together with other architects and volunteers, drew attention to the delays from the opposition by painting a stylized blueprint of the proposal on the site itself. But it took the formation of "Friends of Pioneer Square", a citizens' group led by city commissioners Charles Ray Jordan and Mike Lindberg , and $ 750,000 raised by

348-454: A large silver-colored orb, was installed in August 1988. At noon each day, the following day's weather is announced with a fanfare of trumpets, flashing lights, and a spray of mist. The orb opens to reveal one of the following: Light bulbs on the side of the machine are reminiscent of a mercury thermometer and light up progressively as the temperature increases. Dozens of events are held at

406-573: A lease of an office building from a local real estate mogul Joe Weston, while also developing a more "sophisticated" and "business-like" approach centered on economic justice. General Assembly attendance plummeted during 2013, and on Dec. 11, 2013, the Occupy Portland General Assembly was formally abolished, and thereby signifying the formal end of the Occupy Portland organization. On October 25, 2014, FOOP held

464-541: A non-profit against the wishes of the general assembly, the organizations decision-making forum. Finance committee member Reid Jackson said the filing was made to prevent an infiltrator within the group from capitalizing on the money the movement was attracting. A protest in the Pearl District began the afternoon of October 29, following a march that ended in Jamison Square . Mayor Sam Adams had prohibited

522-504: A permit and to share the intended route. Organizers did neither, but did cooperate with police throughout the day of the rally. Portland mayor Sam Adams released a statement the morning of October 6 acknowledging Occupy Portland's plans for peaceful protest and warning city residents of potential "disruptions". He insisted that city representatives and the Portland Police Bureau reach out to event organizers to ensure

580-430: A person's foot, a policeman was hit by a firework , and another policeman was hit with a water bottle . Riot police eventually shut down the protest, arresting dozens. Some protesters claimed excessive force on the part of the police. The police threatened to use chemical agents and impact weapons if the protesters did not disperse. Ultimately, though, the eviction was less violent than in other cities. The police action

638-520: A picket that successfully shut the Port of Portland for the day. As of July 2012, Occupy Portland had continued to engage in organized meetings, events and actions. As of July 2015, Occupy Portland had continued to organize events and support efforts against war and supporting student debt strikers. Occupy Portland was inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, which in turn was inspired by

SECTION 10

#1732780622973

696-575: A protest in downtown Portland on February 29, 2012 to protest the activities of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). A wave of vandalism inspired by the action hit businesses in Northeast and Southeast Portland the night prior to the protest. Targets included a U.S. Bank branch and an ATM . The movement organized another downtown protest on March 13, 2012 to oppose H.R. 347. The resolution, passed by

754-498: A speech at Terry Schrunk Plaza . Schrunk Plaza is federally-owned property located next to Chapman and Lownsdale squares, Occupy Portland's main campsites. Ten protesters were arrested for camping at Terry Schrunk Plaza due to a city order prohibiting protesters from expanding their campsites to other city parks. In documents obtained by Judicial Watch it was revealed that someone within the Obama White House instructed

812-444: A studio there. In March 2009, KGW opened a high-definition news studio at the square, which it uses to broadcast its morning, noon and 7 p.m. newscasts. Regular broadcasts from the location began on March 17, 2009, with the 4:30 a.m. newscast. The space occupied by KGW is approximately 2,000 square feet (190 m ) in area and underground, with a small window area near the square's 6th and Yamhill corner. The square costs

870-547: A three-year anniversary panel discussion forum at the Multnomah County Central Library , considering Occupy Portland's "successes, mistakes, fond memories and lessons learned." Pioneer Courthouse Square Pioneer Courthouse Square , also known as Portland's living room , is a public space occupying a full 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m ) city block in the center of downtown Portland , Oregon , United States . Opened in 1984,

928-764: A willingness to keep the march and rally peaceful and under control. They succeeded and no arrests were made. On October 7, the protesters entered negotiations with city officials and Portland police to remain in Lownsdale and Chapman squares. At issue was the fact that the city had granted a permit to the Portland Marathon to assemble in Lownsdale Square on October 9. Protesters agreed to consolidate into Chapman Square, and began negotiating with city, police, and marathon officials over security requirements. On October 8, protesters reached an agreement with

