http://www.portlandoccupier.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Camerononthehungerstump-e1341380832958-640x478.jpg


Update on Cameron Whitten

For Immediate Release       http://www.ThePortlandAlliance.org/cameron                                                            
Contact: Cameron Whitten    media.cameron@gmail.com   503-890-5716


As the ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬ caravan in Portland parts ways, I reflect on how I've been impacted by this life changing experience.

I truly consider this my first freedom ride- joining activists of all ages and places in the fight against what we know as 'the New Jim Crow'. I was faced with a number of emotional and physical challenges along the way. It's difficult to be a concerned advocate, who shares a history of oppression with an impacted community, but still feeling like an outsider when it comes to the understanding the true depth of pain that community faces. It was breathtaking, even inspiring to collaborate with hundreds of activated and empowered organizes of colored from all walks of life, but my heart is paralyzed with hesitation and cynicism, knowing from personal experience that most of these moments won't transform into movements. While I was aware that I could be compromising my safety by going to ‪#‎Ferguson‬, it was overwhelming to realize that I came with a community of 18 other powerful individuals, and that we were all indebted to each other to ensure our mutual survival.

This trip wove together so many strong emotions. Love, drama, loss, cooperation, frustration, acceptance, doubt, and actualization. I leave completely changed by the experience, but my eye is still set on the dream of a better tomorrow. ‪#‎MikeBrown‬ and the people of Ferguson still need justice. The people of my community, and people across the world still need justice. We are all called upon by our morality and by the sacrifices of our ancestors to take action and create a society based on equality and love.

Oh, and I'm exhausted. Social movements are hard.



Honored to join Portland's #BlackLivesMatter ride to #Ferguson.

Please support your community by sharing our updates and contributing to organizations that work to end racial profiling.



.

Tensions high
at the police station.
The community gathered
cries out for justice
for Mike Brown.
#‎
HandsUpDontShoot‬

#‎
BlackLivesMatter‬

 
Cameron Whitten's photo.








 


Picture above of Cameron in plaid shirt by Mark Colman

Whitten openly expresses his disappointment with City interactions.

Visit www.facebook.com/cameron.whitten1

(PORTLAND, OR) -

CAMERON WHITTEN ANNOUNCES VICTORY IN HUNGER STRIKE
http://www.theportlandalliance.org/cameron

Posted on

Commemorating the birthday of social critic and award-winning author Aldous Huxley, Portland activist Cameron Whitten has declared a determined end date for his Hunger Strike at City Hall. The 24/7 camping demonstration was launched on June 2nd, and has been fairly reminiscent of last Fall’s Occupation of Downtown Public Squares. After 55 Days, Whitten’s weight has dropped to 159 of an initial 193.7 pounds: shedding 34.7 pounds in total.

Whitten, a former Mayoral Candidate, student, and active volunteer, said he felt the exponentially growing housing crisis was not receiving enough visibility, “There are less safe places for Portlanders to sleep, which contributes to crime, mental health issues, lower quality of living, and death.”
The statistics of homelessness in Multnomah County are staggering.

2,727 people are experiencing homelessness
1,928 are sleeping in transitional housing
35% are unsheltered families with children
46% are people of color
12% are U.S. military veterans

Total 4,655 people as identified by the Portland/Multnomah County “Point-In Time Study,” 2011

Whitten launched his campaign with three resolutions: petitioning Bureau of Development Services to waive fines levied on the property owners of lot 323, where Right 2 Dream Too shelters over 80 houseless individuals per night without governmental aid, for County Sheriff to issue a one-year moratorium on foreclosure evictions for homeowners, and for City Council to add a housing levy measure to the November 2012 General Election ballot.

