EUGENE, Ore. — Sunday was the first day in two months that a SLEEPS protest member allowed himself a bite to eat. During the past sixty days, Eugene resident Conrad Barney did not eat any solid foods and instead got his nutrients from drinking different types of juices. He says he did this hunger strike … Continue reading »
SLEEPS Protests Outside Vacant Home
EUGENE, Ore. — The SLEEPS strike team protested outside of an abandoned home in Eugene Saturday. The homeless rights activists pitched tents in front of the Kaufman House, a home they said should be a shelter to homeless children and their parents. The City of Eugene currently owns the home that’s been vacant for nearly … Continue reading »
SLEEPS Protesters Arrested
EUGENE, Ore. — More than a dozen protesters linked to an offshoot of the Occupy Eugene movement were cited for trespassing Monday night. Activists with SLEEPS moved back to the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza Monday morning. More than 100 people were still present when the plaza closed down at 11 p.m. Monday, leading Eugene … Continue reading »
Inside New Conestoga Huts
EUGENE, Ore. — After the city approved the new Conestoga huts as part of the St. Vincent de Paul overnight parking program, two people moved into their new places this weekend. They finally have their own little something to call home. The occupants are still getting settled in, putting their own personal touches into what … Continue reading »
SLEEPS Back at Free Speech Plaza
EUGENE, Ore. — Homeless advocacy group SLEEPS is back protesting in Free Speech Plaza. The group has been evicted from that location twice already, but activists keep coming back. On Monday they set their tents back up again. The plaza is closed from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m., so protesters say they will be interested … Continue reading »
SLEEPS Moves On Again
EUGENE, Ore. — The group of activists called SLEEPS is planning its next move after being forced out of its latest location. Members cleared out of the Federal Building Plaza for a second time Saturday night. The Government Services Administration, a division of Homeland Security, ordered the group to leave. Members left peacefully, but two … Continue reading »
SLEEPS’ Federal Courthouse Eviction
EUGENE, Ore. — SLEEPS has been on and off the steps of the old and new Federal Courthouses over the past couple of weeks to send a message about constitutional rights–specifically the 8th amendment–with regard to the right to sleep in public places. The group received word Friday night from the Government Services Administration through … Continue reading »
Protester’s 18th Day on Hunger Strike
EUGENE, Ore. — The group of protesters working to bring awareness to shelter and homelessness, called SLEEPS, is officially set up at both the old federal courthouse and the new one. One activist is taking on a sort of sub journey. Conrad Barney has been on a hunger strike for 18 days. Barney says he … Continue reading »
SLEEPS Doesn’t Sleep on Christmas
EUGENE, Ore. — Even though it was Christmas Day, about a dozen protesters in Eugene didn’t take the day off. The group of homeless activists called SLEEPS continued with their demonstrations outside the old federal courthouse Tuesday. Members of SLEEPS have been camping out there since Saturday after taking a few days off because of … Continue reading »
SLEEPS Activists File Federal Complaint
EUGENE, Ore. — In response to threats that homeless activists will be arrested if they don’t leave the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, on Wednesday they filed a federal complaint against the General Services Administration (GSA). That’s the agency that threatened to have the protesters arrested. The complaint accuses the GSA of violating the first … Continue reading »
