Rachel Carter, Salt Lake City, UT: an interview by Michael McLane, 30 November 2011

Transcript (19 pages) of an interview by Michael McLane with Rachel Carter on November 30, 2011, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

RACHEL CARTER Salt Lake City, An Interview UT by Michael McLane 30 November 2011 EVERETT L. COOLEY COLLECTION Occupy Salt Lake City Oral History Project U-3110 American West Center And Marriott Special Library Department Collection University of Utah THIS IS AN INTERVIEW WITH RACHEL CARTER ON NOVEMBER 30, 2011. THE INTERVIEWER IS MICHAEL McLANE. THIS OF THE OCCUpy SALT LAKE CITY ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, TAPE No. U-3110. MM: Alright, American West Center at the uh, talk about the archive project. RC: It's 30th, 2011. it is November University of Utah. Occupy Salt Lake movement And first of all, could you we started interviewing, really only spent one night here So, I guess that might be the Urn, I Urn, I the police chief, your name, Rachel? the Salt Lake than I was. were the one was of the tents, and I've been ... 'cause I. how, .. you the march from the a as urn, you had part of that night. that? 11 tho Urn, that morning was shortly thereafter, uh, by the know, several definitely heavily interested. Capitol I next of had my evening. participated down to Pioneer lot of interest in Chief of my friends in the Park, and I it, in the movement, in and in kind of the rationale for this movement, you history. So, I already kind down here and about you'd been arrested night of November wrong. I felt that occupation, talking start. When periodically. So, I definitely had and in American on you announced that the camp would be closed began the occupation, had been there going on fellow had died in heavily involved. march that you a thought that was had been part of the Occupy Salt Lake City please spell at the camp, but good place to a spent the night there morning that Burbank, as And I'm here with Rachel Carter to, R-A-C-H-E-L, C-A-R-T-E-R. MM: And before RC: This is Michael McLane. I'm with the finger on the pulse know, of what now was [was getting] regular updates from friends that were there more So, when I heard that people had gotten word of the closure of the camp and, know, the circumstances surrounding that decision and with my feeling that it was utterly wrong, I decided that, urn, better late than never, that I 1 was gonna spend the night 30 November 2011 Rachel Carter down there. And so I did. I did that on down from Burbank? Or there any was RC: Not until November the 11 tho In day actually when Mayor Ralph real strong occupation over display at ... urn, was just a few days before, granting of a permit to occupation that had moved an for know, asked them move a ... week and or granted them Channel 2 station. So that all good will. know, the I mean, the being one department. MM: seen And so, it any was signs, have done since the ... shocking to have me a ... election there had sort of a satellite to my one degree a you on police department permit over at the know, there actually and surprising was a lot of on police I know to most it seemed very sudden. And I think, me or any of my account of wanting to let the dust settle this. And so, with the of involvement. ofthe first interviews, I police raid going back into people that had been at really good relationship they made the decision they did. So, Urn, this is really before was police from the beginning, especially in occupation seemed to everyone I know that hadn't which of the other cities, Salt Lake had kind of distinguished itself as some where the ... some so, and then the right by the comparison with coming sidewalk in front of the Federal Reserve Bank perhaps to ... Gallivan Center You was re-elected, that day they actually of good will in their They were there you know, pitched warning? fact, Becker occupied the Pioneer Park went and granted you camp? Yeah, there had been State Street. ... Gallivan Center. MM: As part of the Fed RC: I just took did any of you have any kind of notion that this MM: Did you have any a 11th. spent the night. my tent down there and been November as one 2 of the people who was colleagues a little bit arrested, I guess, can Rachel Carter 30 November 2011 you kind of detail that the legal proceedings RC: Well, filed against me, I mean, MM: For just RC: Yeah, curfew and it I so, uh well, all kind of charged same were general. seems will be. that particular .. and a was You can I haven't been charged with ... the talk about it. arraigned yet. Charges have been are and booking was trespassing and park hearing of several have standardized the ... you know. It was, you was a lot of. know, with seems .. a of the other arrestees, charges. know, a Because we were lot of chaos, which I'll go you know, people few exceptions, people were pretty scattered over clear that the course park curfew. Urn, and They were just filed yesterday, weren't all arrested all at the of an hour that these nineteen they're giving But the case. park, more and park itself, a standard set of charges, assuming that so I'm so I haven't seen being that's what my them