DECLARATION OF UNDERSTANDING
February, 1993
Whereas, misunderstanding breeds confusion, and, whereas,
confusion breeds animosity, and, whereas, animosity is
antithetical to harmony, and, whereas we wish to avoid
disharmony, be it hereby known to all concerned that the
following is a true and accurate description of our personal
understanding regarding the origination, nature and activities of
the Rainbow Legaliaison.
LEGALIAISON IS THE EARS AND EYES (and, pursuant to final approval
of the Family Council, representative) OF THE RAINBOW FAMILY with
respect to the federal government's regulatory restriction of the
people's right to freely assemble on public lands. By this
Declaration, and the accompanying letter to the White House,
January 26, 1993, all who profess interest in this issue are
hereby notified of all relevant Legaliaison representations to
and contacts with the government.
Since the "United States" began it has been taken for granted
that the people are free to gather on the public lands. For over
twenty years the Rainbow Family has freely -- more or less --
gathered on public land. Lately elements of the government have
been working to erase that freedom. In Texas, 1988, those
subversive government elements came close to stopping the
National Rainbow Family gathering.
After the 1988 Texas Gathering a group of brothers and sisters
approached Thomas, in (Peace) Lafayette Park, Washington, D.C.,
told him that the Rainbow Family Council had consensed to the
formation of a "Legaliaison," and asked whether he would be
willing to work as a volunteer. The purpose of Legaliaison was
clearly stated:
"(N)o individual is authorized to speak for the Rainbow
Council, which speaks by consensus. (T)he Rainbow Council
Legaliaison devised a method by which to keep the Rainbow
Family and friends abreast of developments in the regulatory
process through telephone, mail, and word of mouth." See,
accompanying White House letter, Appendix B, para. 3.
The government's next assault on freedom of assembly occurred
during the spring of 1990 when another regulation was slipped
into the process. Due, perhaps entirely, to a letter writing
campaign the government lost that battle. But the war didn't
end. The government returned to the drafting table to fabricate
another regulation.
As government agent Marian Connolly (703-235-1488) drafted them,
Legaliaison/DC Crew tracked the progress of the new regulations.
It seems the federal government has dealt in rumors. What
appeared to be true one day seemed to be false the next. Two
days before Thanksgiving Council, Ms. Connolly said that NFS had
a new regulation ready to go, the only thing holding it up was
ex-President Bush's moratorium on "non-essential" regulations.
To deliver that information to the Thanksgiving Council, Thomas
went to Georgia. He was given a $158.63 Legaliaison hat to keep
the Family informed.
On Friday, January 8, 1993, Dina Apple, one of Marian Connolly's
assistants, revealed that ex-Secretary of Agriculture (Madigan)
had exempted the anti-peaceable gathering regulation from the
President's moratorium. She said the rulemaking would go to the
Office of Management and Budget for preliminary approval within
"a couple of days."
On, Monday, January 11th she said the regulations had already
gone to OMB.
January 28th the Washington Post reported, "About 100 11th hour
(regulations) pushed by the Bush administration will be rescinded
by the Clinton administration." On the 29th phone calls to OMB,
the White House, NFS and Agriculture indicated the anti-gathering
regulation was still under consideration at OMB. But, on the
30th we obtained a memo from the director of OMB which indicates
that the anti-gathering regs are, indeed, under reconsideration.
All principle attendees to the initial Legaliaison/Forest Service
meeting are listed in the White House letter, App. B. We have
repeatedly corresponded with each of those people, as well as all
the people (except Don Pen RedDusk, Swan, and Christian
Norris whose addresses, the Post Office claims, are "Not Known")
who signed-up for information at the Thanksgiving council -- in
addition to many other Rainbow Family folks -- to keep them
informed of the present situation. Our letters have prompted
little response.
To date postage and copies for informational mailings have been
contributed by the Peace Park Clan. The hat presently contains
$188.63. Copies for this mailing were donated, but the hat will
be diminished by the cost of postage.
Surely our brothers & sisters enjoy meeting in the woods at least
once a year; we've also heard them express sincere devotion to
the sacred rights of free expression and assembly; we hope
they're doing something to spread the word, and to encourage
ACTION, because, we reason, if the Rainbow Warriors fail to
mobilize for this battle their "right" to stage "gatherings" will
become a "privilege," subject to the whim of Government.
As we see it, like "ShantiSena," everyone is "LegaLiaison."
Seems to us that, like ShantiSena, when few people are willing to
assume the responsibility to BEHAVE (ACT, in the verb tense) like
LegaLiaison ... the inevitable result will be a state of chaotic
disunity in which those who did the least to avert the calamity
will complain and place blame for the undesirable state of
chaotic disunity caused, at least in part, by their own
inactivity.
Because we are all preoccupied with our own important problems
and pleasures, we don't have a lot of time for other stuff. Yet,
this regulation would create an important problem for everyone,
adversely affecting not just our pleasure, but also the key
principles of democracy.
Be it HEREBY DECLARED, all actions taken by Legaliaison/DC Crew
are sincerely intended to foster the best interests of the human
race and the Rainbow Family. Those who dispute any opinion
expressed, or action taken by Legaliaison are encouraged to state
their disagreement as soon as possible: Speak soon or don't
expect to be taken seriously six or eight months down the road.
For peace through reason,
Dave Massey
Thomas
LEGALIAISON/D.C. volunteers, POB 27217, Washington, D.C. 20038
202-265-5389 (Collect calls accepted only from jail.)
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