Tensions run high in forest

[Ryver]

Tensions run high in forest

Forest Service abandons checkpoint after incident with Rainbow group

By Matt Stensland (http://media.steamboatpilot.com/section/author_info/64)

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

CLARK — The Rainbow Family peace gathering turned hostile Tuesday when a group of attendees began hurling rocks and sticks at law enforcement officers, U.S. Forest Service officials said.

The incident forced the officers to abandon a checkpoint they had established near the entrance to the Rainbow gathering campsite in North Routt County, Forest Service spokeswoman Diann Ritschard said. Officers had not returned to the checkpoint as of Tuesday afternoon.

The incident happened at about 11 a.m. and involved Forest Service officers who were manning the checkpoint set up to issue citations to anyone attempting to enter the gathering. Citations were being issued because Rainbow Family members had not signed a free Forest Service special-use permit, which is required for gatherings of 75 or more people.

Before the Tuesday morning incident, Forest Service officials were blocking people from entering the gathering and telling them to "turn around," Forest Service spokeswoman Denise Ottaviano said.

Officials said a group of about 100 people -- some of whom already were inside the gathering area -- participated in the incident. Other participants included people waiting outside the checkpoint who were told they could not enter the gathering, Ritschard said.

No arrests were made, and the officers left the scene because they did not want to escalate the situation, Ritschard said. No officers were injured.

"This incident will be investigated, and we're not exactly sure what course of action will be taken," Ritschard said. "The Forest Service is deciding what action to take."

In addition to Forest Service law enforcement officers, a Routt County Sheriff's Office deputy also was at the checkpoint at the time of the incident, Ritschard said.

"The Forest Service is very serious about the safety of our officers and cooperators," Ritschard said.

Also Tuesday, an incomplete special-use permit application was submitted to the Forest Service, Ritschard said. She said the application contained profanity where the applicant was supposed to write the location of the gathering. The application can't be accepted as submitted, Ritschard said.

Between 60 and 70 illegal gathering citations had been issued to Rainbow gathering attendees as of Tuesday morning. As many as 20,000 people are expected to attend the official peace gathering from July 1 to 7. About 500 people already have arrived.

Citations will be issued to people who use the closed trails or ignore other regulations, including:

■ Public nudity

■ Camping within 150 feet of any running stream or body of water

■ Placing kitchen facilities, food preparation areas, gray water pits or slit trenches within 300 feet of any running stream or body of water

■ Placing kitchen facilities, food preparation areas, gray water pits or slit trenches within 150 feet of any open road

■ Cutting any standing trees in the area described as: north of Forest Road 505, west of Forest Road 498, south of the private property in Big Red Park and east of Forest Road 500.

Also, about 15 miles of National Forest system motorized trails (numbers 1204 and 1199) near the Rainbow gathering have been closed. Ritschard said the trails were closed to keep the public away from the gathering.

"Most people would enjoy (trails) more at a place that is less congested," Ritschard said.

-- To reach Matt Stensland, call 871-4210

or e-mail mstensland@steamboatpilot.com









http://media.steamboatpilot.com/drudge/37737.html

[OnlyOne]

so wutz new, thiz muuvey playz out every time, every year, duh same way. Everyone haz a great time.

[Lodui]

I don't think something can be called a peace gathering if you just sit around, disrespect rules in place to protect the eco system, and then throw rocks at park rangers for trying to enforce them.

I hope they tear gas the idiots.

[Shambhala Peace]

While I don't agree with tear gas, they could have saved themselves the trouble by filling the paperwork out properly.

How hard could it have been?
It's saddening when people are hypocritical. Especially when it relates to peace.

[Lodui]

I don't really thing tear gas should have been used either.

But theres no reason for a "peace gathering" to meet without filling out the paperwork, show no respect for rules to protect the forest, followed by riots.

Where do you go from peace gathering to let's throw rocks at the park rangers for saying we can't throw camp right beside the river?

