I have been involved with Occupy Oakland since the first day @ Oscar Grant Plaza and have found myself extra busy with the workload I have given myself. Along with running a small business and participating night and day in the numerous task that it takes to keep a occupation the size of Oakland’s going. I have to admit to myself that after working in the Kitchen for the first 2 weeks that I started to get resentments. why? well I started to feel that I was volunteering in a soup kitchen and feeding not so polite homeless people 5,6,7 servings a day. then I realized that is my own stuff and my own opinion, so I moved on to other stations, joined groups and informally joined varying committees that I felt needed support at that time.
I did stay at the main camp up until the conditions deteriorated to the point that I was no longer comfortable living in and did not have the energy to constantly clean up after grown adults. so I moved to Snow Park ( Oakland Supposed Non-Conformational Space) hoping that I would find like minded persons. My first impression was that , Yes this is better. ( At least in the sense of peacefulness and quite).
Then once I started to want to participate and do MY SHARE at Snow Park, Along with working @ the Main space. I found that the persons at Snow Park ( Minus those few of us that have jobs and take personal responsibility) did not want to be part of the Occupy Oakland and did not want take personal responsibility nor be accountable to anyone or anything. I asked around , talked to other campers and quickly came to the conclusion that Snow Park does not fit the Model Society that I strive to create and be a part of.
So again, I changed my tactics from doing food, medical and supply runs to stock Snow Park. Simply because again I refuse to carry a heavy load that will again make me resentful. I stopped and then the second raid came.
Fast forward to Tuesday. (Today)
I’m at home and my work is done , so I go down to Snow Park to Check in and see what is going on.
I get there and most of the faces that I see are the Trouble Makers, Drunks, Gang members, Chronic Homeless, and basically over all degenerates that I avoided for the past month and witness causing a majority of Bad Energy, Bad PR and costing a ton of resources that I feel could have been better utilized. I did try to call a Emergency Camp Meeting, I tried to talk to the individuals to see where they were at and what ideas they had. I was made to feel that I was the bad guy because I am attempting to get some organization and participation going, then it turned into a shouting match and me walking away. Some homeless, gang member, street thug that has -In my opinion caused more problems at camp then helped and appointed himself HEAD OF SECURITY comes running over at me with a half empty beer bottle he was drinking saying ” Whats the problem”. I simply stated that I don’t recognize his appointed authority, nor need it. He continued to verbally assault me and make threats of bodily harm. By the way.
his Name is Ronald ” Rasta” Jones.
THAT IS WHEN I DECIDED THAT SNOW PARK IS A HOMELESS CAMP AND NOT WHAT I VALUE AND STAND BEHIND IN TERMS OF WHAT THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT IS ABOUT. AT LEAST, I HOPE NOT . IF IT IS, I 100% CAN UNDERSTAND WHY OAKLAND SHUT DOWN THE PLAZA AND WHY THE EVERYDAY CITIZEN WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH OCCUPY OAKLAND
I saw things that inspired me at Snow Park last week, but not this week.
I would like to know your definition of badass, Because if a Violent nature, Alcohol and Drug Problem. Coupled with the fact that he refuses to to be a civil human being that is not just a burden on society at large by his blatant criminal activity and lack of personal accountability. If one can not support themselves how the hell is he benefit by his constant needs. Ask him when was the last time he got a pay check? But I guess cause he is BADASS he gets a free ride o from WHITE GUILT and exempt from being responsible and accountable.
Again since he is Badass, I know he needs a place to live. Maybe you could bring him home to your house.
Also, I ask you to go by Snow Park this morning 11/17 and give me you opinion again.
I was out there from the 3rd to the 6th. It was a very peaceful occupy camp. It was more of a community. There were no trouble makers. I’m sure things have changed and more displaced people from the plaza have made their way to snow park. Either way you have to make the most of what you have.
p.s. I’m pretty sure I know Ron Jones, and he’s badass, so it really makes me dislike your post.
I have been visiting Snow Park since a few weeks ago; I went there a few nights ago and saw some cool people, but not the same people who were there when I was out there before. So I think most of those people moved somewhere else when the “invasion” started from the main camp and what you saw was a more chaotic version of the main camp, not a real picture of how great Snow Park was when it was really the “alternate” camp. They never wanted to confront the main camp, just to be a peaceful alternative. Many, many activists were based there, closing banks and doing the marches.