yet. Urn, was I believe urn, the deadline for the evacuation of the .. .it was probably quarter to more police were something which is the south side of the enough police cars that it was like six. And so, in the park, and, as on half-hour after so it 5 :30 approached, two I mean, park, or the sundown, there were, huge paddy-wagons 4th South. They pulled up probably every conceivably most of the cars 3 a park. About 5:30, large mobile command unit bus pulled up South, ? I don't know what ? at different times which would have been know, and how much you guys ... .I mean, I guess I do need to be somewhat restrained in what I say about my vacation of the you urn But I attended the initial made. So, it disturbing the peace charges ... differently, throughout the park arrests no, I or second. There time in and kind of the, more ... that the prosecutors seems a right now are trespassing ... little bit a yeah, definitely. infringement. back to in night in the fleet. .. on 4th .it seemed 30 November 2011 Rachel Carter MM: I drove past going down, uh, right as were probably fifty police the raid was and the manpower was incredible. RC: I mean, there And in fact I found out later from parking lot. think he was on 2nd South and State, he police cruiser zoomed up, these vehicles could pass huge operation. So, they line-up was a created ... to not have you and en masse. .. three or a more having there be same a And or so. because we've confrontation, more emphasis of a was on on point ... seen with a images line-up rights think, it the east side of the thing on the west side of the tents. And and then they I mean, this urn, so me was a this all a park, ... really, really great reputation in park. So, my first notice of them soon thereafter park. So, they seemed to as be pretty immediately, they were asking people ... was Salt maybe tear they were doing the from east and they were doing ifthe it rather than starting to coming tearing them down, interrogating anyone 4 know, really a surprise he had groups of officers, all sides of the but then in that their from other cities where, you and whatnot. So, it's not on was of policemen in riot gear, that west, moving towards the center. Um, you know, and searching tents And, reason a of all of caravan spectacle kind of in these other cities. Well, civil so, I that this then, it seemed evident to going in teams, starting focal so a block away, I State when all of a sudden I mean, for whatever low-key approach. So, basically, four officers down tents ... 5:30 South became was entirely sure why. So, I'm not mean, Chief Burbank has had Lake. I mean, for his that he took walking toward closed off streets for blocks around. know, it was pretty evident .1 basically 4th friend of mine who by unimpeded because, place definitely by around strategy was was a I mean, closed off 2nd South at State Street wanted to just arrive there there cars. that you so was they were around the know, basically that Rachel Carter 30 November 2011 they had three choices. arrested. Because They could leave the park, they could be cited, they anticipated that a large number of people choose to be arrested. Urn, I had been involved in liaison for the Burbank kind of a dry-run he pretty much knew ... but at the same that, of mass arrests going in what his time, his officers involving approach random. At the same I among was you know a tent ... a was peaceful, either being tom down or difficult to do dispersing police and And usually this park. And, uh, distraction would occur we we could with a what so was in over was, you tents and it the park. Mostly kind was a lot of chanting, more we of a 5 and, centrality to the wanted to establish. getting arrested. And so, the yelling whenever the police we kind of, people back you know, to circle up. for Just because us as people, they went after a And, of sort of chaos and distractions. on. of right know, particularly kind of towards the making it difficult going uh, citing or arresting were somewhat someone was several times high degree And so, because the entire crowd would be distracted would kind of bring police were very effective resisting to respond to so gave Chief disobeyers. one-by-one to and then kind of chanting and eastern end of the did the best was a gonna be with the officers. And resistant presence that was doing something. say the lot of civil group of people that tried to create and it crowd kind of kept were arrest situation. I south side. It got, you know, pretty tense. There know, when was time, there were still people all kind of peaceful presence, the So, a sort of going were people they were questioning you could be probably going to know, in many ways I think that you seemed that the along the they day of Tim DeChristopher's sentencing in July. Twenty-six people chose to be arrested. And so, I think so a mass were or So, you urn, so we I have to know, about it in such a, you 30 November 2011 Rachel Carter know, that scattered way. 1 mean, their action wasn't centralized. our kind of peaceful resistance MM: 1 know in the aftermath permanent structures. That was sort of all the over Therefore, place they were basically told