WHERE'S WALDEN? asked by S. Oregon Citizens

Allen Hallmark, Citizen Journalist, 30.03.2007 16:55

--Medford, Oregon / 3/30/07

Here are some photo's I took today along with a brief report of events outside the office of Congressman Greg Walden, R-OR, in Medford on Friday afternoon. Other Rogue IMC volunteers contributed with "comments" to this story which have some good photos...

Check out video clips, too.

A group of about 30 people from several different peace & progressive groups protested the Iraq occupation and sent a delegation of about 15 women into Walden's office to request a meeting with the congressman. The women came out about 30 minutes later and reported that Walden's staff had not yet been able to arrange a conference call with Walden for the group, but invited them to return at 11 am next Thursday, April 5, at which time they expect to be able to schedule a conference call with the congressman.--Allen Hallmark

Max & Bronson, ages 11 & 9-vid clips from wes- -

Code Pink Congressional Hotline-vid clips from wes -

Where's Walden 3/30/07 in Medford

Where's Walden 3/30/07 in Medford

Where's Walden 3/30/07 in Medford

PHOTO DESCRIPTIONS
(click any photo to make bigger)

Photo #1 shows Dot Fisher-Smith in black on the left, Debbie Herzog of Trail with a sign and Arlene Aron of Applegate in the Code Pink phone booth that was used by some to call Walden's office to press for the meeting with Walden.

Photo #2 shows Mori Ink of Ashland being interviewed by a local TV newsman outside Walden's office

Photo #3 shows Mary Madsen of Medford (with back to camera in black vest with white shirt) talking with the other women about their meeting with Walden's staff. Mary presented a stack of about 150 letters signed by people favoring Walden holding town halls meetings to explain the cost of the war to his constituents.

Walden's staff said Walden was in Lakeview on Friday, but claimed that they have no idea where he will be next Thursday or anytime next week. Walden is one of the few members of Congress who does not have a calendar on his website. It is very difficult for the public to know when and where he will appear.

The action was planned to call attention to the arrest in Bend on March 20th of six women, most of them grandmothers, who went to Walden's Bend office hoping to get a conference call from him. When none was arranged, they elected to stay in the building after it closed and were arrested by Bend Police. We don't believe that Walden has dropped the charges against them.

The Medford Where's Walden Group, a coalition that includes Citizens for Peace & Justice, CodePink, Applegate Citizens for Political Change, Veterans for Peace of Josephine County and others, also wants Walden to commit to scheduling several public town hall meetings across the 2nd Congressional District with plenty of notice to the public as to when they will be held. Walden refused an invitation by the Rural Organizing Project to attend a town hall meeting they organized to get him to inform the citizens of the 2nd District about the cost of the war to taxpayers in this district.