986-402: A year. In 1884 investor Henry Villard came to Portland, looking for business support for a railroad hotel associated with his newly acquired Northern Pacific Railway . Philip A. Marquam contributed to the project by buying the school, clearing the site, moving the school to SW 6th and Alder, re-fitting it, and giving it back to the school district. It stood until 1910. Villard hired

1044-557: Is partially owned by Goldman Sachs, was a target of the protest. EGT, an international grains exporter owned by Bunge Limited , was also mentioned. Although the protesters claimed solidarity with International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 21 in Longview and highlighted the plight of non-unionized truckers, the protests were not endorsed by and received some criticism from local ILWU chapters and individual truckers. Occupy Portland splinter group Portland Action Lab organized

1102-507: The Arab Spring and popularized by the anti-commercial activist magazine Adbusters and the group of activist hackers Anonymous . Occupy Portland organizers began work on the rally two weeks prior. Before the march began, rally leaders gathered to share contact information for legal assistance should any arrests be made. Leaders wore arm bands designating roles such as medic, peacekeeper , etc. City officials urged protesters to obtain

1160-731: The General Services Administration (GSA) to not arrest Occupy Portland protesters who had broken the law on GSA-owned federal land; this is counter to previous denials by the Obama White House. Portland's protesters have sought amicable relations with police, city officials and others in the community. Although the protesters failed to obtain a permit for their October 6 March, or for their subsequent rally in Pioneer Courthouse Square , they avoided confrontation with police by stressing

1218-611: The site of an attempted car bombing . Mohamed Osman Mohamud, a Somali-American student, was arrested after attempting to set off what he thought was a car bomb at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. It turned out the bomb was inert and was part of an FBI sting operation . He was charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction . In October 2014, Mohamud was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison along with credit for time served since his arrest, as well as lifetime supervision upon his scheduled release in 2037. On Morrison and Yamhill streets (the north and south boundaries of

SECTION 20

#1732780622973

1276-590: The House earlier that week, placed restrictions on public gatherings on federal property and adjacent land. On December 1, 2011, a small group of evicted activists from Occupy Portland encampment set up a table on the plaza of the Portland City Hall and lit a candle, and called it 24/7 Prayer Vigil to Lift the Camping Ban , to draw attention to the city's anti-camping ordinances that were cited during

1334-513: The Occupy Portland eviction. They said that the laws, which prohibit the use of "bedding, sleeping bags, or other sleeping matter," are immoral and that they were obligated to challenge them. The demonstrators claimed that sleep was a fundamental human right; that it was essential for mental, physical and emotional health, adding that human beings spend close to a third of their lives sleeping. They argued that prohibiting sleep by making it illegal for people to protect themselves and their belongings from

1392-661: The assembly. On December 12, Occupy Portland led a picket of the Port of Portland that was part of a broader action by the Occupy movement to disrupt commercial ports on the West Coast of the United States . The picket successfully shut down Terminals 5 and 6 and prevented 200 longshoremen from reaching work for the morning shift. The Occupy movement said that SSA Marine, a marine terminal operations company whose owner, Carix,

1450-470: The camp was not met. The group also pointed to the largely nonviolent nature of the downtown protest camp throughout its existence and its ultimate removal. The city subsequently built a chain-link fence around the two squares to prevent protesters from returning to the camp site. In the evening of November 13, protesters re-formed on Main Street, one block west of the original encampment. The police broke up

1508-505: The city an estimated $ 1.2 million per year, mostly for security, cleanup, and events. One of the more recognized pieces of public art in Portland is Seward Johnson's Allow Me , commonly referred to as Umbrella Man . It is on the south side of the square, just above the amphitheater. Allow Me is a bronze statue of a man in a business suit holding an umbrella. Weather Machine , a 33-foot-tall (10 m) metal column topped with