that they was my 1 mean, what's kind of happened to understanding. .. .I it assume it made it so well. as could leave two And 1 noticed those have gone down. was the pantry and probably the General Assembly dome? RC: Yeah, the storage tents locked up. volunteers structures Everything was of this MM: RC: was destroyed. you donated But the you they served food out of was safely removed, to leave equipment and anything to so everything they chance because a lot a way know, valuable stuff. So, that structure was a was one that the police someone had donated. It actually hadn't It still belonged to somebody else. else 1 mean, it ... days was after the that remains allowed us dome that had been the free school. So, small, lending library. And then, that was five the pantry and food entirely empty. Urn, Occupy .I mean, all the .. ... about all of the food out, know, they didn't want equipment and, was urn Right. structure a taken out of it. It managed to get, 1 believe, just because, which, taken down. the kitchen structure that were that it wouldn't be took out the kitchen structure, were ... .. or And so, pretty surgical. There .I mean, it it was time 1 drove by, was 6 was quite 1 mean, it a large was in dome that lent; it hadn't been donated outright. that to stay. But nothing left. Urn, raid, the fellow who owned the dome there, last basically, they allowed was to leave. And the other came and everything probably four or and got it. So, currently the kitchen structure. And so, there's been all Rachel Carter 30 November 2011 discussion of what, you know some excuse ... how to handle or what to do with the dome ... or, me, the kitchen structure. MM: You said before that still in touch with Jesse Fruhwirth and you're some of the organizers. other RC: Yeah. Uh, what. MM: .. at Gallivan? Are RC: Well, of the a we're general lot of the I wasn't And, ... meeting a very place 1ibrary couple have been at the .. and at Pioneer there breakdown in was a And actually, were really occupation was we right now? I mean, I had been to focused on staying down life in the raid, I've actually a couple there, I mean, park. And, uh, so gone to several. of meetings. places, mostly the library. Urn, meetings. There's different groups were beginning to working seemed to around the Black also a get done what we want to 7 .. .1 mean, develop. know, There was, I .1 mean, it is a during the form around different Friday event. So, .. you I think there's four even group that wanted to do working group structures and process. In other bolts of how at all Park, but mostly at the library. So, yeah, nothing much group. There area of convening library now, right? General Strike organization people just kind but because I wanted to .1 mean, various week where there's Friday. working park, regular schedule physical occupation, working Black places, in various didn't go to many of those. But since the RC: Either the example, around there? Are .is there any kind of assembly at that agendas of those meetings MM: Those take a .. happening assemblies at the I mean, it's nights so, what's a .. .like, for General Strike think, a on little bit of for example, that was an ongoing a group about words, basic kind of mechanics, the nuts and get done. So, kind of. .. and there's a working 30 November 2011 Rachel Carter group .. W orId .I think there's Cafe, which is working a on 31 st group South, the occupation kitchen is there. The manager there community kitchen has offered that part of his space to be the know, so two or three occupation has progressed. So, I think, solely dedicated to giving working I think, general assemblies schedule going on. people involved. was so it's ... You every year, and occupation itself was scapegoated a forum where these we medicate. So, that. to that. other of them Like, "Oh, it's a the fact that. . in a way even shaky terms are though I feel like the well, let's get to the root either to not have the like population, some this was gonna be who had been I think that they were so an of interest to outside But I feel the area. occupation provide cause of some of to have a home they have to self­ people really reacted negatively picked issue frustrated a or was no Pioneer Park." And matter where by the inability to then, we organizing at the beginning kind .like, for example, in general assemblies 8 meeting occupation was resources why they feel then, I feel that the raid happened in the occupation causes areas fifty-some homeless deaths distraction. We shouldn't have people, I think, occupation because very active know, when it became evident that the occupation people were saying, "Well, Some a for that. And instead of letting the issues, really root you there's now know, on the gathering that just is a you conflated with the homeless occupied." the .. there's know, planning around various forcing people are for those with addiction becoming week. So could kind of talk about, problems that nights, You chance to meet and get stuff done. And know, unfortunately, there unfortunately one occupation. you evacuating the park was wrong and scapegoated. I mean, a are now once a planning, And groups for the