Camp Quixote update

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Camp Quixote update

Submitted by Rick on Thu, 02/08/2007 - 11:29pm.

[via omjp]

Camp Quixote Update
Two residents of Camp Quixote were arrested earlier today (Carol Harmon and, I believe, Jean D.). The word is that Carol is being booked and processed and her arraignment will be held tomorrow. Both were picked up purely for political reasons. Carol had an old warrant and the police knew her well but decided not to to bother her until today. Carol has been in the news and was very outspoken at the recent city council meeting. Updates will be given on the status of both Carol and Jean.
Four Olympia police officers stopped by Camp Quixote midday today and passed out notices saying that what the residents of Camp Quixote are doing is illegal. People were warned that they may be arrested and their possessions confiscated if they disobey police orders.
Although it is not certain right now, it is very likely that the police will attempt to break the camp sometime today. A city official spoke with a PPU spokesperson last night and told him they have 24 hours to find a new location. That gives Camp Quixote residents until 6pm tonight.
Your presence and continued solidarity is needed.

Rick's blog
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I assume she knew she had a

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Thu, 02/08/2007 - 5:05pm.

I assume she knew she had a warrant out so being conspicuous in public wasn't a bright idea. I'm not trying to be difficult here, but if Carol's warrant was valid then really it doesn't matter if she was picked up today or when it was first issued.

In fact everyone, homeless and homed, needs to be able to accept consequences of their actions. If this is something that Carol didn't do and/or something that under normal circumstances could be talked down to something lesser then all the power to her. But if there are other residents of Quixote who have warrants they may do well to either face them voluntarilly or disappear.

I agree that it's most likely a bullying tactic from the city and the police who follow orders. Still, having the warrant was an enabler for the opposition.

right on all counts

Submitted by Mike on Fri, 02/09/2007 - 6:52pm.

right on all counts

at the Timberland today

Submitted by chad360 on Thu, 02/08/2007 - 6:42pm.

Hiya All, after the ENA meeting, I'm coming down with my laptop & camera--

I saw a guy get busted for sitting on the street sidewalk outside the library (he was being cool, not lame)...I wonder if he was sitting on the sidewalk in front of the bldg if he would have attracted the attention from the OP officer?

bike cop stopped, and "did him" right there (ticket or warning?!)

I AM SO PISSED-OFF that the City is doing this!

RESCIND the dumb law! The citizens should DEMAND that the City stop this! Oly is gonna get sued and it will just add up to more useless costs--

I thought the ordinance only

Submitted by Mary Baker Eddy on Thu, 02/08/2007 - 8:03pm.

I thought the ordinance only forbade it within six feet. The sidewalks are further than that at the library. What gives?

Do you know who he was?

Submitted by jlw on Thu, 02/08/2007 - 10:57pm.

This is the first person I have heard of being cited under the new ordinance. Was he obviously homeless?

the library

Submitted by agathafrye on Thu, 02/08/2007 - 11:58pm.

I'm generally a lurker/reader on this site, but I have to speak to the library incident as someone who works there. If you saw the man getting "busted" sometime before noon on Thursday, I believe the gentleman in question was being issued a trespass for something very inappropriate and disrespectful that he did while at the library. Please know that I understand and share your concern for the current downtown climate. However, passions are running very high these days, and I think we all need to be careful not to spread misinformation before we hear the whole story. Thanks for hearing me out.

Thanks for adding that context.

Submitted by Rick on Fri, 02/09/2007 - 12:42am.

We're smarter together than alone.

When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion. -C.P. Snow

Thank you for the clarification!

Submitted by chad360 on Fri, 02/09/2007 - 12:48am.

Yeah, I was watching thru the window-- I could not get any info from the bike cop, so thanks for the truth. Of comment, the amount of "icky" stuff that happens at the Library is of real concern. --and is seems like so many deranged folks just plop down and start talking to whoever is around, all "not nice" and in your face--

I found out last night that

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Fri, 02/09/2007 - 4:52pm.

