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Wyoming 2008 Rainbow Gathering
Up one levelThe 'Rainbow Accommodation' & Heavy Caveats
The 2008 Rainbow Gathering of the Tribes proceeds upon renewed negotiations in the off-season -- between a few longstanding gatherers and top USFS & LEI officials in Washington. USDA Undersecretary Mark Rey has taken the lead in certain 'accommodations', upholding the "Noncommercial Group Use" regulations (36 CFR 251.54, et seq.), but waiving the permit signature requirement in light of the history of good-faith performance on the land, and the persistent confrontations and legal strife over this issue for years.
After months of correspondence and a series of conference calls on the concerns of gatherers, Rey issued his final letter of policy intent on May 8, 2008. To many, it is a hopeful sign renewed cooperation with the Forest Service and relief from draconian police tactics of recent years. It is a significant step in one regard, acknowledging the discretion (and duty) of USFS officials to regulate such special uses in an 'alternative manner' where appropriate in the public interest.
Yet to others, and in the analysis of PCU_/Free Assembly Project, it is a perilous deal -- vesting the "Rainbow Family" as a fictional 'Group' party to an Operation Plan, with vicarious liabilities and other permit terms still in effect... and leaving the 'National Incident Management' regime still intact, with Federal law enforcement agencies controlling policy as-applied to the gathering, by Delegation of Authority from USFS officials.
As prelude events unfold, we are watchful of outcomes...
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Other Links on the 2008 Gathering & Rainbozo Affairs:
- www.welcomehome.org/
- The 2008 annual Gathering will be in Wyoming at "Big Sandy" which
is south/southeast of Pinedale, Wyoming. This link contains all the
information I have on the 2008 on this page
gathering, and will be updated as I gwet more information.
The Pinedale news has a Rainbow Information page on the web.
Some useful information:
http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2008/06/RainbowFamilyGatheri.htm
Karin's info site, in San Diego:
http://wyominggathering.blogspot.com/
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- USFS Delegation of Authority, 6/26/08 by Scottie Addison — last modified 2008-07-28 05:37 AM
- Delegation of Authority from the Forest Supervisor of Bridger-Teton NF, transferring USFS administrative powers to the Incident Commander/ National Incident Management Team (NIMT) for the 'Rainbow Gathering'. (Attached as received, as MS Word _.doc)
- Media Reports & Sources, Rainbow '08 by Scottie Addison — last modified 2008-06-23 03:39 PM
- Compiled links to press/media articles, + selected press releases re: Rainbow Gathering '08 in Wyoming.
- Rey_RbwPolicyLtr-8my08t.pdf by Scottie Addison — last modified 2008-06-16 11:38 PM
- The final statement of USFS 'accommodation' policies for Rainbow Gathering 2008, after comments by negotiators - conveyed from the office of USDA Undersecretary Mark Rey on May 8, 2008. (A concise 'OCR' version... text can be selected.)
- AmandaEmail-08609.pdf by Scottie Addison — last modified 2008-06-16 11:44 PM
- Email from Amanda Lockwood, Rey's admin assistant in DC, conveying policies on 'Tasers'® ("Electronic Control Devices") and use of force, from the FS Law Enforcement Manual. This responded to requests for these guidelines, out of concern that LEO's have acquired such devices in order to USE them at the gathering.
- FSH5309.11_54-useforce.pdf by Scottie Addison — last modified 2008-06-16 11:47 PM
- FS Handbook, §5309.11, Chapter 54: "Use of Force"
- FS Manual, §5387 - 'Taser' guidelines by Scottie Addison — last modified 2008-06-16 11:55 PM
- FS guidelines on use of 'Tasers', proffered by Rey's office on request.
- Wyoming '08 Legal Resources by Scottie Addison — last modified 2008-06-16 11:05 PM
- Legal refs & tools for those in need... includes ACLU-Wyoming info (but don't count on them).
- PCU to Rey, re: draft Letter of Intent-9my08 by Scottie Addison — last modified 2008-06-16 11:52 PM
- PCU_/FAP query to Mark Rey's office, concerning official communications to the "Rainbow Family" c/o selected 'representatives' and an Oregon attorney - as if to effect general notice to "members" and implicate it as a legal 'Group' entity by official fiat and sanction... once and for all.
- ACLU-Wyoming Report on Rainbow Gathering '08 (PDF version) by Scottie Addison — last modified 2008-11-24 01:11 AM
- Report of ACLU-Wyoming on USFS law enforcement conduct at the Rainbow Gathering in Bridger-Teton N.F., June-July '08 -- issued by Executive Director Linda Burt on 10/2/08, and sent to Congress members from Wyoming. (This is the 'PDF' version as it now appears on their website, replacing the 'TXT' version posted early on.)
- Rey Ltr - Commentary & Appeal, 7 Nov.'08 by Scottie Addison — last modified 2008-11-24 01:13 AM
- Policy Crit to Mark Rey, lame-duck USDA Under Secretary: "On Wyoming, the ACLU Report, and the Timely Exit of John Twiss" - assessing events at the Wyoming Gathering, the record of the outgoing LEI Director, and the role of USFS law enforcement in making Forest Service policy on expressive assembly.