forming kind of as groups that have been working there's various with food service. So, the One having to do of left deal with lot of homeless individuals who Rachel Carter 30 November 2011 were users were taking either intoxicated there very was a organized. meetings. the And because, altered in whatever way didn't or process over they needed I mean, ... you even you know, they have the and were users awareness to that see know, because the Occupy general assemblies they're the most organized meetings I've ever been to far as are as the process, kind of a parliamentary process. MM: The RC: consensus Yeah, the consensus when you have you a it work frustrating for know, "I'm done." longer. any structure. a or even like, well, this is being seen was .. was .. and aren't invested in that larger the really look sense, of what that process looks but, were a looking at in our some wrong, I feel like the end of the tent at the root Rove was speaking 9 a said, you I can't be involved ... system. And ofthose I say I we're looking at why not use anyway, I do feel But I disagreed with the raid, in a same ... I way forces the occupation. Urn, in various cities. For couple so so, important issues. city occupation boundaries of the occupations it lot of folks that remained .1 mean, it's still very much alive and well. And the Baltimore, Karl know, that? And so, urn, though again like to become creative and extend the you like, people who really have been know, raised even proceeding or, kind of threw up their hands and .I mean, we're you this around the country, with in just degree by the flaws physical occupation had, feel like in kind of a it's or awareness ninety-nine percent, occupation to highlight that occupation having lot of people who disenfranchised to the greatest feel like it know, they would run like machines. And I mean, "I support the movement, the bottom tiers of the like the you It's too much for me." But I think there involved who felt the And, bunch of individuals that don't know, having became ... you know, example, of weeks ago, and there and so, we've I think it were people 30 November 2011 Rachel Carter who evidently had been involved with the Occupy movement who mic-check. So because of that lack speakers, the movement kind of developed this organically or ifit had person had until everyone basically act his on existed previously something they wanted to mic-check and then tactic ofPA-system was as a people public settings say, in a And I'm used, way, you know, the tactics and motivations, wider set of settings and contexts that. the physical occupation has things about because it'll MM: So we're of the one seeing Yeah, again things that I mean . movement. .1ike . really concerns me about the speech zones what I feel like the are being brought to a ways it's gonna bring good approach. raid, and the other raids ... speech zones? the fact that municipality laws deeply concerning to one some sure end, for the cities where force that kind of more creative know, this idea of park hours and zoning allowed. That's and I think that the ended, that. .I think in and the very idea of free RC: The idea of free MM: been .. actually not know, in various kind of you philosophy and spirit of occupation, so say this group in Baltimore, used that disrupt whatever he was saying. so where if one and everyone would speak and then that person would the country. And know, loud mic-check, mic-check, mic-check about. But.. .so, I mean, this has been over tactic called everybody could hear, they would just loudspeaker by repeating. So, they, all you practice ofmic-check, but this so electricity or, a .I mean, I don't know if its sprung up around them would say listening Karl Rove to speech was ... .. or used of my out me. can trump first amendment rights, you particular places where And I'm sure many professors just recently published speech is people involved an editorial in the Kevin DeLuca, about the sort of history of this issue. And it's just. 10 free .. in the Tribune, the commentary on Rachel Carter these 30 November 2011 websites, maybe the bastion of intelligence, the People RC: Yeah. MM: flying off the were ... anybody who of. you mean, I'm not. somebody know, .. point, which occupy in its name groups. I'm sort of counter-law suits against these Or if there's, be it in Salt Lake out there fighting this entirely sure. interesting, Joe I think is who is a a very trying to You know, it's after the good point, exercise speech. know, kind of in their argument, cities .. .1 feel like a whatever ordinance though very real raid, I think he that when you have speech in a .. .1 mean, possibility. I sent this letter to a sense, this isn't just camping. urn, because it's it system key aspect This is a heard I would being featured, on you physical occupation in tent of the movement is whatever permits process a our absolutely true that the potency of the I don't the movement relies 11 see are He movement with around what's wrong with And so, I mean, I think if suits really key part of the voice or a physical occupation you have essentially silenced of people's even elsewhere are stuff. expect that that