We checked out the Occupy L.A. encampment this weekend and were suprised to see a rather mellow and small “one block long” group of tents. Perhaps the heyday of Occupy L.A. is behind us and/or perhaps L.A. is not quite the powderkeg of activism that Seattle, Portland, and New York are.
What is curious to me is what kind of dynamic exists between this “tent city” of protestors (with homes to go to) and the growing number of truly homeless in the same neighborhood. Is there tension brewing between the factions? OR, has being homeless in Los Angeles gotten slightly better as a result of the influx of camping protestors.
Drug Use at Occupy L.A. – “More Revolution, Less Party”
One thing Angelenos do love is their marijuana, and it has been covered in other outlets that marijuana and public drinking is rampant in the Occupy L.A. encampment.
The L.A. encampment has not grabbed many headlines, and there haven’t been any deaths reported (to date). So at least the L.A. encampment can be seen as a responsible and nonviolent protest.
The amount of hedonism has gotten the attention of organizers however. After grabbing headlines and getting negative attention, the drug use at the Occupy L.A. encampment has led to a new slogan of “More Revolution, Less Party.” This has been posted on www.OccupyLosAngeles.com and on many flyers distributed throughout the community calling for “More Revolution, Less Party” in Spanish and English.
Drug Use at Occupy Vancouver – Inevitable Opiate Overdose
The farther northwest you go, the more likely that opiate addiction will be prevalent in the various Occupy encampments. Sadly, a beautiful young girl named Ashlie Gough overdosed and died in a tent at Occupy Vancouver (heroin overdose). Ashlie gough was 23 and according to her family (and the Occupy Vancouver movement), not particularly active in the Occupy movement.
Salt Lake City – Conservative Bastion has Occupy Drug Overdose
Michael Manhard was “chronically homeless” and been convicted on drug and theft related charges. So it would seem to be a natural fit for him to join the Occupy Salt Lake encampment. sadly, he died on November 12th although all news outlets are reporting the cause to be a “combination of drug use and carbon monoxide poisoning” which is somewhat curious. Salt Lake City occupiers are distancing themselves from Michael Manhard by pointing out that he was homeless and not necessarily politically motivated.
The authorities in Salt Lake City took the opportunity to clear the encampment, using the death as an excuse. Not surprisingly, this was met with much resentment by the Occupy Salt Lake City encampment.