To the Editor:

What a more appropriate venue for a public meeting than using it as an opportunity to attack members of the public. Perhaps there is no truer character display of power-grasping collaboratives and a federal agency than to belittle citizens, their observations and opinions and to publicly and aggressively castigate them with insults. On Dec. 8, The Outpost Restaurant was the scene of the Harney County Restoration Collaborative meeting with the local Blue Mountain Forest Partners collaborative and Forest Service representatives. Two local citizens attended this public meeting by invitation from HCRC. Their attendance, clearly not welcomed by all, and their attempt to participate in discussion was oppressed, verbally insulted and attacked to the point of perceived violence. This brings to mind the long-forgotten Grant County Ordinance 94-04, an Emergency Ordinance (1) to protect the public peace, general welfare, health, and safety of the citizens from violations of the constitutional rights of the citizens (et al) such as the Civil Rights Act, 18 USC 241 et seq, and public meeting laws. One of the public attendees was a female very active in county matters who had already been demeaned by the BMFP, denied membership because of her associations and her participation in public meetings. This last attack strongly indicates suppression and civil rights violations. We should thank Mr. Hannibal of the BMFP whose actions clarified the accepted character of these organizations and the perceived violent nature hidden within. The involvement with Grayback, Iron Triangle, BMFP and the Forest Service will be noted as well as the shadowed persona of those who approve of these actions. Regarding the ones refuted membership because of associations, that pendulum swings both ways for those who claim to represent our county through associations with those aforementioned organizations.

Judy Kerr

Canyon City