would probably feature in that argument. I ... or statutes that Cohn, who is the interim legal director for the particular movement's speech. So, movement is wondering ifthere's mayor's office and everybody the Monday after the raid. and then you shut down key element working quickly, quickly responded, Chief Burbank and the very just incredible. ... speech? I'm not but it's ACLU of Utah, he of that and you mention these some first amendment Yeah, made the .. planning is there's gotta be RC: basically, were Right. I'mjust kind trumping page comments as an excuse squelched if you use to shut that down. 30 November 2011 Rachel Carter MM: Urn, involved so or just to jump back in time began your ways a here, I'm curious how you first got support of Occupy Salt Lake and what kind of the impetus for that was? Well, like I mentioned RC: almost year and a had, I've been involved with the group Peaceful you know MM: That's the group that Tim . DeChristopher founded? Yes, Tim DeChristopher co-founded it with false bidding in 2008 waning days Peaceful during .. .in the oil and gas leases that as a Democrat and has issues. And Tim and others in Peaceful they felt was a I was you real Democrat, Craigslist ad 1 mean, I had been involved ... few of the a a ... you in party campaign. Um, so, you as others formed actually someone on in to oppose Jim kind of a environmental about. So, anyway, he sprung out of that. politics I 12 was someone Salt Lake in various so I knew a placed this So, I campaigns. lot of the and whatnot. And I was people, friends organizing that. Then, they called the candidate, it know, in the know, truly espoused environmental Fair Boundaries initiative and Wright emerged for pretty poor record politically around people that were involved before Claudia candidate some I mean, Matheson is something that they actually, really cared heavily involved in a he and Uprising wanted to challenge him with really was know, that were heavily involved with the ... urn, in the wake of his illegally being brought up early '09, ad, and the campaign for Claudia Wright for Congress became others, were a= Congressional District because, vowed, Blue Dog moderate protection few And I, urn, I first became involved with that group 2010, Tim DeChristopher placed Matheson in the that a ofthe Bush administration. And so, in Uprising. for ... RC: on Uprising was billed friends with the as it the Citizen's people that were involved Rachel Carter and so 30 November 2011 through just hearing from them what was going involved in that campaign. And then, I didn't Uprising after Claudia involved again this past January as part February. And so, a Wright when Occupy September, shortly Salt Lake after the a planning and planning for for Tim but, goals. And, common Street started. Occupy Salt Lake. urn, I became DeChristopher's trial City meetings started occurring Occupy Wall do with Peaceful in through working with Peaceful lot of the shared hearing through my Peaceful Uprising friends who organizing interested and became was June of 2010, lot ofthe individuals that I met Uprising had gotten involved just by Occupy, of the I really have much to primary in lost the on ... with at the end of So, you know, were uh I was involved in those again meetings with And so, I mean, that's kind of what began my interest in the Occupy. MM: So, is Peaceful Uprising kind of your first activism, participation in activism? Or does it go back farther than that? RC: No, like I said, I had been Washington state, and I had kind of figuring out what I .. ... was They were sending I decided to .. gonna who I was just moving back. I knew that able to of the campaign .. prairie, .I as ran a I was and days and weeks in activism. So, I small campaign. So, ran .. .I ended up campaign office in the in the middle of nowhere. And, six weeks there. And so, I had done stuff there, and I had worked couple of candidate campaigns here in Salt Lake. Urn, and like I 13 just they were trying to funnel spend nights definitely qualifies of Colorado, kind of totally in the yeah, I spent so .I moved back to Utah from .. ajob. do, and were was Utah activists into Colorado for the Obama .I mean, I think this running for the last few weeks plains '08, I .I didn't have volunteers, especially volunteers Colorado. um, in East urn, so, on a mentioned, I'd worked 30 November 2011 Rachel Carter on a Citizen's initiative for gerrymandering. counter as a new fringe more ... .. re-districting commission, But I would say .I mean, out of the mainstream but, and a I mean, I view it more active, .I mean, means more far it sound influential that context of kind of at least outside of the yeah, movement, I would say that, as independent as like fringe ... Peaceful as time goes political commission to activism that I view an 'cause I don't view it on. I would say, process, 'cause it's not Uprising was as going to become renewed movement that I think is as a and more .. an a the first to involve yeah, in political me in that type of activism. MM: Was there too, is it's such a ... one ofthe wide cross-section of the American a movement. I mean, there's the course ... are things