Download this article in pdf format >>

Add this article to your pdf newsletter selection >>

Checkout and Download your PDF-newsletter selection >>

Email this article to someone >>

Make a quick comment on this article >>

"Where's Walden?" - Still Unresolved 30.03.2007 - 20:37 Activists gather outside Walden's Medford offices on Friday Citizens ask "where's Walden?" Walden's staff meets group in hall A group of over one-dozen mothers and grandmothers met with Congressman Greg Walden's local staff in a narrow hall outside Walden's East Main office in Medford, Oregon. The women brought a list of grieviences for Waldens attention, funding for the Iraq war topped the list but also on their minds were librarys, healthcare. "What kind of state are we without libraries?" asked Arlene Aron of Applegate. A pair of well armed security guards took positions in the lobby, as city police circled the block. Outside Walden's offices, around 50 protesters and Walden supporters mingled, exchanging stares and partisan soundbytes. Advocates for troop safety and government accountability, waving signs stating “Where’s Walden?,” “Fund Books Not Bombs!” and “Bring Our Troops Home Now!”. Several Walden supporters waved flags and held signs stating "Walden for President" One Walden supporter scolded protesters, fearing the harm that might become it funding is abrupting cut. "I have a son in Iraq ... We want to bring him home." "It's not a real war" replied one agitated protester. Activists for Citizens for Peace and Justice, Code Pink, Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice Applegate Citizens for Political Change, Veterans for Peace of Josephine County, and others organized the action, setting up a pink phone booth in the parking lot for citizens to call their congressmen directly. The group wants Walden to commit to scheduling several public town hall meetings across the 2nd Congressional District with plenty of notice to the public as to when they will be held. Inside Walden's office, the group of women were met by Walden's staff members who insisted they meet in the narrow hallway outside Walden's office, perhaps in effort to avoid a repeat of last weeks sit-in protest in Bend. Delivering citizens' e-mails, letters and a resolution of the Rural Organizing Project (ROP) to Walden, the women reminded Walden's staff that his constituents overwhelmingly support withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Walden's staff was professional, taking a position that Walden represents all citizens in the 2nd District, reaffirming the position as stated on Walden's congressional website, "Congressman Walden makes it a priority to personally meet with every resident of the Second Congressional District. " The women countered with personal accounts of their own experiences and frustrations with Walden's lack of accountability. Mori Ink of Ashland challenged "all the facts we've brought to you, we haven't had no answers, no replys." It was clear that both groups were frustrated. One Walden staffer who refused to give her name, declaring "I feel I can't have a real conversation with any of you." Walden's staff said Walden was in Lakeview on Friday, but claimed that they have no idea where he will be next Thursday or anytime next week. Walden is one of the few members of Congress who does not have a calendar on his website, making it difficult for citizens to know when and where he will appear. "He does try to visit us anytime he can" assured Walden's spokesperson, but was unable to say when his next visit might be. "We just want a public meeting sometime soon." snaps Arlene Aron. Debbie Herzog lamented "how can a government offical run it that way?" In the end, the group left with little more than a pledge that Walden would address their concerns in the future. Walden's staff invited them to return at 11 am next Thursday, April 5, at which time they expect to be able to schedule a conference call with the congressman. Jason Houk> e-mail:: news@kskq.org Homepage:: http://www.kskq.org/news Walden's shaky past 30.03.2007 - 20:41 Empty meeting room not made available Not all protesters were anti-Walden Support the troops by ending the war Walden has a history of avoiding unfriendly constituency. Walden doesnt make public his schedule, leaving staff and citizens in the dark. On March 20, six grandmothers were arrested at Walden’s office in Bend, Oregon. They had waited 12 hours to speak with Walden, hoping to deliver petitions, testimonials and other stories from a locally arranged Town Hall Meeting on the Cost of War. The town hall meetings were put on in four of Oregon’s Congressional districts and were attended by more than 700 rural Oregonians. Neither Walden nor his staff attend the public meetings, despite being on notice for several months.  http://rogueimc.org/en/2007/03/8127.shtml Wes Brain, videographer and organizer for Jobs with Justice, recalled that four years ago, back on the day the Iraq war started, Greg Walden's staff slammed the door on constituent's faces saying "Greg supported the war and that protesters should, too", As they slammed the door on democracy Walden staffers added, "We are closed." Several protesters were arrested that day too. A video called "The Walden Lockout" documents that event.  http://rogueimc.org/en/2003/06/847.shtml Activists are asking citizens to contact Congressman Walden, address his refusal to attend the Cost of War Iraq Town Halls; his refusal to meet with the six women in Bend; and his consistent pattern of voting for funding the Iraq Occupation. Jason Houk> Where is Walden, REALLY, where is he? 31.03.2007 - 02:14 There are two funerals that I can't wait to attend, in this order: the funeral for war; and, the funeral for Mr. Walden's job. So today, I hereby begin a permanent memorial and funeral for Mr. Walden's job, for three reasons. First, he completely disregards the fact that, as a congressman, he is OUR EMPLOYEE. Second, he refuses to represent the will of the people as regards the Iraq occupation and its costs to our local communities, State, and Nation. And third, he has the audacity to take a huge salary from our taxes, YET REMAIN UNAVAILABLE TO ALL BUT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS. Mr. Walden, your voting record, your lack of availability, your attitude, your favoritism, your performance, are among the worst of any legislator of whom I have ever known! I advise you to prepare for the separation of youself from your current employers. The want adds are near the back page. Hal B. Anthony> e-mail:: threepines@jeffnet.org