OLIVE BRANCH COMMUNITY home

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2000

Dear friends,

At two in the morning we were awakened by the loud noise and intense light of the helicopter as they permeated our bedroom. Soon, we saw the flashing lights of police vehicles as they maneuvered to block off street corners. They had closed down the Convergence Center earlier that day -- we knew we could be next. For at least two months, we hosted the legal team of the WTO demonstrators and for the entire week, hundreds of phone calls had come in documenting police harassment and abuse. We waited anxiously -- expecting any moment to be raided.

Since then we have been besieged with fire, D.C. and insurance housing inspections. With no help from the landlord, we have spent much for renovations to pass unfair inspection criteria that reflect selective enforcement.

As the Mobilization for Global Justice moves from Seattle through Washington, Philadelphia and Los Angeles to Prague, the police abuse intensifies. For weeks, Jamie couldn’t contribute in our soup kitchen as a consequence of her beating in Philadelphia.

As the economy improves for the rich, we find ourselves again having to focus on the shortage of affordable housing. Although the new members in the community have diverse political involvements, we have come together to support and provide the majority of the arrests for the efforts of Homes Not Jails to house homeless families.

Thanks for your response for our need for a van and your help for our Christmas party. We intend to have an even larger celebration Saturday, the 23^rd of December and we will need help with the purchase of gifts and with preparation of hams and turkeys. Please call if you can help in any way.

We can afford only one mailing for donations this year so please give as much as you can. (OLIVE BRANCH, POBox 73497, Washington, D.C., 20078)

For the Community,

Harold Moss