The meetings are organized by open, free-form councils which use consensus process for making decisions. The Gathering has been held every year since 1972. The officers first fired into the ground, and when the Rainbow people put themselves between the officers and the children, the LEOs began shooting rubber bullets into the arms and chests of the Rainbows.Īccording to a Forest Service press release, Rainbows first began throwing rocks and sticks at the officers. Michael Niman says it is “sometimes ussed for coercive purposes.” The law enforcement agents soon found themselves surrounded by an Om Circle - a circle of people chanting “om” in an effort to harmonize an uptight situation. The arrest were made near Kid Village (also known as Kiddie City), a camp for parents, children, and expectant parents. Video documenting the way law enforcement officers (LEOs) acted after arresting a few people at the 2008 Wyoming Rainbow Gathering. bureaucracy at war with its own citizens is a subplot in the larger–and disturbing–story of how the relationship between Americans and their government has changed during the first decade of the twenty-first century. As Niman contends, this particular saga of a U.S. law enforcement agencies - especially those associated with the National Forest Service. In addition to addressing changes within the Rainbow Family and its complex relationship to “Babylon” (what Rainbows call mainstream culture), the book’s new material explores the growing harassment Rainbows now face from U.S. Niman, documents that the movement is subject to growing harassment from U.S. The second edition of People of the Rainbow: A Nomadic Utopia, by Michael L. In choosing not to sign, we are exercising our Constitutional right to assemble peaceably. Since we are a Gathering of equal Individuals, no one person has the right to represent anyone else and thus no one has the authority to sign a permit as a representative of the Rainbow Family. We choose not to sign permits or to make agreements with the Government. ĭo remember though, that forest rangers are law enforcement ofï¬ cials who have the power to arrest you. The group’s unofficial ‘mini-manual’ saysĮ cooperate with the rangers of the USDA Forest Service in doing the job they were hired for: protecting the land. Official documentary from New Jersey Pictures L.L.C. – Source: Carla, What is the Rainbow Family of Living Light? Participation, communication, and cooperation are how things get done. Every project undertaken operates essentially on a consensus basis. There are no membership qualifications, no fees or dues, no leaders, and virtually no rules other than the one of “peaceful respect.” Each year, individuals take personal responsibility and work together with others on whatever they are inspired to do, from office work, to scouting, to building the kitchens at the gatherings, to hauling in food and first-aid supplies, to peacekeeping, etc. And many people who have not yet had an opportunity to attend a gathering also feel they are part of this family.Īnother interesting thing is that there is no formal organizational structure. The interesting thing is that we all consider ourselves to be part of a huge, extended family, no matter what our reason for gathering, no matter what our spiritual or religious or political or economic or social views may be. There’s only one requirement for being welcomed into the Rainbow family: You’ve got to have a belly button. We gather in the National Forests yearly to pray for peace on this planet. Many of our traditions are based on Native American traditions, and we have a strong orientation to take care of the the Earth. We also believe that Peace and Love are a great thing, and there isn’t enough of that in this world. I think it’s safe to say we’re into intentional community building, non-violence, and alternative lifestyles. To be honest, the Rainbow Family means different things to different people. Some say we’re the largest non-organization of non-members in the world. Welcome Home explains the Rainbow People as follows: – Article continues after this advertisement –

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