I don’t have all the details, but from unofficial sources, it sounds like the Occupy Monroe Park demonstration was ‘busted’ by police last night, with at least 8 people being arrested and the camp dissolved.
Occupy Monroe Park group ‘Busted’
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Category Archives: parks
MoveOn.org Protest In Monroe Park On Tuesday
MoveOn.org, in partnership with other groups, has announced a public demonstration, scheduled for 5:30 pm on Tuesday.
From the event website:
Come join us Tuesday, March 15th in support of the Nationwide Defend the Dream event. WE MUST mobilize thousands of people again for this national day of action before the March 18 budget deadline. It is crucial the nationwide momentum keep building for this fight which was begun by the brave people in Madison, WI. It is time for all of The People to STAND UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN!!! Life, Liberty, and Freedom.
We cannot depend on the progressive fighters in Congress to do it all. They need to hear our voices and me must be Loud and Clear. It is time for “We The People” to STAND UP and FIGHT for the American Dream before it is destroyed by political extremists.
Please take an hour of your time to join us in Solidarity to save the middle class. Our future depends upon our voices being heard.
In the meantime, Occupy Monroe Park has launched a new website with their demands.
Monroe Park Occupied
In case you were wondering whats going on across from Gladding Hall in Monroe Park, there’s an anarchist action taking place called “Occupy Monroe Park”.
From Facebook event page:
In a time of mass layoffs, increasing criminalization of homelessness and immigrants, gentrification, rising tuition costs, union busting, foreclosures, legislative attacks on the reproductive autonomy of women, rampant homo- and trans- phobia, an ever increasing gap between the rich and the poor, a still-prevelant system of institutional racism, and constant police surveillance and repression, there is only one option for those who seek to maintain their dignity and their hope…… RESIST!
The capitalist system will crush us all unless we refuse to be crushed. Take back the world that is being stolen from you!
Bring camping gear and your aspirations for a better world. The occupation starts NOW.
New Fir Tree For Pleasants Park
Special thanks to Ellwood Thompsons for donating it, and thanks to the volunteers who got it into the ground before the snow.
Open The Canal – From “Access Week” On James River News Hub
Last week, fairly new community news site James River News Hub hosted “Access Week”, where it looked at various ways to make the James River more accessible and usable by the public. Here is what it said about the Kanawha Canal:
Secondly, open up the canal behind Dominion at Oregon Hill to form a circuit for paddlers from Tredegar to Pump House Park. I’ve done field research by scouting some of the land one might see along the canal. That one might be a tougher sell to CSX and would require a lot more effort for the paddlers to get about two miles up river.
Although we have not seen it yet, Oregon Hill residents have asked that the new canal bridge be high enough to accommodate boats eventually.
More Trash Left In Monroe Park
This photo is from last night around 5:30 p.m.
This is not the first time and this is not the first post on this subject.
Press Release: Local Group to Hold Benefit at Gallery 5 to help in Campaign to Keep Park Open
From Monroe Campaign press release:
Richmond, VA—On Saturday, January 22, starting at 8 p.m., the Monroe Park Campaign will be screening the film Dark Days as well as a short documentary about Monroe Park at Gallery 5. Tickets will be $3 and can be purchased at the door.
Since its inception four months ago, The Monroe Park Campaign has steadily grown; businesses, organizations and news sources are finally getting interested and involved in the fate of Richmond’s oldest park. However, like all independently-run initiatives, the Campaign has accrued its fair share of expenses. To help raise funds, they’ve decided to throw a benefit at Gallery 5. The Campaign will screen the touching film, Dark Days, as well as a documentary about Monroe Park and the forthcoming renovations that are threatening the welfare of Richmond’s homeless population.
Dark Days was made by British filmmaker, Marc Singer. The film follows a group of homeless people living in an abandoned section of the New York City underground railway system. Hailed as an “an eye-opening experience that shatters the myths of homelessness”, Dark Days is a film you will not likely soon forget. DD has received numerous film-festival nominations and awards, including: Best Documentary/Non-fiction Film at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards and the Cinematography Award and the Audience Best Documentary Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
The Monroe Park Campaign is a coalition of churches, feeding groups, radical organizations, as well as concerned citizens that have come together upon hearing about the Monroe Park Advisory Council’s plans to shut down Monroe Park during renovations. For a period of 9-18 months, the council plans on fencing off all 8 acres of the park making it inaccessible for students, homeless people currently living and socializing there, weekly feeding programs as well as anyone else who may use the park. The Campaign is working to keep at least 25-50% of the park open during the entire duration of construction and to prevent the hiring of any private security task force to police the park after renovations, especially when the master plan calls for reducing the “apparently homeless population” as one of its goals. Ultimately, the Campaign hopes to influence the type of renovations that are being planned for the park, in the hopes of making it a friendlier place for everyone.
Gallery 5 is a community-oriented, socially-motivated art gallery and performing art center in Richmond’s Historic Jackson Ward.
DATE & TIME: Saturday, January 22 • 8 – 10 p.m.
LOCATION: Gallery 5
200 W. Marshall Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Note: I have received a request that an official clarification be included in this post that states that there are known discrepancies in the information presented as “factual”. “This is important because they are soliciting money for their cause in the press release”.
I am not interested in being buried by legal ‘ese’. I am also not interested in having comments with profanity and ad hominem attacks on this post.
Belle Island Trail Work Saturday
Got a little bit of volunteer time in with M.O.R.E. this morning. They are working on a better trail for the southern side of Belle Island (be patient, its not ready for public traffic quite yet). They will be out there for a few more Saturday mornings if you would like to help.
RVANews Covers City Council on Nearby Controversies
RVANews.com features an article on recent City Council meeting. In the meeting, there was much discussion on two issues that resonate near Oregon Hill, the Monroe Park renovations and a film scheduled for the Civil War Center (Tredegar).
Excerpts:
Speaking with 5th District Councilman Marty Jewell (pictured above) after the meeting presented a different view point from the council. “Monroe park is and has always been a public park, and it should remain a public park,” said Jewell, who has been seen attending some of the charity events held every Sunday in Monroe park. He said he sympathized with those involved in helping the homeless who come to Monroe Park for food and shelter.
“If you look at the master plan wordage from [the year] 2000, the language was there that we need to ‘reduce the visibility of homeless people,’” he said. “That’s always been the intent of certain corporate types who simply don’t want to see poor people.”
No part of the plan was to be voted on that night, so no issues concerning the park or the master plan were directly addressed in the meeting.
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“If they want to show it there as historical fact, then that’s one thing, but to show this in a sponsored event and in a movie theater and get everyone to come out for it,” said Hilbert, “We need to move forward with our city.”
However, 1st District Councilman Bruce Tyler (pictured in the main image of this story) brought up the fact that it was not City Council’s job to be a censor.
“There is nothing in this film that I wanna see or have shown,” said Tyler, “But I have to sit here and say that freedom of speech is what makes our country great, and i don’t think its our right to censor freedom of speech.”
The Monroe Park issues have been previously covered on this site quite a bit.
Snowy View From Belle Island
