The encampment known as Occupy Olympia has been situated in Heritage Park in downtown for Olympia, Washigton, for two months. Yesterday morning, activists at the encampment received the following eviction notice:
In response, last night members of Occupy Olympia marched across the street and took over a vacant building located on 4th Avenue and Simmons Street.
Ironcally the building, which has been vacant for approximately ten years, formerly held the offices of the Thurston County Housing Authority and Washington State Department of Health.
Activists renamed the building the Rachel Corrie Community Center, in honor of Olympia resident and activist Rachel Corrie, who was killed in Rafah in 2003 by a weaponized Caterpillar bulldozer operated by the Israeli military.
Olympia police responded by sealing the area around the new community center, preventing access into or out of the building. Around 11 am Pacific time, activists exited the building after negotations with the police.
Soon after, I spoke on the phone with David Langstaff, an activist who has been organizing with Occupy Olympia. “We were hoping to create a democratic and self-organizing space that would provide much-needed resources for the community,” says Langstaff. “We chose the name Rachel Corrie Community Center because Rachel represents a legacy of social justice that resonates with the local Occupy movement. When the name was suggested, it was immediatedly agreed upon by consensus.”
More info to come. In the meantime, check out a live stream of Occupy Olympia, and visit the Occupy Olympia website.
(Photos: David Wood)
Don’t blame the cops ,… Blame the gutless politicians that send them there ,…
The police becomes part of the one -party System ( corporations, government, media, banks ets). They are expected to follow the orders, and not to ask questions “why and what for” .
So called “useful idiots”, who for a bowl of potatoes will serve the system ,who needs them ,and gladly supports them, using money of the people beaten and jailed by them.
No Evil/Power could exist without their “mercenary”/police/security/army forces. They need them, they will give them special privileges, good amount of brainwashing, proper means of “protection” ,and nice pat in a back, no matter what they do.
i love this story. thank you Phan. thank you occupy olympia!
;)
Never forget. Rachel Corrie was a true human being. Please everybody, listen to this: It seems to be Rachel as a kid, using a speech in school to highlight her concern for the rest of humanity:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX18zUp6WPY
Her speech begins at 05:05. Maybe somebody could do a transcript?!
Choosing Rachel Corrie was a brilliant move!