Hawthorne Park's tent city faces eviction, some organize resistance

CHP director blasts bizarre rants and conspiracy theories 

By Brad Smith

MEDFORD, Ore. – After several days of rising tensions, a slew of wild allegations and conspiracy theories, campers harassed and intimidated, threats from alt-right groups and more displaced people showing up, the Hawthorne Park Mutual Aid (HPMA) Group is under siege.

Since the Almeda Fire blasted its way through the Rogue Valley and devastated parts of Ashland as well as laying waste to both Talent and Phoenix, scores of displaced people descended upon a section of the 20-acre park. In the past, a group called the Compassion Highway Project has helped transients and others who frequented the park. Since the fires, the all-volunteer Hawthorne Park Mutual Aid stepped up and started helping a growing tent city of displaced people – some lost there their homes and others were camped along the Bear Creek Greenway.

CHP executive director Melissa Mayne first claimed that a donation meant for her organization was taken by the HPMA. Then, Mayne got upset that Black Lives Matter signs were scattered throughout the tent city.

Mayne then took to social media and issued a bizarre, seemingly unhinged rant in which she claimed Antifa groups were bussing people from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and other places – for some nefarious scheme. She also claimed that she had received threats from unknown individuals.

Meantime, alt-right individuals such as minor radio personality Bill Meyer, and Greg Roberts, who runs RogueWeather.com and has been known to threaten violence against BLM protesters, have perpetuated conspiracy theories that Antifa arsonists have infiltrated the region.

Meantime, the tent city has grown and the HPMA volunteers have been providing people with meals, medical aid, laundry facilities and, basically, a safe place to stay.

Clarence Carr said, despite claims to the contrary, some of the displaced people did lose homes.

“Sure, some of them lost places to live,” he said. “Others lost their camps along the Greenway. No matter what, they lost something and deserve some help and basic human compassion. Just because they don’t have a house, then they don’t count. That’s bullshit.”

Sometime Sunday morning, Sept 20, Medford Police Dept. officers went through the park and handed out orange sheets of paper – eviction notices that gave the campers a week’s notice to leave. As Carr and others attempted to rally support, MPD officers dropped another bombshell early Monday morning, Sept 21.

Officers again swept through the tent city, this time handing out new eviction orders that gave campers 24 hours to vacate Hawthorne Park. One reason MPD officers gave for the sudden change was a “typographical error.” Then, officers stated that “due to unsanitary conditions,” the evictions had to be ramped up.

“It’s fucked up,” Carr said. “These people are here because they have no where else to go. And, this whole thing with (Mayne) is nonsense too. No one here has taken a single thing away from her CHP. Not one fucking thing. No food, no clothes and especially no cash. That hasn’t happened.”

While Mayne, the MPD and a number of Facebook commenters have claimed the tent city campers never lost homes in the fire, that isn’t true. One man calling himself Bryant had been living close to the Rogue Valley Manor when the fires hit.

“I was renting a room from friends,” he said. “We were told to leave, and we did. I threw what I could in my car and left. It wasn’t much but I lost things important to me when that happened. I heard people were coming here and I wanted to check it out. I have a place to sleep, food, and I can get my clothes cleaned. Not many places offer that.”

Carr said that things have been calm at the tent city.

“If someone has a problem with someone else, they work it out,” he said. “We’ve been lucky, but I think folks here know they’re safer here than being on the streets somewhere.”

Early Monday night, MPD released this statement:

Today, our Livability Team conducted a resource fair in an effort to connect individuals in Hawthorne Park with services, and provide information regarding available shelters throughout the Rogue Valley.

Participating agencies included Jackson County Mental Health, Rogue Retreat (Kelly Shelter, Hope Village, Urban Campground), Men’s and Women’s Gospel Mission, and La Clinica.

Transportation was offered and utilized by individuals at the park throughout the day to local shelter locations and La Clinica.

Hawthorne Park resource connections made:

•34 people connected with Rogue Retreat.

•2 people were taken to the Expo.

•36 people were contacted and eligible to go to Rogue Retreat but did not accept the services.

The current health and sanitary conditions of Hawthorne Park warrant an immediate closure of the unauthorized urban campground. A public notice of illegal camping was posted throughout the park today to notify individuals they must vacate the area no later than tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22.

When asked about the 8 a.m. Sept. 22 eviction deadline, Carr said he wasn’t going.

“If we have to make a stand, we’ll do it here,” he said. “Here’s the reality: Most of these people would still be here even if the HPMA wasn’t around. They come here anyway. It happens. They’re here in this part of the park because there’s not a playground. They keep to themselves here. Right now, they can get some food, help and other things. That makes a difference.”

Carr said that if some of the campers are arrested Tuesday morning, they’d be released later on and, eventually, find their way back to the park.

“That’s how it’s going to play out,” he said. “If the city doesn’t like it, then, they’d better step up with a real plan to help these people rather than some token touchy feely piss poor PR stunt.”

 The Rogue Free Press attempted to contact Melissa Mayne and discuss the bizarre claims she has made.

Ms. Maynes never responded.