At least 100 Occupy protesters are at the home of local veteran Alicia Jackson waiting for sheriff's deputies to evict her; more are expected to arrive.
As of Thursday morning at 10 a.m. no deputies had showed up, and crowd milled around on the lawn in the cool fall sunshine putting up tents and organizing petitions.
Jackson is currently in a dispute with the Portland Water Bureau over a bill she stands ready to pay – but the bureau won't take her money. Supporters say she is being evicted for not having water on at the home, despite her attempts to settle a water bill generated by developers who bought part of her property at a discount but failed to upkeep it.
"Terrified when she got her first foreclosure notice, Alicia Jackson moved out of her home, and turned off the utilities. But after talking to members of the Black Working Group, she moved back home and decided to fight. Part of her property already has been sold to a developer, who has built two row houses next to her home."
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Meanwhile, activists are encouraging concerned people to call Portland City Commissioners and demand they let Alicia stay in her home. People are also being encouraged to call the Water Bureau and ask that they accept Alicia's payment.
Those wishing to sign up for a text-message urgent action network to fight foreclosures can follow the links at www.weareoregon.org .