[OnlyOne]

Gathering uv duh people iz a first Amendment rite, the first law rite on, no one haz 2 sign sume pig paper or pass under some pig piss shit vuk idea cowed test, itz a free assembly uv free people, like in Amsterdam.

[Shambhala Peace]

I agree it's our right, but in order to continue to use that right we must respect the rights of others. We can't infringe upon then, otherwise it would be okay for others to do that with you.

It's the few that end up spoiling it for the many.

If it's a peaceful gathering, then why didn't they just fill out the paperwork and not destroy the property? Seems contridictory.

[sila]

Gathering uv duh people iz a first Amendment rite, the first law rite on, no one haz 2 sign sume pig paper or pass under some pig piss shit vuk idea cowed test, itz a free assembly uv free people, like in Amsterdam.A gathering is fine, but they must still obey the laws. You would think that laws designed to protect the environment would be more apprecitated at a rainbow gathering.

[OnlyOne]

vuk pig lawz.

[sila]

vuk pig lawz.An vuk da envirnmnt 2?

[Shambhala Peace]

It's trite/cliche, but it's true.

They are there for our protection.

[OnlyOne]

Attack uv duh Hippyz

yeh Uh need protection, especially frum Me an my type typerz.,

[hippiehillbilly]

I don't think something can be called a peace gathering if you just sit around, disrespect rules in place to protect the eco system, and then throw rocks at park rangers for trying to enforce them.

I hope they tear gas the idiots.
whos disrespecting who? an are you there??



ITS "PUBLIC LAND"!! WE PAY TAXES TO USE IT!!!

TEAR GAS THE IDIOTS THAT DISSAGREE WITH THE GOVERMENT THAT WE PAY TO SUPPORT??
YEAH,.. ok..

wow all i can say is,,


http://www.legitgov.org/graphics/republicans_sheep_030504.jpg

[Hypatia]

If you're going to live in love, you need to bring other people to your side and show them your point of view. Fill in the paperwork, how hard could it be, or have someone who isn't frassed up do it, and when you turn it in, INVITE THEM to a meal at the gathering. That way you show them what's so great about all this hippie stuff rather than:

scrmng nd rfzing 2 typ ryt az a protSt, thn thrwng rox. That's brilliant - not only do they not understand what you are saying, but you are shouting and making threatening gestures at them in order to enlighten them. Kind of British Raj, innit.

Yes, it gets frustrating, yes, you have to go through the whole introduction-to-what-I-am thing every few years all over again, but man, you have a precious chance to change the world in a positive way. Aren't there enough rectal sphincters out there changing it in hideous ways already? Let them throw their rocks, or bombs, you do not have to help them do it. Spread intense joy. Bring them to their senses.

[dd3stp233]

The sticks and stones stuff is rather juvenile but what's with having a checkpoint. A national forest belongs to the people not the government. The right to peacefully assemble is guaranteed by the constitution.

Constitutionally guaranteed rights should not require permits. Permits can be rejected. How would you feel if you had to fill out a form in order to say something (freedom of speech) or fill out a form in order to attend a church service (freedom of religion). The Bill of Rights clearly says-

Amendment I (http://amendment%20i/)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

[Lodui]

whos disrespecting who? an are you there??

ITS "PUBLIC LAND"!! WE PAY TAXES TO USE IT!!!

TEAR GAS THE IDIOTS THAT DISSAGREE WITH THE GOVERMENT THAT WE PAY TO SUPPORT??
YEAH,.. ok..

wow all i can say is,,

Yes, and you also can't go out in the highway and urinate on it.

The difference is, urinating on the street isn't bad for it, setting up a camp right beside a river can be damaging to the local ecosystem

Subversion doesn't have anything to do with holding a party and trashing the forest. Those are rules meant to protect the forest, and if people theree can't respect those rules, they shouldn't be allowed to visit.

