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Indybay Feature

Quan Banned From People's Park, Press Op Moved Across Street

by Autism Liberation Media
One year and two days after the mass arrest at the YMCA in Oakland, Mayor Jean Quan attempted to be part of a press conference on poverty issues in People's Park, Berkeley. A volunteer gardener at People's Park, a YMCA arrestee, had just returned to the Park from the Spiral Gardens (having appropriated some starters for the Park). The gardener and Quan met, resulting in a sage infused ban of the Oakland Mayor from People's Park. The press op had to be held across the street from the Park due to the ban against the mayor.
banned.jpg
Jan 28th, 2012: Oakland police arrest the gardener of People's Park - a free speech rights and autism rights advocate.
January 30th, 2013: Oakland Mayor Jean Quan banned from People's Park, Berkeley.

Notes regarding ban:

Whereas 1. Autistics have the right to protest, and whereas 2. Autistics have the right to not be afraid of the police, and whereas 3. Autism is not a crime and as such Autistic people have legal protections from unlawful detention, unlawful arrest, and unlawful seizure of property; Mayor Jean Quan was extended the opportunity to make a statement regarding Oakland police arresting an Autistic protester on Jan 28, 2012.

Whereas 1. Jean Quan refused the invitation to speak, other than to lie and say that Occupy Oakland was attempting to take over the YMCA, and whereas 2. it is common knowledge the YMCA opened the door, on their own accord and whereas 3. it is common knowledge a year later, charges had not been filed; it was deemed inappropriate for Jean Quan to participate in a press conference in People's Park.

Whereas 1. the arrestee is a volunteer gardener of People's Park (Berkeley), and whereas 2. the gardener had pulled weeds earlier in the day, and whereas 3. the gardener had just returned with starter plants; it was further deemed inappropriate for Jean Quan to participate in a press conference in People's Park.

Whereas 1. stop and frisk disproportionately targets Autistic individuals, and whereas 2. Autistic adults are 7 times more likely to be stopped by police by neuro-typical peers, and whereas 3. it is believed that approx 1/100 adults are on the Autism Spectrum, and whereas 4. the unemployment rate of Autistic adults is 90%; it was further deemed inappropriate for Jean Quan, a supporter of stop and frisk, to participate in a press conference in People's Park.

Whereas Oakland Mayor refused an invitation to speak on the issue of Jan 28th and Autism Rights, Jean Quan was banned from People's Park for the day of January 30th, 2013. The press conference was moved across the street out of the Park. After the media event, Quan walked on the city sidewalk to the Mayor's SUV, and did not reenter the Park. This ban ends 6AM Feb 1, 2013, when the Park reopens for the day, but may be reviewed further and extended if circumstances call for an extension. As well, another ban may be instituted by another person with a legitimate grievance against the Mayor.
§Press Op Moved Across Street From People's Park
by Autism Liberation Media
banned_2.jpg
Due to the ban of Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, the press op could not be held in People's Park and had to be moved across the street, as seen here.
§Clarifying Statement: Re other Arrestees from J28
by Autism Liberation Media
Nobody inside or outside the YMCA should have been kettled and arrested by Oakland PD on J28, 2012. But as the institution of the ban was an individual act of protest, the ban primarily reflects one person's arrest. However the ban is in solidarity with all who were arrested at the YMCA kettle. Others should feel free to institute their own ban against Quan in their own way, or express their grievances in some other way.
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