From the open publishing newswire: we need more housed people to come out and sleep on the sidewalks around city hall. until we have more housed folks out here showing that they are on our side and that this is in fact a WHOLE community issue, we will likely and unfortunately not be taken as seriously. pull out your sleeping bag, ground pad, tarp and sign, and set up shop with us. there's lot of friends down here who are willing to help you navigate our protest while sleeping on the street. see you there!

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Yesterday while doing Food not Bombs at protest until late, I did my best to listen to what the organizers there needed and others requested.

The big one is more people that aren't homeless. Tarps and Blankets.

Food not Bombs served on Tuesday at City hall. Weds. Food not Bombs will be held at City hall instead of outer SE. We will also be serving on Thursday. It was requested that Saturday Food not Bombs be held at City hall. We would actually like to request that all food not bombs be held at City hall. There is the looming response of a police ticketing sweep of City hall. But there are still no where near the about of beds needed for people on the streets.

From the open publishing newswire: ALL of the westside under-bridge areas now have "illegal camping" notices. People on the street are reporting that both the west and east sides are being swept, as well as downtown doorways in the middle of the night. I met three people last night who had lost their blankets and belongings to the popo in these sweeps. There are aslo scattered reports of camps and sleeping spots off in wooded areas, even out of town, being swept, so don't anyone plan on sleeping anytime soon.

The City Hall camp is 20-40 strong at any given time. All are welcome to come for a safe drug and alcohol free place to sleep for the night. So far the city governments response has been to try to hide the poor until after the tourist festival season is over.

The best way to get up to the minute info is to walk yourself down to the Camp and ask someone what's going on.

Portland Homeless Watch

From the open publishing newswire: let's make it happen! the idea is pretty simple: a network of babysitters banding together to offer free childcare to the community.

my basic vision involves a website and/or hotline that families browse/call, submit a request, and get free childcare. families can view profiles for each of the many many sitters, with info on their experience, certification, childcare style/philosophy, and other info. they choose the sitter they want, and email them directly. probably 72 hours in advance is cool.

the hotline thing is trickier, but not impossible. i have a few ideas, but we can talk about logistics later.

if anyone is interested in maybe helping get this started, in whatever capacity, email me! i'd like to form a formal collective ASAP, get the program going by autumn, and maybe even turn it into a formal 501(c)3 nonprofit if we feel like that's important.

From the open publishing newswire: On May 3rd, we will be hosting our 6th Monkeywrench Cafe, an event of excellent, low-cost food and wonderful storytelling by Earth First!ers of all generations! Come out as we keep the tradition of oral history alive! All meals are vegan, delicious and low-cost, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. This month we have more old-school Earth First!ers coming into town to regale us with tales of adventure!

Saturday, May 3rd, 7-10pm.

Monkeywrench Cafe
5529 N. Vancouver Ave
(Vancouver & Killingsworth)
Portland, OR

Come out as we keep the tradition of oral history alive! All meals are vegan, delicious and low-cost, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. This month we have more old-school Earth First!ers coming into town to regale us with tales of adventure!

From the open publishing newswire: On May 1, all 29 ports on the U.S. West Coast are to be shut down by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in protest against the U.S. war on Afghanistan and Iraq. This is a historic event of international significance: labor action against imperialist war by a major American union. The strategically placed port workers in the ILWU can bring commerce with Asia to a grinding halt, and they're about to demonstrate it. The maritime employers are already screaming, and you can bet it's got the attention of the warmongers in Washington. All labor should take up the challenge this poses: For workers strikes against the war! M

eanwhile, immigrants' rights groups are once again mobilizing on May Day. And on April 30 and May 1, the independent truckers who move cargo to and from the docks may play an important role in a shutdown. The imperialist war on Afghanistan and Iraq is also a war on immigrants, minorities, working people and democratic rights "at home." We need to defeat this attack here and abroad, in opposition to both the capitalist war parties. The "antiwar movement," whose aim has always been to pressure the Democrats, is at a dead end. What's needed is working-class action independent of the bosses. What that takes is a fundamental break from the Democratic Party and the pro-capitalist politics that infuse the labor bureaucracy.

MayDay Picnic Noon-4pm | Mayday Immigrants Rights Demo 3 - 4 pm | Mayday GUELAGUETZA! 6-10pm | Red & Black mayday celebration starting at 7pm

From the open publishing newswire: Join us May 1st after the march and rally at the Park Blocks. Free food, live music, and family fun.