[Lodui]

Constitutionally guaranteed rights should not require permits. Permits can be rejected. How would you feel if you had to fill out a form in order to say something (freedom of speech) or fill out a form in order to attend a church service (freedom of religion). The Bill of Rights clearly says-
.We all know what the first ammendment is, but individual districts can have laws in place that protect themselves such as having people who hold protests explain the protest and fill out paperwork saying how many people they expect.

Such as a park.

Freedom of assembly means the right to associate with any elements. While protesting is a part of that, it doesn't mean you can have a mob at any time who breaks any rules is protected by the first ammendment.

[malakala]

We all know what the first ammendment is, but individual districts can have laws in place that protect themselves such as having people who hold protests explain the protest and fill out paperwork saying how many people they expect.

Such as a park.

Freedom of assembly means the right to associate with any elements. While protesting is a part of that, it doesn't mean you can have a mob at any time who breaks any rules is protected by the first ammendment.
What "mob" broke any rules? People on this thread obviously have NO bloomin' idea what they're talking about when it comes to Rainbow Family...go over to the Rainbow threads and learn what the family has been up against since its inception. What makes a mob??? When a bunch of people gather, is it automatically a "mob"? Rainbow has no leaders, and it is not an "official" organization that you join via any paperwork or anything, so who would sign a permit anyway? So if say, a thousand people happened to show up at a park at the same time, just by coincidence, and there was nothing but a loose relationship between gatherers, would a permit be required? It's PUBLIC LAND, cared for with OUR tax $'s and WE dictate when we can be there. Fuck permits for this purpose. You can't regulate peaceable assemblies like that.

[hippiehillbilly]

Yes, and you also can't go out in the highway and urinate on it.

The difference is, urinating on the street isn't bad for it, setting up a camp right beside a river can be damaging to the local ecosystem

Subversion doesn't have anything to do with holding a party and trashing the forest. Those are rules meant to protect the forest, and if people theree can't respect those rules, they shouldn't be allowed to visit.
yer a clueless moron with all due respect,, wich from your statements is limited..


you have no clue about the family,, an yer assumptions are making you look like a naive retard.. love n light

[HighDesertHippie]

Rightwing establishment coming down on society's rejects.


Someday all forests will be privatized and we won't have this problem.

[hippiehillbilly]

Someday all forests will be privatized and we won't have this problem.
hopefully ill be dead by then,, an lodui can pay his fees an sign his waivers for a day in the woods..

[malakala]

hopefully ill be dead by then,, an lodui can pay his fees an sign his waivers for a day in the woods..



" me.

[Lodui]

What "mob" broke any rules?The mob broke the national park rules which are meant to protect the forest. A thousand people gathinering anywhere isn't good for a local place, and you don't pay to trash a public place, which is what these idiots were doing.

Especially somewhere that might be delicate, like I dunno, a park.

yer a clueless moron with all due respect,, wich from your statements is limited..


you have no clue about the family,, an yer assumptions are making you look like a naive retard.. love n lightYou're an old man who can't spell, or make a coherent argument, so you make personal attacks.

It's petty.

[Lodui]

Why don't you guys go to the coral reefs next, rent a few thousand boats, get a buncha of beer.

Yehah. Nobody owns the ocean man.

[hippiehillbilly]

once again i must ask,, have you ever been to a gathering,, from start to finish??

have you ever witnessed forest service workers an and rangers asking family to leave improvements made on the land?

have you ever read the gratitude they show us when we leave??

why do you insist on thinking you know when you dont??


