Protesters to ‘Occupy Winter'

Winter is upon us, and the holiday season is drawing near. Since Occupy Bloomington protesters first settled in Peoples Park two months ago, new tents have been erected while others have been torn down. New supporters have joined the movement, and others have gone.

But as a whole, they have made themselves clear: They don’t plan to disband anytime soon, regardless of the temperature. After giving their presence in the park a facelift and celebrating two months of occupation Friday, protesters have several agendas in mind for the near future.

On Friday afternoon, they began removing rows of small, individual tents, exposing layers of straw beneath. The scene, however, was not an action of surrender, but expansion. In place of the small, individual tents, Occupiers erected a green military surplus tent extending the length of the park.

“It’s going to be much warmer than the outside air and allow for our facilitated general assemblies to have events,” said protester Aaron Pollitt, who said he has stayed in the park most nights during the last two months. “It’s really going to give us a lot more options, a lot more staying power here.”

While Pollitt said Occupiers plan to heat the tent in some capacity, he said they are still discussing their options. Like most military tents of its size, a hole in the roof allows for a chimney.

“There is some discussion about propane heaters having fumes and that not being the right choice,” protester Thea Linnemeier said. “But there are chimneys here, and we might be able to heat it with wood, like a wood fire. That’s what sounds most appealing to me right now.”

Occupiers said the tent was purchased with a donation given to the movement by a member of the community. Protesters declined to disclose the amount of the donation.

So far, protesters have been bearing the cold without any source of heat. Protester Thomas Greenwood said while they initially tried to use propane heaters, they stopped because of their inefficiency.

“They go through about five pounds of propane in six hours,” Greenwood said. “That’s like three bucks an hour, which is really inefficient use, and they don’t really heat up stuff that much.”

Instead, Greenwood said protesters have been bundling up in warm clothes, eating soup, drinking “Occu-Chai” and “sleeping in big piles like puppy dogs.”

The Occupiers are making do in the cold until they figure out their heating source.

“Right now, just suck it up, buttercup,” Greenwood said.

To aid in warmth, many protesters also layered the ground under their tents with straw, erected atop wooden pallets.

On Friday evening, live musicians performed at Peoples Park to celebrate the protesters’ two months of activity.

Protesters said they have additional agendas in the woodwork. One agenda for many protesters, however, is not even in Bloomington. Currently, in Oolitic, Ind., employees at Indiana Limestone are on strike because of a recent contract renegotiation.

Last Thursday, Linnemeier and other protesters drove to Oolitic and helped show the Bloomington Occupiers’ support.

“I think it’s important for people fighting for better rights and wages anywhere,” Occupy Bloomington’s media liaison Justinian Dispenza said. “I think it’s important to share solidarity and support.”

Also in support of the strikers, Occupy protesters are planning a benefit concert Friday, Dec. 17, at Max’s Place. The intended $5 admission will go to help buy presents for the strikers’ children.

Pollitt said Occupy Bloomington will have “Permaculture Day” on Dec. 18.

“It’s the skills of creating human society or creating living situations for ourselves but are built into the patterns of nature. The first directive is to care for the land,” Pollitt said. “It really changes the perspective of how we relate to the land around us, how much we can really turn the ecosystems we live in to a beautiful, productive oasis of life.”

Pollitt expects the event to begin at 1 p.m. in Peoples Park.

Within Peoples Park, a small pine tree is decorated with Christmas lights, silver tinsel, a red bow and a silver star. As Christmas approaches, several Occupiers are planning to stick it out for the holiday season.

Although Greenwood does not consider himself a Christian, he said he plans to attend church, spend time with his family and venture to Peoples Park to bake gingerbread cookies.

“I care about many of these people on a deep and genuine level,” Greenwood said. “Christmas is a day for people you love and care for, so why wouldn’t I be here?”

Linnemeier’s plans are similar to Greenwood’s. Because her family lives in town, she plans to spend her time with them. However, she said she will drop by Peoples Park to offer support. Similar to Thanksgiving, she plans to bring the protesters an “Occu-Pie.”

However, Dispenza, an IU senior, said he will return home in Fort Wayne during IU’s winter break. He expects to find protesters in Peoples Park when he and the rest of the IU community return.

“Even while students are gone, the Occupy movement carries on,” Dispenza said. “There are plenty of passionate community members and non-students who are going to be down at the park and would love a visit and would love some company. If you haven’t gotten involved yet, now is a great time. It’s the holiday season, the season of giving. Why not give some of your time and make America even better?”