1566-528: The community's public interest" according to its articles of incorporation, and "To provide logistical support to various civic engagement and public education efforts by individuals and groups started by, or associated with the 'Occupy Portland' movement, primarily through disseminating information and operating outreach and assembly facilities." according to its filing with the Oregon Department of Justice. In April 2013 FOOP had unsuccessfully sought

1624-451: The completion of Fox Tower , a skyscraper on the block immediately southwest of the square, caused controversy among citizens because it blocks sunlight from reaching the majority of the square during the afternoon and evening hours. In 2002, the organization controlling the square had plans to add a large ice skating rink for four months of the year, at a cost of $ 12 million. The Pioneer Square group and Project for Public Spaces thought

1682-411: The creation of a spin-off organization, 99 Unite Civic Forum, who describes its purpose as building "a vehicle for collaboration towards a common vision, drawing strengths and wisdoms of conservatives, moderates, and progressives alike...to be a voice of moderation and conscience that puts people before politics" in the "age of increasing polarization." On April 19, 2012, Friends of Occupy Portland (FOOP)

1740-548: The crowd at more than 4,000 people when the march began, increasing to 10,000 by mid-day and filling Pioneer Courthouse Square and its surrounding streets. The size of the crowd forced TriMet , the public agency that operates mass transit throughout the Portland metropolitan area, to temporarily halt operation of the Green and Yellow MAX Light Rail lines along the Portland Transit Mall . Part of Broadway street

1798-659: The eastern edge of the square in the 1970s, out of scrap salvaged from the Portland Hotel. For almost 20 years, commercial space at the square's south end was occupied by a branch of Powell's Books . Opened in September 1985, it was called Powell's Travel Store and was focused exclusively on travel-related literature and supplies. The store closed at the end of January 2005, and the space was then vacant for an extended period, until KGW-TV , Portland's NBC affiliate, began leasing it in early 2008, with plans to construct

Occupy Portland - Misplaced Pages Continue

1856-464: The elements would cause sleep deprivation ; that it is inhumane, unconstitutional, and amounts to torture . The demonstrators said that the "prayer vigil" would stay on the plaza until "bedding matter" is again legal. The vigil was staffed around the clock until July 23, 2013, when Mayor Charlie Hales ordered the removal of the vigil and associated encampments on the abutting sidewalks. The vigil continued uninterrupted for 600 days, making this one of

1914-416: The entrance to a public information center and TriMet ticket office. The center of the square is arranged like an amphitheater , with a semicircle of approximately two dozen steps serving as seats when the square is used for musical performances or other events. Pioneer Courthouse Square was a designated non-smoking area as of January 1, 2007. The bricks used to pave the square were sold to raise funds for

1972-771: The expansion of the protest into city parks beyond Chapman and Lownsdale squares; when protesters defied him, 27 of them were arrested. Protestors said that the residents of the Pearl District were members of the wealthy demographic they were protesting. Members of Portland's chapter of Veterans for Peace as well as members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union , the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters , Laborers' International Union of North America , and other local labor organizations participated in

2030-538: The firm of McKim, Mead & White and its employee William M. Whidden to design the hotel, rising six stories to an attic with elaborate dormers, in an H-shaped plan with its main gated courtyard facing the Pioneer Courthouse , the landmark 1875 federal building directly to the east. Villard's financial reverses forced him to withdraw. Local leaders re-organized the project in 1888 and contacted Widden, who came west and partnered with Ion Lewis to complete

2088-562: The job in 1890. The hotel was the center of the city's social activity for the first half of the 20th century. In 1951, the hotel was torn down and a two-story parking lot was built. An 800-car parking garage was proposed to the Portland Planning Commission in January 1969, but the commission rejected the idea, instead calling for a public plaza. In the early 1970s, a comprehensive downtown plan proposed that

2146-564: The largest gatherings in its history, when a crowd estimated at more than 12,000 attended an anti-war rally protesting American involvement in the Gulf War , packing the square and overflowing onto the surrounding streets, which police temporarily closed to traffic. In 2006, architect Laurie Olin described Pioneer Courthouse Square, stating "you really can't sit in the shade in Pioneer Square. It's not quiet. The fountain looks like

