By Jamie Partridge
Sisters and Brothers,
Thanks to all who participated in the Save Salem’s Mail action on Wednesday. Despite a few unexpected glitches, the event came off very successfully. We can be confident that many postal workers and postal sympathizers across Salem, across Oregon and throughout the country were inspired by our decision to raise the level of struggle in the fight to save our beloved postal service. Along with the national Communities and Postal Workers United campaign for “Bold Actions to Save the Postal Service”, and the recent victory on 6-day delivery following our massive street actions (tens of thousands of demonstrators in 112 cities, all 50 states), we look forward to continued momentum and an escalation of this fightback.
Next — our first court hearing, Wednesday, May 15th, 9:30am at the Marion County Circuit Court Annex, 4000 Aumsville Hwy SE, where the arrestees intend to plead not-guilty. Join us as we explain that we had to occupy the postal facility to save it, for a greater good. We had to break a trespass law to save the people’s mail.
As you can see from the links to media coverage (below), and more that were not posted online, the Statesman Journal (the Salem daily newspaper) and Salem Weekly did in depth stories. The Eugene Register Guard, Oregonian (Oregonlive.com), Lebanon Express, Corvallis Gazette-Times and other papers as far away as San Francisco and San Antonio, picked up the story through the Associated Press and international news services like Silobreaker. Radio stations KXL and OPB picked us up as did KPTV, KATU-TV, NBC and others. Our “people’s media” stalwarts — Peter Parks, Joe Anybody, Mobile T, and Greg Zurbrugg — produced stunning video and still photos which are circulating on social media and progressive and postal websites. Special thanks to Katharine Moore of Occupy Salem for her livestreaming.
Press Coverage-Protest Salem Mail Facility Closure, 5 arrests- April 17, 2013