In June 2012, I started what eventually became a 55 day hunger strike outside of City Hall. My hope was to bring attention to Portland's terrifying housing crisis.
For those two months, I lived outside of City Hall. Just a block from where protesters rally today.
For those two months, I lived outside of City Hall. Just a block from where protesters rally today.
For those 2 mos, I was often ridiculed & snubbed by fellow Portlanders. My tactics were too extreme. My vision was too unrealistic. Nothing I did was good enough.
But in 8 years, the demands from my hunger strike become reality. Tens of thousands of Portlanders have been helped.
But in 8 years, the demands from my hunger strike become reality. Tens of thousands of Portlanders have been helped.
Some of the people who used to dismiss me, have even had a change of heart and now believe those actions were heroic.
Frankly, it makes me a little sad to see the same pattern of critiques and dismissals against protestors, 8 years later.
Frankly, it makes me a little sad to see the same pattern of critiques and dismissals against protestors, 8 years later.
It's been 59 days since the 1st protest in PDX. In those days, we've seen impossible dreams become reality. This is just the beginning of the changes we have to make.
Protests have always been raw, beautiful, messy. And they've always been pivotal to lasting political change.
Protests have always been raw, beautiful, messy. And they've always been pivotal to lasting political change.
A famous quote says, "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
I have to ask, "But why?"
Why must we ignore? Why do we have to laugh? Why do we spend so much our time fighting about our differences instead of collaborating on goals?
I have to ask, "But why?"
Why must we ignore? Why do we have to laugh? Why do we spend so much our time fighting about our differences instead of collaborating on goals?
To my dear Portland protestors, thank you.
Thank you for enduring the blows of police batons and the clouds of tear gas. Thank you for enduring the harsh judgement and sharp critiques from your fellow Portlanders. Please keep going.
Thank you for enduring the blows of police batons and the clouds of tear gas. Thank you for enduring the harsh judgement and sharp critiques from your fellow Portlanders. Please keep going.
To my dear naysayers, practice empathy.
We're all going to get a lot farther, and faster, once we realize our society is broken and in desperate need of healing.
We're all going to get a lot farther, and faster, once we realize our society is broken and in desperate need of healing.
