On Tuesday, 2/21, at the Las Cruces City Council Meeting, Parks and Rec will be asking the Council to pass a new rule that would basically make it impossible for us or anyone else to “occupy” a public space. The rule says that any “camping” has to be in conjunction with an event and is limited to 7 days. Though I haven’t been able to find out what the fee for this would be, I think we can reasonably assume that it will be much more than the $20-$25 per day we were paying for permits. This would effectively price us (and most citizens) out of carrying on an “occupation” protest.
Occupy Las Cruces’ occupation of Albert Johnson Park (in front of Branigan Library) was a huge success and we would hope and expect that future occupations would be allowed. There is no doubt that they are trying to squelch our 1st Amendment rights to free speech and peaceable assembly, and we must stop them.
I do want to remind everyone of how cooperative the City, LCPD, and Parks and Rec have been up to this point and we are extremely grateful for this. HOWEVER, this proposed rule change is a move by Parks and Rec to take away the rights they have previously respected. I have talked to the Director of Parks and Rec and he has told me that this is in direct response to a few voices who disapprove of the Occupy movement. Even though our supporters far outnumber these detractors, Parks and Rec is willing to take away our constitutional rights in order to appease a couple of loud (and probably wealthy) folks.
We have the much greater numbers, so let’s teach them what LOUD truly is. We are asking our supporters to make calls, write emails/letters, and/or attend the City Council meeting on 2/21 from 1-5 at City Hall (adjacent to Branigan Library). Obviously write or say whatever your heart and mind tells you to.
If you do want an idea of what you could include, you can write/say something like:
“The Occupy Las Cruces movement has been great for our city. They peacefully and respectfully created a space for the community to gather and have a dialogue. Though they have recently left the park to take the movement to the streets, they, and all citizens, should be able to occupy public spaces in order to peaceably assemble and demonstrate. I urge you to respect the 1st Amendment rights of the people of Las Cruces and deny the rule change proposed by Parks and Rec. that would effectively render any similar future occupation impossible.”
Please contact as many of these officials as possible in as many ways as possible (Letters and Sound Offs in the LC Sun-News are great too)
Mayor-Ken Miyagishima mayor@las-cruces.org 575-541-2067
City Councilor (District 1)-Miguel Silva miguel.silva@las-cruces.org 575-541-2066
City Councilor (District 2)-Greg Smith gsmith@las-cruces.org 575-541-2066
City Councilor (District 3)-Olga Pedroza opedroza@las-cruces.org 575-541-2066
City Councilor (District 4)-Nathan Small nsmall@las-cruces.org 575-541-2066
City Councilor (District 5)-Gill Sorg gsorg@las-cruces.org 575-541-2066
City Councilor (District 6)-Sharon Thomas sthomas@las-cruces.org 575-541-2066
City Manager-Robert Garza rgarza@las-cruces.org 575-541-2076
Parks and Rec 541-2550
Director-Mark Johnston mjohnston@las-cruces.org
Executive Administrative Assistant-Carol Conners-Lyons clyons@las-cruces.org
LC Sun-News
Letters to the Editor (300 wds or less)(Name, Address, Daytime Phone) letters@lcsun-news.com
Sound Off! (1-3 sentences) soundoff@lcsun-news.com
Please also sign our petition at:
City of Las Cruces: Protect the 1st Amendment Rights of the People of Las Cruces
or
http://signon.org/sign/please-help-occupy-las
Occupy Las Cruces thanks you all for your support. We hope to see you at the City Council meeting on Tues, 2/21. Let’s make sure they know that WE ARE THE 99%!!
In lovingkindness,
Jason
