my own drum

At the 2008 Annual Gathering of the Tribes, commonly known as the Rainbow Gathering, the Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) of the Forest Service entered Kiddie Village to make arrests. What ensued should not be tolerated by any American citizen.

First, some background. The Annual Gathering of the Tribes has been an event since the first Gathering in 1972 in the Roosevelt National Forest. By consensus of those at the Gathering, the next years site is selected.

Kiddie Village is the one place in the Gathering where people with small children and families can congregate and camp together during the Gathering. It is supposed to be a safe place for our children, and the LEO's know that; many of them have been working the Gathering for years.

This year the LEO's went into Kiddie Village, with weapons. It should be noted that no weapons are allowed into the Gathering, a rule that the LEO's regularly flout. While there one woman implored them to leave the area with their guns, she was arrested. At this point many hundreds of Gathering participants raced to Kiddie Village and formed a circle around the offending (and offensive) LEO's. The cops got scared and started shooting.

Imagine, if you can, that you are peacefully camping with your family in a National Forest, and the cops arrive with guns drawn, and then start shooting. Would you feel safe?

For years the Forest Service has been attempting to stop the Annual Gatherings by use of force, intimidation and various changes to their own regulations. None of this has worked, the Gatherings continue. And they will continue. But their tactics have worked to some degree. Many people now stay away from the Gatherings, and once the knowledge is out that guns can and will be used in Kiddie Village, you can expect that many law-abiding families will no longer attend.

No matter what side if this issue you may take, it is clear that guns in the presence of families and children should not be tolerated. These people aren't criminals, they are American citizens exercising their Constitutional Rights.

More info:
LEOs Gone Wild

Arrest Leads to Rainbow Riot

2008 Wyoming Rainbow Gathering

YouTube Videos

Rainbow Gathering 2008 Wyoming Police Attack

Police Attack Kiddie Village, Rainbow Gathering '08, clip1

Wyoming 2008 Gathering
Cops with guns drawn in Kiddie Village

Is this small boy really a threat?
Does he deserve this from those who are
sworn to Uphold and Protect?

Peace