2204-443: The marathon, city and police, and several hundred protesters marched behind marathon runners on October 9. Portland Marathon officials declared the day a success, and event director Les Smith asserted that "the Occupy Portland people have been a godsend for us." On October 21, Portland Police released crime statistics (including the criminal arrests of the Occupy Portland protesters) that "showed an 81 percent spike in crime compared to

2262-444: The march. The Executive Board of Laborer's Local 483 ( LIUNA ) released a statement in support of the protest. Mayoral candidate Eileen Brady expressed her support for the demonstration, though she echoed Mayor Sam Adams' contention that protesters should abide by city ordinances and not block streets without a permit. State Representative Jefferson Smith was the only of three major contenders in Portland's 2012 mayoral race to go on

2320-463: The night of October 12, police cleared the street and made eight arrests, indicating that they would continue to keep the street open. On October 26 the organizers of Occupy Portland reported the disappearance of $ 20,000 donated to the group through a PayPal account. Following the loss of the donations, the Occupy Portland finance committee filed with the State of Oregon to incorporate the organization as

2378-609: The only active encampments in the Occupy movement that survived well into the second year. On August 16 and 17, 2013, Occupy Portland's Information Team hosted a two-day conference "Towards Year Three: Effective Mobilizing and Community Organizing in the Post-Occupy Era," at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Buckman, Portland, Oregon , with a film screening, several workshops, and plenary sessions. The conference led to

Occupy Portland - Misplaced Pages Continue

2436-493: The order for the Portland Police Bureau to clear out and dismantle the park. Roughly 70% of the campers left promptly, though the remaining 30% stayed. In the following hours, thousands of Portlanders arrived to see events unfold. some Portlanders came in support of the protesters and others came to see how the police would end the occupation. During the night, the police both advanced and pulled back twice with reports of scattered violence. A mounted police officer's horse stepped on

2494-644: The park by 12:01 AM on November 13. The order was given in response to rising crime rates and police overtime costs. It was reported in February 2012 that police overtime pay for policing Occupy Portland activities has amounted to approximately US$ 2 million. The tent city that was the physical base of Occupy Portland was dismantled by the Portland Police on November 13. However, the eponymous organization behind Occupy Portland has continued to plan acts of civil disobedience. On December 12, Occupy Portland led

2552-413: The record as opposing any attempt to remove the protest camp from downtown Portland as long as the protesters remained peaceful. "If things are getting out of hand criminally, we've got to be willing to use force. But we shouldn't be willing to use force merely for the expression of speech," said Smith on October 25. On October 31, filmmaker Michael Moore visited Occupy Portland protesters and delivered

2610-402: The rink would make the square more active in the winter months, and had funding pledged by The Oregonian and Wells Fargo Bank . There was a strong negative reaction, as admission would be charged, violating the free-speech ethos of the square and its design. As Park Block 5 was being designed, many felt the ice rink should be placed there instead. On November 26, 2010, the square was

2668-507: The sale of 50,000 inscribed bricks, to rescue the project. The square opened on April 6, 1984, with an inaugural celebration that attracted more than 10,000 people. The square is owned by the city of Portland and is a city park. By October 1988, when the square's fountain was turned over to the Portland Water Bureau , it already needed repairs. The Oregonian called it "a leaker with corroding drain lines". Repair work

2726-956: The site become dedicated public space. In 1975, Mayor Neil Goldschmidt began negotiating with local department store Meier & Frank to obtain the property for the city, and eventually convinced the store to sell the land to the city after its parking concerns were alleviated. By early 1980, a design competition was announced, seeking proposals for what was to become Pioneer Courthouse Square. Out of 162 submissions, five finalists were chosen, from firms based in New York City , Philadelphia , San Francisco / Los Angeles , Boston , and Portland. The Portland team, an interdisciplinary "group of rabble-raising architects, writers, and an artist" consisting of chief designer and architect Willard Martin, landscape architect Douglas Macy, sculptor Lee Kelly, sculptor, historian Terrence O’Donnell, graphic artist Robert Reynolds, and writer Spencer Gill, were chosen as