Many City Officials, including the Mayor, had conversations with Whitten during the 55 Day protest. Although they acknowledged the merit of the requests, each was denied as an immediate course of action. Tensions came to a boil when Whitten, surrounded by supporters at his 30 Day rally, announced he was switching to a more dangerous water-only fast, prompting a few City Commissioners to cease communications with him, save for Commissioner Fritz, who spent time outside the campaign trail to check his health and exchange ideas. He continued to organize within the community and build public support, gaining the attention of both Mayoral Candidates, Jefferson Smith and Charlie Hales. For weeks, local media was in the air about how the end game would turn out.

Tuesday Morning, Whitten tweeted that he was returning to the liquid diet he had adopted in the first 30 days of his protest, which was retweeted by Mayor Adams and received strong approval from supporters. Both parties were nothing more than ambiguous about claims of a negotiation being hammered out.

One of his most active, and inspired supporters has been Kate Lore of First Unitarian Church, which Whitten attends. “…I am profoundly moved by all that Cameron has managed to do…As a result, he brought together a powerful coalition of government, faith, and community leaders to collaboratively address this crisis. I am so impressed by his passion for justice and his resolve to make a difference.”

Whitten notes a number of groundbreaking victories for Housing Justice have occurred over the past 55 Days:

Renewed visibility to the housing crisis, promotion of “Housing First” policy.
Located services for various houseless individuals.
July 1 Slumber Party, where over 70 housing advocates slept outside City Hall.
July 20 Rally at Terry Schrunk Park, with over 200 attendees.
Initiation of legal procedures on behalf of Right 2 Dream Too.
New Dialogue on Housing Reform, such as Steve Novick’s Eminent Domain proposal (which Whitten promoted during his Primary campaign).
Public Letter from Mayor Sam Adams, announcing an Annual Regional Housing Summit, TBA.

Over the weeks, he has been visited by hundreds of well-wishers, provided interviews and background information to a diversity of news outlets, and attended classes at Portland Community College, Cascade Campus. When asked what his favorite experience over his 8 week journey was, he wittingly responded, “Not starving to death.”
Whitten states that he couldn’t have made this much progress on the Hunger Strike by himself. He gives credits and many thanks to supporters in a long list, including:
Israel Bayer, Street Roots
Amy Ruiz, Office of Mayor Sam Adams
Ibrahim Mubarak and Mark Kramer, R2D2 Advocates
Mayoral Candidates Jefferson Smith and Charlie Hales,
Commissioner Amanada Fritz,
Midge Purcell, Urban League of Portland
Billy Scheibner, Co-Striker
Jobs With Justice, KBOO, KGW News, PQ Monthly, and the Portland Mercury
Kate Lore, First Unitarian Church of Portland
Jason Renauld, Mental Health Association
Jim Flanagan, Overseeing Physician
Phiamma Elias, RADIANTFLUXproductions
Gardner Mein, PCC Creative Writing Professor
And his list goes on at: http://www.cameronwhitten.com/honors-and-thanks/

Whitten is planning an open Press Conference to declare his victory, on the steps of City Hall. Thursday, July 26th at 10AM, supporters will be able to observe him scarf down his first item of solid food in the past 55 Days. He hasn’t clued anyone in on what it will be, but you can be sure it will be vegan.

For more information, visit: www.cameronwhitten.com

Support Cameron by visiting these Facebook pages:

http://www.facebook.com/events/408254559216734/

www.facebook.com/cameron.whitten1

For link on the Facebook event, visit: http://www.facebook.com/events/317651364992402/


An Interview with Cameron Whitten on the 15th day of his hunger ...

► 21:26► 21:26
vimeo.com/44183117Jun 17, 2012 - 21 min
An intimate interview with Cameron Whitten at Portland Oregon City Hall on 6/16/ 2012. ... Channels Video ...

Interview With Cameron Whitten: 27-Day Hunger Strike In Portland ...

► 15:10► 15:10
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QDOlywGy64Jul 1, 2012 - 15 min - Uploaded by mobileT503
Interview With Cameron Whitten: 27-Day Hunger Strike In Portland Oregon 6.28. 12 ... You need Adobe Flash ...

