The Rainbow Family Takes the Hill

Reflections from July-August, 1993
by, kasherah

For me it was a very busy time. We were dumpster diving, cooking, providing water and whatever shelter was available. But it was a breeze for the D.C. crew, they swung into high gear about July 11th, 1993, I believe.

That was about the time that Red Moon Song, Felipe, Julia Moonsparrow, Water-Singing-on-the-Rocks, Red, Matteo, Starfire and an army of focused Rainbow Activists magically appeared to stand up for the right to peaceably assemble in the National Forests. They effectively held councils, prayer circles, rallies, and lobbied Congress to block a federal regulation being promulgated by the U.S. Forest Service which makes it a crime to gather in the Forest.

In May, 1993, the National Forest service proposed new rules under 36 CFR sections 251, and 261that would violate American rights of assembly and free speech on public lands. Critics noted that if "group events" such as family reunions, church and school outings and open gatherings of 25 or more individuals occur in a National Forest, without a permit, it would become a crime punishable by fine and imprisonment. Provisions are also included to limit the "distribution of printed material," subjecting these activities to the scrutiny and whim of agency and law enforcement officials.

There are serious questions as to the reasons for such rulemaking, and suspicions that they have more to do with politics and money than forest protection. The Rainbow family has a history of large annual gatherings of 20-30,000 people attending since 1972, with an excellent record of care for the land: Waterways have been protected, trails reseeded, and sites left entirely clean. Yet these gatherings have been subject to increasing pressure by the Forest Service, facing persistent government efforts to harass participants and restrict access to public lands. Similar Forest Service regulations have twice been struck down by Federal courts as violating First Amendment and due process protections.

For weeks, the protesters sustained a vigil across from the White House in Lafayette Park. Volunteers successfully launched a petition drive and a strong grassroots lobbying campaign to inform Congress of the threat and to urge their help in defending First Amendment Rights.

There was a music and drumming festival on July 31, and about 350 people showed up for a successful action at the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, August 4, 1993. Seventeen people were arrested during the demonstration.

That was the day we hand-delivered to the Forest Service over 3,000 comments regarding the proposed changes to CFR 36 sections 251 and 261 (F.R.58N86), virtually the same regulation which had been stamped "unconstitutional" by two federal judges, U.S. v. Rainbow Family, 695 F. Supp. 294, Texas, 1988, and U.S. v. Israel, Cr.86-027-TUC-RBM, Arizona, 1986.

From July 8,1993, until August 4,1993, the "circle" came together for meals, councils, strategy decisions, good times and prayer. The Rainbow Family is a loose knit group of individuals from all walks of life, peaceful, responsible members of society, for the most part, who believe in standing up for their rights.
And they took the Hill by storm to prove it.

Thanks folks, for your Enthusiasm! Come again soon. We need more people like you to stand up against the evil our governments have brought upon us, and say, "STOP THIS INSANITY!" If not We, then WHO? If not NOW, WHEN? If not HERE, then WHERE?

We the people can do it. It is our responsibility, to do it now. Love and Light.