The Exclusion law infringes on a variety of civil liberties, including those to freedom of movement, legal representation, and equal treatment under the law. It also targets marginalized groups of individuals, such as the homeless, who rely on public spaces for resting places, bathrooms, and safety. A similar law in Portland was found to  disproportionately impact black communities.

After nearly four years, the Eugene Police Department has been unable to show that the law improves crime or public safety.

CLDC has joined with citizens, activists, and other organizations in speaking out against this ineffective, discriminatory, and unconstitutional policy.

Concerned Citizens Speak Out Against Unfair Exclusions

Protest on February 17

Concerned citizens demonstrated in Kesey Square, calling for an end to the unconstitutional policy of exclusions. Councilman George Brown, as well as members of the Civil Liberties Defense Center, American Civil Liberties Union, Community Alliance of Lane County, and Occupy Eugene were among those to speak.

A group circled the Downtown Public Safety Zone with caution tape, warning other citizens of the dangers in crossing into the area.

City Council Meeting February  21

Approximately three dozen citizens filled the City Council Chamber, expressing their deep concerns regarding the Exclusion Ordinance, and asking council members to let it expire. After hearing testimony highlighting issues of free speech, due process, homelessness, police data, and a long list of other problems, the City Council ended the meeting that extended beyond 10PM.

The City Council will decide on February 27, 2012 whether to extend the Ordinance beyond its April sunset date.

Additional Resources on the Exclusion Ordinance

CLDC Official Comments on Exclusion Zone

CLDC Talking Points

Template Letter for Citizens to Send to City Council

Background Info (A Study by UO Graduate Student)

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Showing at the Bijou Theater in Eugene, February 17-19

This film has been nominated for an Academy Award for “Documentary Feature,” and it includes interviews with Eugene locals: CLDC attorney Lauren Regan, videographer Tim Lewis, and forest defender Jim Flynn.

Special Showing Will Support CLDC!

Sunday, February 19, at 7:30 PM

Half of the profits from the show will benefit the Civil Liberties Defense Center. CLDC Executive Director Lauren Regan will be on hand to introduce the film before the 7:30 PM screening.

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Free Radical Dance Craze

You’re invited to come boogie with us at Territorial Winery (3rd and Adams) in Eugene on March 3, 2012 at 8PM. There will be DJs spinning dance music with political overtones and information about eco-prisoners. Come dressed as your favorite radical!

This event is held in conjunction with the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference at the U of O.

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ALEC 101 Teach-in and F29 General Planning Meeting

February 10th 2012 7-9pm

February 29th is the national day of action against the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). What is ALEC? How have they co-opted our democracy and aided in the corportization of America? Lauren Regan, executive director of the Civil Liberties Defense Center will discuss ALEC and its influence on social and environmental movements across America.  Following the presentation, get involved with F29 Shut Down the Corporations planning as an affinity group, march supporter, or pre day-of-action planner.

Know Your Rights Training

February 11th 2012 1-3pm

The Know Your Rights training will give you the confidence to make decisions about how to engage your actions.  Where is the line drawn between legal and potentially illegal protesting?  Armed with knowledge, activists can make informed choices regarding their interactions with government agents and can best protect their rights should they end up in handcuffs and in the legal system. The training will be facilitated by Lauren Regan, executive director from the Civil Liberties Defense Center that provides both legal observation at protests and gives people tools they need to invoke their rights. 

These events are free and open to the public!

St Francis of Assisi Catholic, 1131 Southeast Oak Street, Portland
Sponsored by Portland Action Lab, Civil Liberties Defense Center and Oregon Jericho

For more information contact join@portlandactionlab.org and visit www.portlandactionlab.org and www.shutdownthecorporations.org

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12:00 March for Justice! Leaving Portland Ave. Park.

1:00 Rally for Justice! Federal Court House, 1717 – Pacific Ave.

For Portlanders interested in carpooling, transportation will meet up outside of KBOO Station (20th SE 8th Portland) at 9:00AM. RSVP to oregon.jericho [at] gmail.com (503) 750 0523.

This event is co-sponsored by NW Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee, Oregon Jericho, NW Student Coalition, Portland Animal Defense League, PDX Books to Prisoners.

Related posts:

1. Free Bradley Manning!

Next Wednesday, Jeff Paterson of the Bradley Manning Support Network will give a presentation about the soldier who faces life in prison for providing us with the truth.

Where: First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive St, Eugene OR

When: Wednesday Feb. 1st at 7:30 pm

Thank you to Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC) and the Bradley Manning Support Network

For more information about Bradley Manning we recommend:

www.bradleymanning.org and www.couragetoresist.org

Related posts:

1. NW Regional March and Rally for Clemency for Leonard Peltier

U.S. District Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin had ruled even before the trial began that the officer had violated Joshua Schlossberg’s rights by viewing the contents of his video camera without first obtaining a warrant. This left the jury to rule only on whether the incident had been one of excessive force and whether or not the officer had acted according to the law in the overall incident.

The officer in question, Sgt. Bill Solesbee, told Schlossberg that since he was not moving on the sidewalk, his stand was blocking pedestrian traffic and since he did not have a permit was therefore illegal. A clip of their verbal interaction can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVyt4e5SNeM

Schlossberg had begun recording the interaction after he twice mentioned to the officer his intent to do so. On the third time, Solesbee noted that was already filming and moved in to seize the camera under a state law that makes recording people’s conversations secretly illegal. It was under this logic that Police Chief Pete Kerns defended his man, saying he neither violated Schlossberg’s rights and “was objectively reasonable” with the amount of force he used to subdue Schlossberg.

However, last Monday the jury unanimously ruled against the officer and awarded a total of $5,583 in damages to Schlossberg.

It was found by the jury that setting up a table at the edge of a sidewalk and handing out brochures about how an Umpqua chairman, Roseburg Forest Products President Allyn Ford, sprayed toxic herbicides that drifted onto private properties from industrial forestland his company owns, is in fact not a crime. It was also found that the “forest advocate” had his rights violated via the use of excessive force.

Despite not obtaining a clean sweep by also winning unanimity on the battery charge, Schlossberg’s attorney Lauren Regan says she is “very pleased” with the decision of the court. “I hope it draws a line as far as what is and is not legal, as far as the rights of videographers and cop watchers to film [police] in the public domain.”

In addition to the $1,500 in “noneconomic damages,” Schlossberg was also awarded $4,083 to cover the medical expenses he suffered due to the incident. “He intended to and did cause offensive contact,” Regan said.

Despite maintaining that he doesn’t think his officer “did anything wrong,” the Register Guard reports that Chief Pete Kerns has now added to his statement that “officers today are not encouraged to arrest someone under similar circumstances.” He sites the numerous court decisions unrelated to this case that have reaffirmed private citizens’ rights to videotape police while in public as the reason for his sudden change of heart.

A pdf documenting the Judge’s initial verdict on Solesbee’s violation of Schlossberg’s rights by viewing the video on his camera can be found below.

Initial Ruling

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Read more

• Bryan Denson, ”Eugene verdict clarifies legal protections for protesters who turn video cameras on police,” The Oregonian
• Jack Moran, ”Jury finds officer used excessive force in protester’s arrest,” The Register-Guard, January 24, 2012.
• Tiffany Eckert, ”Jury Finds Eugene Officer Used Excessive Force,” KLCC Public Radio, January 24, 2012.

Related posts:

1. CLDC in the News!