Tensions run high in forest

Tensions run high in forest

Forest Service abandons checkpoint after incident with Rainbow group

By Matt Stensland

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

vuk pig lawz.

 

An vuk da envirnmnt 2?

 

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

They are there for our protection.

 

Attack uv duh Hippyz

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

 

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,,

 

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.

 

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

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

Rightwing establishment coming down on society's rejects.


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