Ten protestors \u2013 including Rev. John Schwiebert, Jamie Partridge, Jack Herbert, Trudy Cooper, Rev. Michael Colvin, Tim Flanagan, and Ann Huntwork — were arrested on criminal trespass charges inside the now-closed University Station post office on May 24, 2012. While peacefully holding banners which called for \u201cNo Closures, No Cuts\u201d and \u201cOccupy the Post Office\u201d, the ten \u2013 members of labor unions, faith groups, neighborhood organizations, small business owners, a disabled vet, retirees and the Occupy movement \u2013 refused to leave until postal management agreed to keep postal facilities open and full service.<\/p>\n
Over two years later, after a legal fight that went to the Oregon Supreme Court, the occupiers had hoped to get their day in court before a jury. The activists would have argued that they had tried every other means available \u2013 letter writing, phone calls, Congressional visits, rallies, marches, petitions, community hearings, City Council resolutions \u2013 but had been unable to stop the dismantling of the postal service by the Postmaster General (PMG).<\/p>\n
The protestors planned to argue that, in refusing to leave, they were attempting to stop the closure of one-half the nation\u2019s mail processing plants, the gutting of service at half the country\u2019s post offices and the delay of mail.<\/p>\n
The defendants will continue to argue that the real criminal is the PMG, who violates the Constitution (Article 1, sec. 8), Title 39 and Title 18, sec. 1701 & 1708 of the US Code by willfully obstructing & delaying the mail.<\/p>\n
Portland Communities & Postal Workers United\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 contact: Jamie Partridge<\/p>\n
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