Many of us have been accused of trespassing at some time, and even punished by fine or imprisonment for being on someone's "private property."
..but what is "trespassing"?
Matthew 6:14
"For if ye forgive men their trespassses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."
To "trespass" (in the biblical usage) is to inflict harm on someone or some entity. If done respectfully, sleeping or camping can be done without harming the environment or other people, even if the camping spot is on land "owned" by some other individual, state agency, business, etc.
Conversely, the act of acquiring "ownership" of land from inhabitants unwilling to relinquish their inherent right to exist in place, is always violent and harmful, as exemplified by the genocidal war against indigenous populations world-wide, waged by war-profiteering and resource-extraction enterprises, with the aid of political entities such as "states" and "nations" and their militaries.
The destruction of healthy, living ecosystems in order to make a money-profit is a TRESPASS against the living planet and all life that lives here.
The destruction of goodwill between fellow human beings by means of violence and harassment is a TRESPASS against the spirit of love and unity that is the foundation of peaceful coexistence for humanity.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Home is where the Heart is
Home is where the Heart is
“HOME” means more than just a place where you spend a lot of time. A home is a place where you feel safe…
- even when you don’t have money
- even when the fuel that runs the power plants and machines is no longer delivered
- even when the grocery stores, k-marts, coffee shops and liquor stores lock their doors
The false security of modern appliances and toxic inefficient temporary houses could never provide the sanctuary of “home.”
Neither can the bank accounts that hold the reins of this crippled monetary system, that seeks to withhold the basic necessities from people who need them.
Only faith in the love in one’s heart, and a healthy “environment,” meaning a healthy planet and healthy social relations, can provide the true sanctuary of HOME.
Are we HOME yet?
“HOME” means more than just a place where you spend a lot of time. A home is a place where you feel safe…
- even when you don’t have money
- even when the fuel that runs the power plants and machines is no longer delivered
- even when the grocery stores, k-marts, coffee shops and liquor stores lock their doors
The false security of modern appliances and toxic inefficient temporary houses could never provide the sanctuary of “home.”
Neither can the bank accounts that hold the reins of this crippled monetary system, that seeks to withhold the basic necessities from people who need them.
Only faith in the love in one’s heart, and a healthy “environment,” meaning a healthy planet and healthy social relations, can provide the true sanctuary of HOME.
Are we HOME yet?
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
EYE-WITNESS ARRESTED BY ARCATA COPS
An eye-witness to the tasering incident was arrested yesterday (Tuesday MAy 24, 2005) when he went to file a complaint at the police office.
The man asserted that he was assaulted on the night of the taser incident.
Upon going to the Arcata Police Department office, was told that he could file a complaint if he waited in the office. Two cops came into the office to talk to him, but refused to fill out a complaint form. They then asked him to go into a backroom for further questioning, which the man refused to do. The man was then told that he was under arrest by Officer Sligh, and several more cops suddenly burst into the room from where they had been waiting in ambush. The man was not allowed to pass on his possessions to witnesses who were accompanying him.
The man asserted that he was assaulted on the night of the taser incident.
Upon going to the Arcata Police Department office, was told that he could file a complaint if he waited in the office. Two cops came into the office to talk to him, but refused to fill out a complaint form. They then asked him to go into a backroom for further questioning, which the man refused to do. The man was then told that he was under arrest by Officer Sligh, and several more cops suddenly burst into the room from where they had been waiting in ambush. The man was not allowed to pass on his possessions to witnesses who were accompanying him.
VICTORY IN COURT!!!
On May 12, 2005, Humboldt Co. Superior Court ruled IN FAVOR of a [formerly] homeless man charged, in 2003, with violating two Arcata ordinances, commonly used against homeless/houseless people. The ordinances which establish 'no camping' and 'no obstructing traffic' inherently discriminate against people who have no place to rest and were adopted by the city in an apparent effort to disappear nomadic and homeless folks and/or discourage the presence of such people in Arcata.
Similar anti-camping ordinances have been successfully challenged in Arcata, California (People v. Porter T0310779M 2005 and People v. Theodore Lewis Robinson T0304959M 2003); Portland, Oregon (State of Oregon v. Wickes); Santa Ana, California (the “Eichorn decision”); Miami, Florida (“Potinger v. City of Miami”); and Austin, Texas (ruling by Magistrate Jim Coronado).