http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/index.html


here read articles by people that can actually spell.. ya may learn somethin.. ;)

luv n light

[soaringeagle]

lodai we have ever since the beginning been praised left & right for outr respect & treatment of the land we gather on & in fact leave the site in as good or better condition then we arrived. in fact our own guidlines for where you can & cant camp or setup kitchens are strickter then the forresst services, who in fact ignore theyre own rules regularly, at past gatherings we've seen people cited for camping near what was called a delicate stream but was really a tiny runnoff trickle of water 3 inches wide by 1/2 inch deep..whickh the fs then rode theyre horses straight up & totaly decimated the entire stream
at other gatherings we were banned from using certain areas because of artifacts in the soil, which tthe fs had gone through & confiscated 50,000 artifacts & refused to return the to tribal hands without a congressional order
the fact is, the permit issue is about 1 thing only, we take better care of the forresst then the fs does, & they do not want us to see the areas they clearcutt or drill for oipl or sell off to tank or bomber ranges
do some research before you speak..as for the permits, they are unconstitutional, unjust laws must be broken to expose the injustace..nuff said

[hippiehillbilly]

oh hes outnumbered now,, he will never reply again..
see there is no tear gas on the internet,,an now hes surrounded by god fersaken land trashers..

i guess hell just turn tale an run ..

maybee not maybee he will wanna see??

love n light

[Lis]

I have read that you do leave the forest in better shape than when you arrived and that you do respect the land. But I bet the Routt county forest department hasn't bothered to do their research. And to a degree why should they? They are minimally paid government officials following orders. If the permit is truly un-constitutional, then it wouldn't be enforcable either, so why worry about signing it. :) Peace, Love, Everybody wins. Incedentially the local paper is writing good things about the way you leave the land as well... people are learning about you. This is a shock to a community of 10,000. You have to play a hand in teaching the locals, and the government if you plan to be successful in your voice being heard. Hippyhillbilly.

[soaringeagle]

just show him the article from the modoc press after the cali gathering they had the most right for concern for that sacred land after the fs tricked us into using 1 of the most sensative sites in the country as far as artifacts goes (then stole 50,000 of the artifacts weeks before seed camp started)
the modoc press's prais of our treatment & respect for the forresst & the extraordinary efforts we go through after every gatherig to ensure there is no sigjn we ever were there, no impact on the land at all long term & no tiny peice of microtrash left behind..if you could find anything with a magnifying glass we found it & removed it
including any fluids leaked from vehicles
we have always cared more about the areas we gather in then the fs ..theres years of documentation of that if you just care to read about it ..cant seem to find tyhe direct link to the info, hhb you know what i'm looking for right? wasa link something like rainbow in the press, & hada collection of dozens of past articlesabout cleanups aftr gatherings 1 was entitled "leave no trace behind" & i forget the rest
if anyone knows where to findem, may be good idea to repost the link here if nothing else to quiet the locals fearsthat we will leavea mess behind

off subject but a note tolocal store owners, at past gatherings & i'm sure this 1 early in seed camp usualy a few folks go tothe store owners & tell them to stock up on bulk items but usualy theyre also toldto keep track of anything stole n & we'd reimburse them after.. asfar as i know we havent had to reimburse anyone since theft did not increase by more then a couple candy bars over what was normal..& they made sooooo much money they wouldnt have cared if they had thousands in thefts (i personaly was told that after the alhegheny gathering) typicaly the local economy gets a boom equal about what they usualy bring in for 5-10 years

[soaringeagle]

lis! bring your family on down !! (make sure you dont stop at bus villiage/A-camp & go allllll the way in) A-camp near parking can make ya wanna turn around & run, but if you really wanna learn what its about come on down follow ypur heart it willlead you to where you want to be

[hippiehillbilly]

You have to play a hand in teaching the locals, and the government if you plan to be successful in your voice being heard. Hippyhillbilly.
we been inspiring the world since 1972 sister!!!:sunglasse

love n light..

[sila]

So the Rainbow Family should be exempt from laws relating to conservation because ALL of them know exactly what may harm the environment and ALL of them are environmentally friendly?? That's ridiculous. The laws are there for a reason. If you let one person do as they please then how can you expect anyone else, who may have no regard for the environment, not to do as they please?

