Salue’ my name is Ross Bennett; I arrived at Dignity Village in its early organizing days of 2001 when it was located under the Freemont Bridge. Before arriving at the “Village”, I experienced the “houseless” situation, but never “homeless-ness” probable because as a forest activist my center of reality of our home is our planet, and not a physical structure, and also I had a community of other activist that supported each other.

  It wasn’t until I wandered into town that I observed what I call “Ameristinians” some people like words like dis-infranchised but excuse my frankness our Nation has a group of people (6,000,000 mil)and growing, that for the most part have no legal representation or adequate housing and only random cell groups without any solidarity or collective power.   Eventually I met JP Cupp and Tim Brown Ibrihim mubarak and Alex Lilly,  these guys were like Superheroes to me fighting the “Oppressive System” they were the HLF(homeless liberation front} they were to me the hottest thing since the “Black Panthers”   

  These Superheroes possessed the hope and desire for Freedom, and like “Rosa Parks” they were emerging on the wings of desperation and hope, oh did I forget non-violent civil disobedience  it is what divides the “Conscious Citizens” from the  slumbering sheep that are hypnotized by convenience and status quo.

  Like that glorious day that “Rosa” said I’m not getting up from my seat, followed by her community supporting each other in the Montgomery Buss Boycott.

  And for those who don’t know, status quo and convenience had to take a back seat to community activism.

   So I joined with JP, Tim, Ibrihim and others Villagers with community organizations such as Street roots, sistersoftheroad, city repair, the Larson Legacy, Kwamba productions and a long list of others supporters   underneath the Freemont Bridge.

In my time with “DignityVillage” I participated in non-violent civil disobedience, was arrested, won in court with a “judgment of acquittal” then graduating into legitimacy of a “Village” evolving into a “democratic village model” that is being viewed by the Nation, as well as internationally.

     I am the currant Secretary for the Village; also I am collaborating with other Villagers and Kwamba productions in the development of a video toolkit that educates villagers internally as a collective community, as well as externally educating other Communities for social change and possible de- criminalization of the poor people of our Community’s   

                    Hug a Tree and the people under it    Ross Bennet