Rainbow/Legaliaison Update11/9/90
PEACE PARK VIGIL AT THE WHITE HOUSE
P.O. BOX 27217
Washington, D.C. 20038
RAINBOW ALERT: Deadline December 3, 1990, widest possible
dissemination.
Report on Rainbow Legaliaison Council, Washington, D.C. November
3, 1990 at Peace Park in front of the White House.
BACKGROUND
Since 1981 there has been a continuous vigil in front of the
White House. Numerous members of the Rainbow Family have
participated in this vigil. Essentially the purpose of the vigil
has been to renounce the "Peace through Strength" philosophy and
promote a philosophy of "Peace through Reason." Nuclear
disarmament by the year 2000 has been a practical aim of the
vigil.
On October 4, 1990 the Interior Department published a
rulemaking proposal in the Federal Register. If this rulemaking
becomes effective it would end the vigil by criminalizing it.
Using the very same Administrative Procedures Act with which the
National Forest Service recently, but unsuccessfully, tried to
regulate the Gathering out of existence, the government is once
again trying to dictate what the people can not do on their land.
Speaking at the council Plunker said, "In my capacity as
advisor to Legaliaison, I have to advise liaison that the Family
should take a stand against the Park Service. This is the same
thing they've been doing to the Family. They're attacking our
culture, the way we do things. Our sharing, our clothes, they
just don't want the people to see what we're about."
Plunker suggested a mailing be sent to focalizers asking
Family members to write letters during the "Public Comment
period." Last year Rainbow letters were responsible for the government's
withdrawal of a Forest Service rulemaking aimed at the Family.
For letters to be received and entered in the Administrative
Record for the proposed regulations, the deadline is December 3,
1990. Letters should be clear, concise, and include explanations
of why use of our land should not be arbitrarily restricted.
Signed petitions are also good, although less effective. Copies
of all letters should be sent to Peace Park so the Park Service
doesn't "forget" to include all of the public's concerns.
Time constraints preclude national council consideration as
that council does not convene until July 4th. This mailing was
on the Legaliaison council's consensus. The trust and support
placed in Legaliaison over the previous few years allows that when
immediate-action situations arise the Legaliaison may take
limited actions on the individual level, without acting on behalf of the
Family. Pending national council action, all are encouraged to
act as responsible individuals and oppose the Park Service on this
issue, although this may necessarily be the official position of
Rainbow Council at this time.
By: Joe Vigorito
FS Regs Page | PCU Administrative Record
Rainbow in Court | Government Views | Public Views
1601 Pennsylvania Avenue