It makes no difference what the Rainbow Family is, or isn't about.

[ihmurria]

lodai we have ever since the beginning been praised left & right for outr respect & treatment of the land we gather on & in fact leave the site in as good or better condition then we arrived. ...
and to hhb as well

I get the impression that this incident was an anomaly, not a representation of all rainbow gatherings

And I think that what Lodui was trying to get at is that the conservation laws are in place because there are a lot of dumbasses who would fuck up the land in some serious ways if they weren't in place, if they weren't at least somewhat enforceable.


That you guys don't follow them and get praised for it is your own dealio. but remember that there are plenty of other campers who don't do that, who would damage the land not improve it if they weren't subject to the laws as well

[hippiehillbilly]

to quote a brother whom i acknowledge his knowledge..

Silly arguement, since US v Kalb, et al. If you support the Constitution, you gotta support this part too:




Article 3 - The Judicial Branch



Section 1 - Judicial Powers



The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

soo umm???

[shaina]

we never sign permits because we are not an organization. we have no leaders and no members so who would decide whether we signed a permit or not. we cannot take a vote or even decide whether to do it or not. and if you have no idea what you are talking about you should refrain from making a statement that makes apsolutely no sense what so ever especially if you have never been to or experience a peaceful gathering where we have left the site nicer than it was before. peace, love and light

[hippiestead]

To these folks who are thinking that by signing a permit that the environment will be protected:

The permit has nothing to do with protecting the environment; it is to 'prove' that Rainbow has leaders when in fact Rainbow does not. Rainbow folks are far more likely to identify endangered species & sensitive areas (such as wetlands) than the FS & many Rainbows choose 'personal missions' at Gathering to protect all aspects of the environment. These folks & their missions (which can be anything from basic recycling, to marking sensitve areas, and many other things in all ranges ) will do their best to educate the uneducated. Most seasoned Rainbows are going to lean down & pick up any trash that may be on the trail, including cigarette butts and they'll do it without any law or permit that says they have to. Education & just plain caring does so much more for the environment than laws & regulations (especially when you're talking about hippies).

There's an old Rainbow joke that goes like this:
Why'd the hippie cross the road?

Cuz someone told him not to.

Why'd he come back to the other side?

Cuz someone nicely asked him to!

The Rainbow Family has tryed to work with the FS but the FS just wants their 'T's crossed and there 'I's dotted; paperwork isn't necessary; kindness & respect would work just fine, but they'd rather harrass people & pull out their guns while keeping people away from their gear (and let their horses crap in the streams, run their ATVs through the forest & play their favorite power trip games!)

[Lodui]

It is a little frighting being in here hillbilly, knowing that violent stone throwing riots may be coming any second.

And I'm sure there are lots of people who come to these meeting to show off their BA's in ecology. It doesn't matter if they start rioting.

And it doesn't matter if they don't have leaders. They all did decide to gather there, and somewhere in the gathering process, someone could have asked them to do a menial amount of paperwork that's designed for any large groups so the forest services can look out for them and the enviornement.

[willow_11]

I have only seen this one account of throwing stones (pasted over from the Denver paper.) What happened by eye witness accounts is that the family acted with honor in a tense situation. The ohm broke the blockade. You can be proud of them.

I question highly the stone account. But if it happened, sow sow and I apologize and ask that you blame us, as we failed to teach the power of non-violence to some gatherer.

I paste over my account from the Steamboat Pilot forums.

We are getting reports from eye witnesses on site: It was not a "checkpoint" as reported. It was a blockade. Family coming home were denied entrance. There were about 30-50 carloads piling up on the road outside, many of them holding kitchens. They simply pulled out their kitchens and started making food for the stranded. That keeps people calm.

On the inside of the gathering, word got around that there was a blockade and 60 or 70 folk came forward to the entrance. When the officers raised their guns at them, the gatherers did the most non-threatening thing they could do: They joined hands and started ohming. It's important for officers to see your hands in a tense situation. Ohming was important to show the officers their intention and as a prayer for help.