I found out last night that Carol threatened to assault Jeff Kingsbury at the Council Meeting. If that's true then no wonder she was later picked up. Even if she had no warrant Jeff would have had the right to get a restraining order against her.

It's deceptive not to have included that bit of info in the original post. The typical Wasp population already has their negative view on the homeless. You can't make them think differently if you conveniently deny the fact when the occasional person fits the stereotype. That gives them fuel to believe that the advocates are in la-la land. Even the guys on KAOS' Free and Fair were saying as much last night, if I weren't preparing for my show I'd have wanted to grab a free microphone.

Does anyone know the

Submitted by Mike on Sat, 02/10/2007 - 3:00am.

Does anyone know the particulars on this threatened assault? This threat stuff is a spectrum that can be a little tough to assess, though I think the restraining order is always an option to explore. I would hesitate to mention or discuss an alleged threat of assault unless we have more particulars. I thought the outstanding warrant was at least the pretext for arrest.

Yes, the particulars are publicly available

Submitted by jlw on Sat, 02/10/2007 - 4:23am.

I was at the City Council meeting, and I did not consider that Carol Harmon threatened Jeff Kingsbury with physical assault. To judge for yourself, you can watch the video of her statement to the council here:

http://olympia.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2. I just watched the video of Carol's testimony again (it's approximately 31 minutes into the meeting), and I think it's a stretch to consider what she said a legitimate threat to assault a man who certainly outweighs her. Essentially, she threatened to wipe his smirk off his face, then quickly said she would use legal means to do it, but she would do it.

I hope people took the time to listen to Carol

Submitted by Crenshaw Sepulveda on Fri, 02/09/2007 - 10:33pm.

I was moved by much of her testimony. What she said about housing authority vouchers is absolutely correct. Many people have waited years to get on top of the list to get housing assistance in the form of a voucher only to find out there are very few landlords that will take them. In every way the deck is stacked against those that are homeless. This new attitude that the city of Olympia seems to have taken on will only serve to do further violence to the homeless. I hope people here will realize we are seeing the true colors of our city officials. I am grateful that the Unitarians have stepped up to help the residents of the camp. I hope they realize the city will fight them tooth and nail. I suspect the Unitarians will put up a good fight. I hope that last sentence is not threatening to anyone on the council.

"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^

I agree, Crenshaw

Submitted by jlw on Sat, 02/10/2007 - 11:13am.

I, too, found her testimony moving. At the same time, I realized that it probably wasn't going to win her any admirers on the City Council. Unfortunately, a lot of people will not listen to an angry woman -- just hearing the emotion makes them shut down and pay no attention. I think her problems with the Housing Authority really show the need to protect tenants from discrimination on the basis of their source of income. There is legislation pending this session for that purpose, and I hope it passes. It's so discouraging that after waiting through the waiting list to get Section 8 vouchers (it's got THOUSANDS of people on it), people still find themselves unable to get into housing once they receive this assistance.

My ex-wife's first husband

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Sat, 02/10/2007 - 7:45pm.

My ex-wife's first husband was granted a restraining order against me because I called him a Son of a Bitch. Hardly a threat. From what I understand (and Olycop can clarify for me if he'd be so kind) tapping someone on the chest while pointing at them could be considered assault.

Just goes to show we need to be careful with what we say or do, because people know how to use the system to screw with others.

Now if only the person writing at the Daily O's forums who advocated throwing molotov cocktails at the camp would be held accoutable.

you are welcome!

Submitted by agathafrye on Fri, 02/09/2007 - 8:55am.

It's true, things like that do tend to happen when you have a place that's open to everyone, but I certainly wouldn't want to have it any other way. That being said, if you see anything sketchy going on at the library, please let someone that works there know what's going on. We always appreciate the heads up, as our goal is to keep a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

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