UPPER LAKE — The “Occupy” movement in Lake County continued Saturday with a demonstration along Highway 20 directly across from downtown Main Street in Upper Lake.
Approximately 25 people held signs beginning at about 10 a.m., to draw attention to the movement from passing motorists. Drivers honked their horns in support when passing by. While the movement has not moved as far as establishing tent cities anywhere in the county unlike many other “Occupy” demonstrations around the country, the demonstrators stand alongside other demonstrations.
“We”re out here supporting the movement,” Shawn Heape of Hidden Valley Lake said. “We believe that corporate greed has gotten the best of our country up until today and we”re going to put a stop to it.”
The demonstration initially began across the street in front of Hi-Way Grocery but moved after the owner politely asked the group to move because he thought it might affect business, Heape said.
“We don”t want to have local businesses like that feel that way,” Heape said. “We”re not here for that whatsoever. We respect his opinion in doing so.”
Unlike recent violent clashes between police and demonstrators in Oakland, a single Lake County Sheriff”s Office deputy stopped by the group to make sure they were staying a safe distance off the highway, Heape said.
Among the demonstrators in Upper Lake were two Lake County residents who recently returned from taking part in demonstrations in Washington, D.C. as part of a related movement called “October 2011.”
“We were occupying Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C.,” Tim Williams of Clearlake, said. Williams spent three weeks demonstrating across the nation”s Capital, while his friend Judy Morgan, of Nice, spent a few days there before returning to the county to begin a new job. Williams said the movement was organized to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan.
“The actual intent of the occupation is to draw attention to the fact that the military industrial complex and corporations are calling the shots in this country and we no longer have a government by and for the people,” Williams said.
At one point, Williams took part in a demonstration where a group of people sat on the steps in front of the United States Supreme Court in protest and to raise awareness alongside Princeton University Professor and Civil Rights Activist Cornel West.
West, Williams and 17 others were arrested for sitting on the steps for lack of a permit.
“We just, as a demonstration of principle, sat down on the steps and were arrested,” he said.
Williams, who arrived back in Lake County on Oct. 25, said it was great the “Occupy” movement was happening here. “I”m glad to hear it,” he said. “I didn”t realize how many occupations were going on.”
Williams said he was largely unaware of news of other occupations while he was in Washington, D.C.
Heape said the county movement is planning on demonstrating more often. “This is not going to stop here,” Heape said. “We”re going to do this weekly now. Every week, there”s going to be something somewhere, from Lakeport to Clearlake.”
For more information on “Occupy” demonstrations in Lake County, visit www.occupytogether.org/actions and use the map to find out information on future events.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14.