THURSDAY MAY 1ST, 6 - 10 pm at the First Unitarian Church at 1011
SW 12th Ave (Just after and just a few blocks up from the main Mayday
rally and march!)

WE ARE MANY HANDS AND ONE SINGLE HEART IN THE STRUGGLE

 http://www.myspace.com/sinfronteras_olin

From the open publishing newswire: In support of workers' and immigrants' right, Portland Immigrants Rights Coalition has organized a demonstration at the South Park Blocks. There will be a puppet handling workshop at three, rally at four, and march at five.

From the open publishing newswire: The 'May Day Picnic' will be based completely on voluntary co-operation and participation, an event for exchange ideas, struggles, and activities, a potluck of sorts. There is no one group of people organizing and executing it, but collectives and individual people who take initiative to create and bring something to contribute, or spontaneously create at the event.

Food, games, music, free literature, workshops, speakers, art, and so much more - anything and everything is possible. Do what you want! Anything and everything you can imagine!

May Day Picnic
Starts at Noon til 4pm on May Day
North Park Blocks(NW 8th and Flanders)

From the open publishing newswire:
May Day celebration at the Red and Black Cafe
(Thursday 5/1/08 -- international worker's day)

We'll be closed during the day in respect for Mayday. But we'll be in from 7pm to late. It's a benefit for VOZ (spanish for voice), an immigrant workers organization based in Portland it's by donation, no one turned away for lack of funds food and beverage will be sold as normal however the cafe will be breaking it's 'edge' by serving frosty bottles of something delicious for the 1st time in our new space live music by Brenna Sahatjian of Riot Folk, Noah Andrews and more TBA come after the march to 400 SE 12th Ave., Portland OR 503-231-3899 Please come out and have some fun with us! -- the folks at the Red and Black

redandblackcafe.com

From the open publishing newswire: In a last chance to commemorate World Lab Animal Liberation Week and World Week for Animals in Labs(WWAIL), local activists took to Lake Oswego's streets, & sidewalks to deliver their message of compassion toward animals and disgust for vivisectors, to Eliot Spindel's house, a ONPRC Researcher for OHSU. Standing across the street, in silence, after a brief intro, vigil attendees held signs, cameras, and candles. The event even sparked a flame in a local neighbor to quickly go inside and make a sign, then came back out and join-in. (holding a sign that read "you suck" over at Spindel's house.)

From the open publishing newswire: 2 more days until Mayday! Mayday!

A great opportunity to see what is happening with the radical community here in Portland! Listen to music, eat good food, watch presentations by some of Portland's amazing radical and revolutionary organizations! We will be starting promptly at 7:30pm!

Please join us Sunday April 27th at 7:30pm at Liberty Hall (311 N. Ivy) for an evening of food, music, speakers and tables. We aim to promote community building, communication and solidarity within the Portland radical community. Come and enjoy tables and presentations by some of Portland's amazing radical and revolutionary organizations. Come and show support for these groups, ask questions, get involved or network. All are invited and encouraged to attend! Help us to prepare for our favorite holiday and to celebrate Portland's radical past, present and future! We will see you there!

May 1st OLIN Event at 1st Unitarian Church: MAYDAY 2008 GUELAGUETZA! | Noon on Mayday -radical anarchist picnic @ north park blocks

From the open publishing newswire: Roger Troen, a long time animal activist in the Portland area, died April 23. He will be missed.

Roger Troen put the 'active' in activist. He never gave up, he never stopped believing that we would make a difference and bring about change for the animals. His voice was always heard above everyone else at protests, no one would ever call him the 'strong, silent type'. He had something to say and he wanted to make sure he was heard. Goodbye, Roger. You gave your all to the animals who you so loved and protected.

From the open publishing newswire: The Portland Animal Defense League(Pdx-A.D.L.) & The Sea Lion Protection Collective organize a demo/rally/protest in Portland, Oregon at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office located at 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97232. The group is concerned about the proposed Killing of Sea Lions by the Government. Killing protected Sea Lions will not save the salmon. Stopping excessive fishing, removing dams, and better policies will.

April 23rd, 2008
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office
911 NE 11th Ave Portland, OR 97232

 http://www.pdxanimaldefense.org/