PSU Magazine Winter 2005

ol surprisingly, the People's Am1y Jamboree rejecLed McCall's request lo reschedule. The group went ahead and busily planned a week's wonh of rallies and workshops from Della Park Lo souLheast Ponland Lo coincide with the American Legion convention. The aclivities were Lo cover a gamut of issues, from Lhe war, lo women's rights, to labor issues. Organizers cautioned panicipanls to keep it cool: "Please remember that Lhe Jamboree does not wish to initiate violence. Those who do so in a potentially dan– gerous situation may bring down some heavy s--- on Lheir brothers and sisters, and may be viewed as Pig provocateurs trying Lo cause an excuse for the Pigs to come down on us. So please use your head." McCall went ahead ,viLh the plans for Voncx. City of Portland business leaders loved the idea. To many, it was a brilliant way to divert protesters away from Ponland, and they backed it with cash. "l remember going into Lhe Arling– Lon Club, explaining what Lhe city faced, trying lo raise money for Vortex, and Lhe wallets coming out," says Port– land venture capiLalisl Craig Berkman, who was 29 at the time. L ove estimates anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 people auended Lhe six-day Vortex fe lival, noliceably reducing what the Oregon Journal called "the number of long-haired youth on Port– land streets." The festival peaked on Saturday, Aug. 29, when traffic streLched from the fronl gale of Mcivor Park Lo 82nd Avenue in southeasl P nland, a distance of abouL 18 miles. "Rumors of big-name performers guaranteed Lo play Oew around the fes– Lival: Lhe GraLeful Dead, Jefferson Air– plane, Cream, Deep Purple, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Janis, Jimi and the ubiq– uitous apparition known as Santana," Love writes. But no supersLar acts were acLually scheduled. Organizers down– played the lineup-which consisted primarily of local bands-because they didn't want anybody to be disap– pointed and leave. Despite the lack of superstar per– formers, attendees looking for a Wood– stock-like experience found it: rock 'n' roll, copious nudity, psy– chedelic drug use (includ– ing emergency tents lo deal with overdoses), skinny– dipping, and an aura of free self-expression. V ortex by day is an unbe– lievable mass of people," wroLe Leonard Bacon of The Oregonian. "By nighL, it is a fantasy that defies reality. Thousands of campfires break Lhe black– ness of the campground. The scene is tranquil, wiLh small groups gathering low voices Lo the accompani– ment of guitars. Long hairs and straights sing for the love of people. The night air is also split by sudden 'Cherokee' screams of a 'freak-om' in Lerror of his self-induced hallucinatory nightmares. Commune families gaLher in close circles, holding hands in Only local bands entertained Vortex festival goers. the dark, singing Lheir mysterious 'om' ing 'peace brother, love broLher.' ll was chant calling on an inner spirit. On the most effecLive technique in non- roads and paths lhroughouL Lhe park, violence l'vc ever seen in my life." a 0mving river of humaniLy moves A continuously, seeming Lo never slop mental healLh counselor who or lo be going anywhere. " worked al the festival summed up Vortex was doing such a good job Vortex this way in a leLLer to Mc all: of pulling attention away from the Peo- "A young man said lo another, 'I Lhink pie's Army Jamboree that about 20 you did lhal on purpose, broLher; but Jamboree members-accusing Vortex l'm here lo love everyone, so l won'L organizers of being tricked by Lhe gov- kick Lhe s--- oul of you.' And indeed ernor-triecl LO Lake Lhc stage Lo make Lhere was a good spiriL of love, of shar- an appeal. ing, of friendliness, and of good Limes "As they goL close lo the bouom of in the park." the sLage, all of a sudden, ladies all ln Portland, the convention went around them dropped Lheir clothes," on (without ixon, who reportedly WesLerdahl recalled. "Every one of cancelled at Lhe last moment), Lhe these men had Lwo ladies on him say- Legionnaires paraded through Lhc Reviews are or facult y and alumni books, recordings , and Web publica– tions. To have a work considered for this page, please contact PSU Maga– z ine via email to psumag@pdx.edu , or fax to 503-725-4465 , or mail LO PSU Magazine, Office or Publica- tions, Portland State University, PO Box 751 , Portland, OR 97207-0751. sLreets, and Lhe People's Army Jam– boree wenL about iLs activities with ul triggering Lhe riots Lhat many had feared. When iL was all over, McCall received some letters of criticism, buL mosLly enjoyed widespread praise-a far cry from Lhe poliLical suicide he predicLed. Thal November, he won a second term as governor, beating Bob Straub ,vith 56 percent of the vole. -John Kirkland WINTER 2005 PSU MAGAZl E 5