Planning Underway for Occupy Portland

A strong show of support in other cities indicates that Occupy Portland is part of a growing national movement of people who no longer feel that their government works in their best interest.

Visit: Occupy Portland

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Occupy Portland begins Thursday at noon. Organizers of the event say they will gather in solidarity with the ongoing New York City protest, Occupy Wall Street, and the growing number of cities whose people will no longer sit back watching corporate and special interests run their government.

As the day draws closer, representatives from the City of Portland and the Portland Police Bureau say they are currently in dialogue with the group, and that their goal is to allow free speech and ensure public safety.

The determined message of the group:

'We are citizens of the United States, and this country is ours. We will take it back'... might sound alarming to some, but their message is not at odds with the Portland Police or any other Americans when you think about it, in fact I suspect that many police officers fully agree that Wall Street has exploited this nation and its finances.

In New York, as we revealed in a report yesterday, groups like JPMorgan Chase own the New York City Police and direct their actions because they are being bought off:

"... an unprecedented $4.6 million to the New York City Police Foundation. The gift was the largest in the history of the foundation and will enable the New York City Police Department to strengthen security in the Big Apple." -JPMorgan Chase

Occupy Portland

On their Website, Occupy Portland writes that it is no longer enough to vote and to participate in the political system because our political system has been altered drastically from its intended and proper function.

"Currently, we are allowed to pick from a few candidates whose campaigns are funded more and more by large organizations, corporations, and special interests. The success of their campaigns depends largely on how the corporate mass media presents them. When our elected officials enter office they then pander to the small groups responsible for their election. Even good men and women cannot make real improvements that benefit the American people."

A strong show of support in other cities indicates that Occupy Portland is part of a growing national movement of people who no longer feel that their government works in their best interest.

"We will assemble on October 6th to demonstrate peaceful, substantive democracy and work for real change. Our government is divided. We, the people, are united."

Lt. Robert King and Sgt. Pete Simpson are the Public Information Officers with the Portland Police Bureau.

Their press release issued today, states: "Initial efforts are aimed at assisting the group in obtaining a permit for the event. The permit provides for a coordinated set of guidelines. The guidelines spell out the route, authorizing event participants to lawfully be in the street and it is designed to ensure the safe flow of all traffic in the downtown core. Experience has show that working with organizers on obtaining a permit makes the event more collaborative which increases the overall success of the event for everyone.

"We are committed to vigorously pursuing the goal of allowing participants to express their view which is there free speech right. Our overall objective is to take all appropriate action to help make this event happen in a way that is safe for participants and the general public alike. We look forward to continuing the dialogue with 'Occupy Portland' to ensure a safe event for everyone."