In response to a recent anti-homeless ordinance in Olympia, WA, the newly formed Poor Peoples' Union has begun a tent city encampment in downtown Olympia. Organizers wish to claim a space for the homeless within the community, to bring awareness to homeless issues, and to use the encampment as a springboard for efforts to combat the new ordinance.

On November 28, the Olympia City Council approved a new version of the downtown sidewalk ordinance, with only one member voting against. The new ordinance outlaws sitting on a downtown sidewalk within 6 feet of a building, bans "aggressive" panhandling, and requires paid permits for busking (playing music for money). The ordinance took effect today, February 1st.

In response, the Poor Peoples' Union was formed. The PPU is an organization of Street People ("Homeless") and their friends. PPU is a autonomous, democratic organization where the unhoused have the final say on matters that effect them directly.

The first action of the PPU has been today's setting up of a homeless encampment, at the intersection of State and Columbia in downtown Olympia, behind the Brotherhood Tavern. Donations of food, water, and tents have already arrived, with many poor and homeless pledging to stay on site until the city of Olympia backs off from its persecution of the city's homeless.

Today's onset of the ordinance was also met with multiple sidewalk sit-ins, organized by the Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace. However, the police did not enforce the ordinance upon any of these sit-ins, and did not engage the participants.

So far, the only response to these actions has been from one city official, who visited the tent city to tell the organizers he thought this was a "poke in the eye" after everything the city has done for the homeless. The popular response was that everything the city has done to the homeless has felt like 500 pokes in the eye.

If the city wants to maintain good relations with the poor and homeless in the future, the homeless community needs to be involved in the decision making on anything that affects them. We don't need charity. We need solidarity.

Finally, a couple recent videos of police in St. Petersburg slashing up homeless peoples' tents:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrPdZmPB36U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpxo0mfVons&NR

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WE NEED:

CAMPING EQUIPMENT.
Tents, Tarps, foldable chairs, Propane stoves, sleeping bags, blankets, warm coats, boots and rain gear, buckets, sawdust. Remember, these are people who have nothing.

LEGAL OBSERVERS
Legal trainings for the people would also be desirable.

MEDICS
Needed for the standard street medic pepper spray, blunt trauma etc, but also for the needs of a varied group with different health problems.

COUNSELORS
People with some ability helping people work through trauma.

PERSONAL FACILITIES
Portable solar showers and portable toilet facilities would be good.

SOLIDARITY
We need this to be a varied group. The presence of supporters from the activist community being in solidarity with the people will go a long way toward making this a succesful effort.

Come and support the PPU Downtown on February 1st, the day that both the encampment and the ordinance begin.

Send Camping and other Stuff to

Poor Peoples Union
C/O Bread and Roses
1009 4th Ave Olympia, WA 98506


Leave message for PPU at Bread and Roses
(360)754-4588

email contact:
poorpeoplesunion@yahoo.com

Solidarity!