Cameron's Goals for the City of Portland

1. What will you bring to the table as mayor? I recognize that our technology, culture, and population have dramatically transformed since the title of Mayor was first invented. When it comes to civil rights advocacy, we've seen generations grow old in their cry for systemic changes that never come. I want to see the people of Portland have direct involvement in city policy, and I want that promise to be within the city charter. I want to make changes to the role of Mayor, to make it more about unifying the people of Portland, not about having unilateral authority over bureaus and city priorities. That's the only way we can ensure prosperity for the 100% in the future.

2. How might you reform our Police bureau? Being a low income, African American male, I have many specific concerns about the procedures used by the Police Bureau. I've been personally assaulted by two officers, Officers D. Scott and Officer Mawdley, while standing on a public sidewalk. I will say that many Mayors have made it their effort to reform Portland's Police, but the critical issue is that the public has not been able to set new standards for public safety. I am advocating for a public audit and review of PPB's policing strategies, and then schedule a special election to put a revised code of policing directly into the City Charter.

3. What are the five most critical issues for Portland? Universal housing. Living wage job creation. Mental health treatment and diversity training. Affordable and usable transportation services. Police Accountability/Crime Prevention programs/Public safety. And youth educational services, because I can cheat and have 6.

4. How will you make our city more open and accountable? I'm a staunch advocate for freedom of information, and there are so many things that I am willing to do. I want to establish voting records, which would enable citizens to poll on ordinance and resolution measures, so citizens can see how many times Commissioners represent them in the office. I want to implement geographic mapping for city spending, so the People can see where all of the economic attention is being directed towards. I want neighborhoods to have the ability to compel testimony from their public officials. I want to permanently staff the Charter Review Commission, so that citizens will always have the power to have collective bargaining rights.

5. Will you find a way to provide more pubic restrooms? I will. I find Portland Loos to be an essential part of our city, and a factor that keeps us ahead of other cities.

6. What can we do about the homeless population? First, we can stop treating the homeless population like second class citizens. We are all human beings, and we share this earth no matter how much money or resources the other has. My biggest concern is making sure people's basic needs are met, so they can concentrate more on being productive members of society. I am the only Mayoral candidate proposing that we use the powers of Eminent Domain to address Wall Street Bank Blight, and put people back into foreclosed homes, in a vocational stewardship program which would give people access to temporary housing if they dedicate a few hours to productive work every week. It should not take 10 years to end the homelessness crisis.

7. What can the city do about access to health care? The city should be a partner in implementing coordinated health care. Other than that, I see the city beginning discussion on adopting its own single payer healthcare system, since state politics are very slow to get with the program. I think we can our minds past thinking inside the box when it comes to municipal healthcare, because people are dying from lack of medical attention as you read this. We all have the obligation to explore the feasibility of Portland becoming a Pioneer in city health services.

8. How can we reform and repair our broken schools? Education is a human right. We need to continue to provide our children with creative and engaging exposure to positive life experiences. I am advocating for more resources going towards the SUN schools program as a very high priority.

9. What about jobs? Job creation is the best way to improve the livelihood of our community. I envision the city partnering with State Reps to develop more local industry. We have room and need for more food processing plants, for metal factories, maybe even some textile stuff. We are a region who knows about buying local. I want to see more people being able to work local. I want the city to be directly involved in creating noncompetitive working jobs, in order to provide a more solid foundation to our predominantly service-based economy.

10. How can the city respond to calls for economic justice? It is one of my priorities to respond to economic justice. I am advocating for increasing the minimum wage for workers employed by for profit institutions. I advocate for using rent control on uninhabited residences, to allow low income Portlanders the opportunity to pay a lower rent and have a flexible budget. I plan on getting as much money out of political elections as possible, so we can all share an equal voice in our elections. The class war against the workers in our society needs to end, and we can only do that by standing up when you see this injustice, and act.