2784-407: The square each year, including free shows during spring and summer, sponsored by local businesses. Events held in the square are usually all-ages . In 2006, the square was the site of an all-city pillow fight, and later an all-city slumber party. Pioneer Courthouse Square is a venue for speeches, political demonstrations, rallies and vigils. By Thanksgiving, a tall Christmas tree occupies the center of

2842-405: The square is bounded by Southwest Morrison Street on the north, Southwest 6th Avenue on the east, Southwest Yamhill Street on the south, and Southwest Broadway on the west. The city has owned the block since 1856, when Portland bought land that included the site, as the location for its Central School. The district financed its construction at Sixth and Morrison by suspending school operations for

2900-422: The square's construction, and are inscribed with donors' names. However, the bricks were not laid in any discernible order, so people looking for a particular brick must spend time walking around the park, head down. This leads to collisions with others looking for their bricks, and gave the park its nickname, "Bang Heads Park". Eric Ladd, an "early pioneer of… sustainable living ," built the wrought-iron gateway on

2958-410: The square) are sheltered MAX Light Rail stops. On the north side is an artistic feature, consisting of towering classical columns which progressively topple over like those of an ancient ruin. There are outdoor chess tables on some of the toppled columns; chess players frequently congregate there during the day. A fountain, taking the form of a cascading waterfall, on the west side of the square frames

SECTION 50

#1732780622973

3016-462: The square, with a tree-lighting ceremony held each year on the Friday evening after Thanksgiving. Another Christmas event in the square is Tuba Christmas. This is a celebration featuring 200–300 tuba and euphonium players who perform a medley of holiday songs, and was first held in 1991. An annual New Year's Eve celebration is also held there. On January 12, 1991, Pioneer Courthouse Square held one of

3074-405: The two weeks before the protest started ... Police said between Oct. 6 and 20, there were 11 arrests for vandalism and 16 for disorderly conduct". In the previous two weeks only 2 arrests for each crime occurred. The figures, along with assertions of poor hygiene at the Occupy campsite, were later cited by city officials as justifications for clearing the camp. At 12:01 AM on November 13, Adams gave

3132-520: The winners by the City Council in May 1980. Their design received an "Architectural Design Citation" from Progressive Architecture magazine in 1981. Remnants of the hotel, an original archway and iron gatework, are found today on the east side of the square. Funding problems surfaced after the design was completed. Portland Mayor Frank Ivancie led a group of downtown business owners advocating

3190-562: Was closed for nearly an hour and a half. No arrests were made. With permission from Mayor Adams, hundreds of demonstrators settled in Lownsdale and Chapman squares to camp overnight. Protesters were also occupying the one-block section of SW Main Street between Lownsdale and Chapman Squares. Mayor Adams met with the protesters to ask them to clear the street to allow traffic from the Hawthorne Bridge , which exits onto Main Street, to flow freely. Most, but not all, protesters agreed; on

3248-409: Was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the State of Oregon, with "the purposes to raise and provide funds to promote the common good and general welfare of the community, educate the general public on current public-interest issues and encourage increased civic engagement, advocate viewpoints on controversial subjects, and to take direct action on these subjects when such activity is beneficial to

3306-447: Was streamed live online and received global press coverage. Soon after dawn, the police were able to sweep away and dismantle most of the tents in the encampment. A group retook the northwest corner of Chapman Square until riot police physically took over the area around noon. Though the camp was destroyed, the showdown was claimed as a victory by Occupy Portland because the police were pushed back twice and their deadline for dismantling

3364-465: Was undertaken in 1995, during which the purple tiles that had originally surfaced the fountain were replaced with granite veneer. The fountain received another overhaul in 2006, but without any change to its appearance. In 1989, a Starbucks coffeehouse opened at the northwest corner of the square, replacing a series of failed restaurants at the same location. Still in existence, this was the company's first Oregon outlet and its 40th overall. In 2001,

#972027