When the folks being blockaded on the outside saw what was happening, they too joined hands and started ohming. Suddenly, the officers were surrounded. Yes, surrounded by hippies holding hands and ohming, but surrounded. The officers broke through the line and left.

I have heard of no one throwing rocks. And none of the gatherers were injured.

Credit to the officers, the hippies, and the gods that this situation was peacefully diffused.

"There's a little crack in everything, where the Light gets in..."

[willow_11]

And thanks, family, for patiently attempting the explain the permit/constitution issue.

I gather to heal and trade memes, L. That ~is~ the party...

[HighDesertHippie]

hopefully ill be dead by then,, an lodui can pay his fees an sign his waivers for a day in the woods..
amen bro :)

[hippiestead]

It is a little frighting being in here hillbilly, knowing that violent stone throwing riots may be coming any second.

And I'm sure there are lots of people who come to these meeting to show off their BA's in ecology. It doesn't matter if they start rioting.

And it doesn't matter if they don't have leaders. They all did decide to gather there, and somewhere in the gathering process, someone could have asked them to do a menial amount of paperwork that's designed for any large groups so the forest services can look out for them and the enviornement.
You still don't get it, do you? It isn't the paperwork & its not about protecting the environment or people....it's about control.

Lodui, we were involved in a situation in MO where the LEOs were sexually harrassing a sister and the LEOs held guns to the heads of unarmed people who were speaking to them calmly & kindly (one of those people being JuJu).
Do you really expect that we folks at the hippiestead will believe that a permit is for 'our protection'?

[WanderingturnupII]

__________________
Jesus... Its like masturbation for the soul.


Mr Mountain William, don't agrue with anybody who talks about Jesus and sex in the same sentance like that. That way, you'll steer clear of John Donne ("Ravish my soul, three personed God...) and this wing nut.

[hippiehillbilly]

ahh see lodui didnt expect this thread to be moved,, so he went spewin his brain,, an unfortunatley,for him, he spewed his brain..

strange how intellectual skills have nothing to do with rational thinking or common sence..

[hippiestead]

Mr Mountain William, don't agrue with anybody who talks about Jesus and sex in the same sentance like that. That way, you'll steer clear of John Donne ("Ravish my soul, three personed God...) and this wing nut.
On the chance that any of the wingnuts haunting all the Rainbow forums are the LEO that we are looking for, we post. Agent Dan Moldinado is out there somewhere & we have a couple of questions to ask him . Neither of us has forgotten that he lied in court but on the upside; his actions that day pretty much guarenteed that V-kid will always be a Rainbow Warrior!

But yea, mixing Jesus & sex in the same sentence is rather disturbing!

[heyzeus]

like i said in the other post, i was there, there was no agro rock throwing behavior

[soaringeagle]

like i said in the other post, i was there, there was no agro rock throwing behavior
suggestion, get together with 3 or more folks who were eye witnesses to the incident & write a letter tothe editor of every paper that reported rock throwing
& demand a retraction

[SucculentFlower]

Tthe sight was picked because *IT'S UP TO BE CLEAR-CUT NEXT YEAR*, the trees are dying/dead from pine beetle infestation

The reports of throwing sticks and rocks are lies, didn't happen.

You (please excuse me if this is wrong) are so brain-washed to believe that our family would desecrate our church?

Have more faith in our family!

And since when does a stick or stone warrant finger on the trigger machine guns aimed at pregnant women and children?

If a child threw a rock at a cop, does that justify that LEO to shot him dead?

Happens all the time in ISREAL.

Make a stand for peace. stop believing the lies.

[nutznfl]

I go to gather with my friends and family and there arent 74 of us at my camp !!!
I will sign no permit..........


Ps. Cant make it to Co so see yall in Fl.




Camp Burnt Out..