Similar anti-camping ordinances have been successfully challenged in Arcata, California (People v. Porter T0310779M 2005 and People v. Theodore Lewis Robinson T0304959M 2003); Portland, Oregon (State of Oregon v. Wickes); Santa Ana, California (the “Eichorn decision”); Miami, Florida (“Potinger v. City of Miami”); and Austin, Texas (ruling by Magistrate Jim Coronado).
Monday, May 23, 2005
DECRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS IN ARCATA
The criminalization of homelessness is both
IMMORAL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Arcata’s Municipal Code contains ordinances that violate our
8th Amendement and 14th Amendment rights.
Arcata Municipal Code
TITLE X - PUBLIC PROPERTY
CHAPTER 1 - PARKS AND GROUNDS
SEC. 10004. Overnight use prohibited.(Amended by Ord. No. 1205)
Sleep is a human necessity, not a luxury or privilege. This ordinance prohibits sleeping outdoors in Arcata, thereby punishing the homeless with sleep deprivation. This violates the EIGHTH AMENDMENT to the U.S. Constitution which guarantees us freedom from “cruel and unusual punishment.”
Similar anti-camping ordinances have been successfully challenged in Portland, Oregon (State of Oregon v. Wickes); Santa Ana, California (the “Eichorn decision”); Miami, Florida (“Potinger v. City of Miami”); and Austin, Texas (ruling by Magistrate Jim Coronado).
Arcata Municipal Code
SEC. 4560. Sitting or Lying on Public Sidewalks, Obstructing Movement
(ORDINANCE NO. 1320)
The FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT to the U.S. Constitution guarantees “equal protection” to all persons “born or naturalized in the United States.” This law prohibits selective enforcement of the law against certain groups, such as the homeless.
Know Your Rights!!!
Trespassing:You cannot be given a trespassing ticket just for sitting, camping, or using a sidewalk or other public area. Trespassing tickets can only be issued for being on private property or state-owned property not open to the public. In the case of private property, you cannot be given a ticket without the property owner filing a complaint, except for properties that have a trespass agreement with the city. In either case, trespassing tickets cannot be given to anyone who hasn't been first given the opportunity to leave the area.
Park Exclusions:In public parks, you can only be excluded if you have violated a law or park rule.
—Karen GilmoreOregon Legal Aid Office
IMMORAL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Arcata’s Municipal Code contains ordinances that violate our
8th Amendement and 14th Amendment rights.
Arcata Municipal Code
TITLE X - PUBLIC PROPERTY
CHAPTER 1 - PARKS AND GROUNDS
SEC. 10004. Overnight use prohibited.(Amended by Ord. No. 1205)
Sleep is a human necessity, not a luxury or privilege. This ordinance prohibits sleeping outdoors in Arcata, thereby punishing the homeless with sleep deprivation. This violates the EIGHTH AMENDMENT to the U.S. Constitution which guarantees us freedom from “cruel and unusual punishment.”
Similar anti-camping ordinances have been successfully challenged in Portland, Oregon (State of Oregon v. Wickes); Santa Ana, California (the “Eichorn decision”); Miami, Florida (“Potinger v. City of Miami”); and Austin, Texas (ruling by Magistrate Jim Coronado).
Arcata Municipal Code
SEC. 4560. Sitting or Lying on Public Sidewalks, Obstructing Movement
(ORDINANCE NO. 1320)
The FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT to the U.S. Constitution guarantees “equal protection” to all persons “born or naturalized in the United States.” This law prohibits selective enforcement of the law against certain groups, such as the homeless.
Know Your Rights!!!
Trespassing:You cannot be given a trespassing ticket just for sitting, camping, or using a sidewalk or other public area. Trespassing tickets can only be issued for being on private property or state-owned property not open to the public. In the case of private property, you cannot be given a ticket without the property owner filing a complaint, except for properties that have a trespass agreement with the city. In either case, trespassing tickets cannot be given to anyone who hasn't been first given the opportunity to leave the area.
Park Exclusions:In public parks, you can only be excluded if you have violated a law or park rule.
—Karen GilmoreOregon Legal Aid Office
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Arcata cop tazers man on the plaza
Last night, Saturday May 21 2005, Arcata police officer Ed Cashman tazered a young man on the plaza in downtown Arcata.
Ten eye-witnesses who all observed the attack all reported the same sequence of events:
- the cop orders the man to "come here"
- the man starts to walk away, displaying NO violent or aggressive behavior
- the cop tazers the man
Ten eye-witnesses who all observed the attack all reported the same sequence of events:
- the cop orders the man to "come here"
- the man starts to walk away, displaying NO violent or aggressive behavior
- the cop tazers the man
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