that we were kind ones population that's that kind of get featured the kids with dreadlocks and, you news outlets. Urn, but we're people's history of activism family? RC: I mean, of any Yeah, enough, when I I absolutely But ostensibly come ... from well, my parents sent .. me more of getting the feel for family that was activist an I mean, oddly Society youth camp ... to John Birch well, libertarian, kind of Constitutionalist. .I grew up outside the two-party system for the other side of the spectrum. And I say in many respects, you abortion and gay out of a activists, but from the opposite definitely grew up on and some of the other coming kid. I mean, arch-conservative, very And so, I mean, I of political bent. I mean, I grew up was a involved in this by the media, really interested in kind and also if they're project, know, kind of the hippie stereotype that they want to put out there, particularly with Fox news conservative of interested in with this ostensibly because know, various issues like social conservatism and, rights aside, on many of these kind of issues I feel like 14 you we sure. I feel like know, kind of meet Rachel Carter on 30 November 2011 the other side. It's like we're the spectrum oftheir ilk for both, politically or what have on the other side. You know, myself and where you Iraq, for different reasons, but you know, and they had me my out. siblings up you .. to so did I. You know, Ogden know, and and sometimes it's for different know, nephew took up had us or a of the was come my parents, that from were an involved involved kind oflook at things even politically a different all I remember you me. interesting things the camp, not a was feel for the know, gentlemen who and who I've observed were there was It was I mean, I think a I was maybe family that, or ten. So, I at least in sort of bucking the know, I'm used to albeit of view. ... you people on the other side, know, actually camping down there but just kind place was. his name, and my parents urn, you MM: You just mentioned this idea of kind of meeting more and Kind of departing from the status quo to something that, maybe point And so, I mean, know who this guy again outside the two-party system, from outside is the War in probably ten, they took me McCabe, the old prophet. So, family, but, status quo. So that feels comfortable to of the same reasons. Agreement, candidate, who probably now I probably would but at the time I didn't something. So, that's know, they oppose there, and they had me going door-to-door with flyers. definitely from some I remember I think I John McCabe, who's related to David O. he's his for you people Like, reasons. the North American Free Trade they oppose, flyer against to wholeheartedly with, agree ... align in you I feel like I kind of meet my parents and example, they probably oppose NAFTA, maybe I feel like I there, and the first day I representing the RC:Um-hmm. 15 Tea Party. I spent a couple and of days down in of wandering around and was there, there one was getting three older 30 November 2011 Rachel Carter they were basically doing outreach MM: And groups who were to commit to down there. And I doing an was and trying to build really fascinated by this alliances with other and couldn't get them interview. RC: Sure. They were reluctant to MM: intrigued by this that that's idea. And, really possible. And I'm given what you've just said, different you march and Well, first several have been easy to mistake the that signs, was highly present, by that because, over not at all .. surprised the Tea Party, a meetings, you a or So, I'm ... what you think about that parents coming from at all that, you first blush just as a Ron Paul "End the a completely know, during the initial driving by, rally. You it probably could know, with all the Ron Fed," which is his big rallying people were the political. . ones very familiar with kind of that And I feel like ... you we appeal actually .. to a great opportunity for us to surprised probably point of view, and I lot of people in kind of .1 mean, I really think we have a know, there have been fellows that have shown know, just like white, older conservative was cry, and that started the .1 mean, I think my parents that this movement would right? really part of me that's really skeptical your lot of those is the my dad that have shown up. And I this is was in front of the Federal Reserve. And I wasn't at all great opportunity. I mean, I've had up to at gathering know, that you voted for Ron Paul in '08. that. days and I think a I are? surprised "Ron Paul for President" satellite encampment was know, with I mean, I wasn't during the first there's at wondering if you have political viewpoint than you RC: Yeah. Paul know, you awhile, and but I talked to them for that, do guys that might as well be like, "This is amazing." And I really feel like really build alliances, 16 you know, outside of political Rachel Carter 30 November 2011 party identification. You know, and they hope that the Tea know, and, And, Party is that the Tea speak to avowedly so. some of these alliances, that people that might I'm guessing is a I mean I sure, but I'm