The Official Liveblog
Follow the rallies across Oregon's 2nd Congressional District all day Monday, December 5th!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Firedoglake: Occupy CD2: Eastern Oregonians Ask “Where’s Walden?”
OPB: Police Arrest Protesters at Walden's Office
Police Arrest Protesters at Walden's Office: Mail Tribune (Medford)
Six protesters were arrested Monday evening when the Occupy Wall Street movement moved into Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Walden's Medford office for a sit-in to protest what they see as Walden's selling out of his votes to big business.
Eight protesters arrived at Walden's downtown office at about 11 a.m. and took over the office's conference room while demanding Walden hold a round of public town hall meetings to hear from constituents about how economic policies and his votes have hurt constituents in his 2nd Congressional District.
Six of the protesters insisted they would not leave until arrested, and Medford police accommodated them shortly after the building's 6 p.m. closure by escorting them out individually and free of handcuffs.
Many waved to supporters standing in the cold Middleford Alley as they were placed in a waiting van and driven to the Medford Police Department, where they were cited on a misdemeanor trespass charge, given court appearance dates and released.
"They were very civil, very polite," Medford police Lt. Greg Lemhouse said.
A simultaneous protest at Walden's Bend office led to a handful of arrests shortly after 6 p.m. as well, Walden spokesman Andrew Whelan said from Washington, D.C., where Walden was on Monday.
Whelan said they called police because the protesters could not be left alone in the office and their disruption of constituent service needed to end.
"It was pretty clear what they were aiming for," Whelan said. "At a certain point you have to wrap it up."
The so-called "Occupy Walden" effort was to showcase protesters' demand that Walden hold five well-publicized and open town-hall meetings in the next five months "so he gets real feedback from real people, not just his buddies who give him money," said Allen Hallmark, one of the arrested protesters and a former chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Party.
Rob Patridge, Walden's district director, met with the protesters and told them Walden has held a dozen town-hall meetings so far this year throughout his vast district, which includes Medford and all of Eastern Oregon.
In fact, Patridge said, Walden already has town-hall meetings set for Dec. 28 in Fossil and Rufus. Walden has visited Medford about once a month since his election 13 years ago and has planned more town-hall meetings here, Patridge said.
While Walden may have a record of town-hall meetings, protesters said their demands were a symbol of how those most affected by changing economic policies have no voice in the current Congress.
"The meetings are a symptom of the problem, but not the problem," said Herbert Rothschild, a Phoenix resident and Ashland Peace House member who was one of those arrested. "People with wealth have much better access than people who don't.
"The real issue here is not Mr. Walden's schedule," Rothschild said. "The real issue is Mr. Walden's votes. His votes are for Wall Street, not our street."
Monday, December 5, 2011
14 Arrested in Occupy CD2 Requesting People's Town Halls with Walden
Six constituents in Medford and eight constituents in Bend were arrested minutes ago for refusing to leave Rep. Walden's offices until he agreed to simply hold public town halls.
Acting in solidarity, 15 people met the Bend arrestees as they were escorted out of the office with signs and the chants, "we are the 99%" and, "where oh where is Walden?"
The Medford Six were brought to the courthouse, cited, and released. Bend constituents were cited and released outside of Walden's office.
They were cited with Criminal Trespass 2 and banned from going to Rep. Walden's offices for one year unless invited.
Update: 6:50PM
Medford was arrested ten minutes ago by five police officers. Walden has made no commitment nor comment.
17 Bend police officers are now at Walden's office for six Occupiers. Will update once more is known.
Bend Police on their way!
KTVZ notified Occupy CD2 that the police were on their way and the announcement went out over the police scanner.
Bend Update: 5:20PM
Bend & Medford Update: 4:30PM
Medford: Plainclothes detectives came to the Medford office to check out the Occupy CD2 folks. They were all smiles and left unannounced. Pizza was delivered to the Occupiers!
Bend Update: 2:45PM
Occupy CD2 stuffed Walden's Bend office with people. Walden's aides insisted that they had a meeting with homeless veterans that Occupiers were keeping them from.
Occupy CD2 tried to find out where the meeting was, but got no answers. They sent a group of veterans out to the meeting to invite the homeless veterans up to Walden's office to meet with Walden's aides. They couldn't find the meeting!
The Occupy CD2 veterans went to the Office of Veteran's Services where they were told no meeting was taking place.
They then went to the Veteran's Outreach Office. The staff had no idea about the meeting.
Veteran's Outreach called Cody, a staffer at Walden's Bend office, to inquire about this meeting. Cody himself said there was no meeting today.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
La Grande: Update 1:45PM
Furthermore, the aide said that people can ask questions at ANY public event Walden attends, citing his joint appearance with Gov. Kitzhaber upon the return of the National Guard veterans. Occupy CD2 in La Grande broke into laughter. We are expected to find Walden at a public event supporting our troops TO ASK HIM A QUESTION?
Not good enough, Walden!
Medford Update: 1:40PM
Bend Update: 1:30 p.m.
Not Good Enough
Bend
Hood River
Walden's response in Bend
Statewide Update: 11:55AM
Bend: 12 constituents are inside Walden's office waiting for Walden's staff to meet with them.
Klamath Falls, Hood River, La Grande: People are congregating to rally!
It's 12 Now! Update 2
Occupy CD2: Medford and Bend are in Walden's Offices!
Stay posted to hear what happens next!
Central Oregon Action Thread Here updates constantly!
10 people have entered cong. Walden's office in Bend to present our demand!
Today is the Day!
In two hours, people will begin rallying in Medford, Bend, La Grande, Hood River, and Klamath Falls to make this message loud and clear!
Stay tuned for liveblogging from around CD2!