Occupy Cedar Rapids group gets donated space at Matyk building

CEDAR RAPIDS - Occupy Cedar Rapids is no longer assembling at Green Square Park; the group has moved its nightly meetings indoors.

The nearly week-old group announced on its website the change in venue to an unfinished space at 1029 Third St. SE in New Bohemia, donated to them by Michael and Lynette Richards. Group members met at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, to delegate responsibilities, form committees, discuss food and medical issues, and determine their next protest locations.

Camping still appears to be an afterthought among the group, although many confirm they still will do so once they get people to join, group member Ashley Super, 59, said.

Building owner Michael Richards, who attended Thursday, said he has donated the art house and meeting space to multiple organizations, including Women for Peace, over the past 12 years. He makes his living from the production of his invention of soybean wax for Soyawax International, but he said he considers his real work to rebuild communities.

"Peace is not a passive process ... it's about participatory democracy from the ground up," Richards, 61, said. He added the space is open to occupiers for an unlimited amount of time, so long as they commit to non-violence and creative productivity.

"People think we're probably not organized but we're trying to do something different," co-organizer Greg Vail, 44, said, who works for Richards and went to him for help. Vail said he hopes the space inspires the group.

Occupy Cedar Rapids is to hold its next group protest at the West side corner of First Avenue SE and Collins Road SE Saturday at 1 p.m. to continue their protest of general issues in alliance with Occupy Wall Street.