some and so, out where some, you we a You you that, you know, this know, if isn't agree and let's join up, make some differences in our lot of fleshing out of what a Party individuals that were ... involved, just what like of become frustrated when the seemingly detract of those fellows kind of got frustrated guessing that's probably what happened. saying. .I don't know if those .. already mentioned that had kind forward I think the movement but I think know, 10t are to want to non-partisan movement. ... like there's I feel like occur. urn a tendency is you guys really convince them, really feel issues of homeless ness started to feeling that ... figure lot of the kind of Tea of the folks that I complex so look like that needs to a and really start making can communities. And, um, some Party is saying what I mean, it's about party politics. Let's, you and I, some . I mean, there's great resistance because this is I mean, very we can ... want. .I mean, and their as But I from the occupation, I have well. I don't know that for think, really, really should not lose sight you know, moving of the fact that this is an opportunity to really build bridges. MM: Urn, that not, but and one actual, acts as kind of of the other things nice segue here. I don't know if you that I was urn, communication would between the camps people a ... so from Salt Lake people, you speak to this or really intrigued by was how much both virtual come into that? When visitation was know, stopping by Occupy SLC from going to Atlanta. Urn, raids and arrests and kind of the can I'm wondering in the midst police intervention in 17 a going on New York and of all these lot of these camps, how much of 30 November 2011 Rachel Carter that is still happening? know, some Obviously, communication? RC: You Has probably stayed online has entirely sure. I'm not through the grapevine, of that broken down? Is there still that there had been any of the that said that Salt Lake occupations they had a MM: I've heard that from a we ... So, but that didn't urn, as far as, you entirely sure, that, ... you like, you 1 mean, "But know, wait, I mean, it they was definite desire to be very there for six weeks or Occupy as kind of the other an you that wasn't know, we're a ofl think added to the shock model enough to keep us occupation." from being Lake were called it, "tenets" or, you of, ... he you it related to actually shut down. urn, I'm not that this is was asked to go back to know, help flesh some one ... they were taken Occupy Wall there very much And, urn, actually asked to Occupy Wall out kind of the 18 so movement. was of the work that he had I do know from Street. I know, basically their initial purpose adopted by Occupy Salt Lake, ... And the sort of foundational statements official statement of support of the specific in larger now. knowing that kind Occupy Salt through ... Anderson, who's the director of Peaceful Uprising, .. some . safest, the most clean, the best organized of beginning of the occupation, Street. And can't remember what about. But that, kind of know, whether it's online, how much of that is going on. and agreements announced at statement. Urn exactly. ... come know, the level of interaction between occupations, urn, at least at the Occupy Wall .. about the same, but number of people who had number of interviewees RC: Yeah. And so, I think that. of being evacuated. Just the was seen. lot of I did hear before the raid occurred that had been in other cities. I don't know where occupations a .. was a Ashley .1 think he was Street and kind of talk implications of the mission of already been doing with the climate Rachel Carter 30 November 2011 And, movement. an I mean, he made some effort to like not have these remain at the same you seems know, since the raid to be the general ... example. I mean, consensus basically, you really creating healthy communities. So, not to remove us necessarily the fact that solutions will to occupation here in know, like You very I said because that's ... know, reducing a and, .it's going to be MM: That's when you RC: No. RC: on Okay, Rachel, thank you. Hey, yeah, absolutely .. END OF INTERVIEW 19 our nationally, priorities need to be. lot of what we're they you dependence on but to a know, local on oil, comes to urn, and working locally, And so, the of that. can see lot of the facing is just acknowledge locally driven. some ... answers are you gonna be found. out of all ofthis it's about what the communities probably a pretty good place a our know, yeah, what's around them and, really where want to address. MM: definitely has been I have been involved in lot of priority has been going know, because atthe end of whatever .. know, extent need to be people involved Yeah, what's around them there Community building and, Salt Lake has started to address MM: It's easier to get RC: large you that the solution to from what's a ... discussions about what gonna need to be from local communities. food for so local, but to kind of answer larger questions. Now, time, there have been discussion discussions, And it really great in-roads, going to be ... stop unless there's something else that you