| LIBERTADKORPS |
 |
| NICKELSVILLE SEATTLE INTERVIEWS by Tom Hastings � 2008 www.geocities.com/libertadkorps Over four hours of tapes caught their stories: In this illegal homeless camp, over 100 homeless folk defy the law, living in tents across the street from University of Washington Seattle campus. Over a few weeks I was able to fill my tapes with properly balanced demographics: Listening to these tapes, I am impressed by the stories of these folk and their dedication to Community, Solidarity, the Future of America: AARON ELIJAH COLYER Aaron Colyer is 28 years old, white, and wears a slight beard under his jaw like Henry David Thoreau. He often chairs the nightly 6PM meetings. He hands out business cards that read: �Aaron Colyer, Homeless Marine Corps Veteran, Resident of Nickelsville, Servant of God.� TEX Tex Shirey is 38 years old, white, and wears a blond full beard. Tex speaks in a great Texas drawl. MATT Matt is 26 years old, white, clean-shaven, and has been working as a waiter at a fancy restaurant for a year. Keeping employees part-time at 20 hours or less allows employers to deny all health insurance, benefits, sick and vacation pay, even holiday pay. BEAU Beau is in his 30�s, a big robust African American who looks like a linebacker and sounds like Malcolm X. Beau speaks without stammering or hesitation, in a clear bass-boom voice meant for radio. ROBERT Robert Brenot is 42 years old, white, wears a gray goatee beard, and is an active participant in meetings. RICHARD Richard Gilbert is middle-aged, white, wears a red beard, and is soft-spoken and thoughtful. RICO Rico is 47, half Mahican Indian, half Hawaiian. Rico mediates disputes and serves as security. He has been a prizefighter, fisherman, coast guard crewman, iron worker, and smoke jumper wildfire fighter. TENT 214 Tent 214 is a Pima Indian from the Gila River Indian Community outside Phoenix, Arizona. DONNA Donna is 38, a Lakota American Indian from North Dakota. PAULETTE Paulette is 60 years old, white, and lived with her son-in-law until their landlord doubled their rent. BUTCH AND CORY BRUBAKER Butch and Cory Brubaker have two kids and a big chocolate dog living with them at Nickelsville. Their son is in 6th grade; their daughter is in 7th grade. They also have a 16-year-old daughter currently staying with friends. Butch is African American; Cory is white. Their kids appear to be well-adjusted and happy. And Spud Brubaker is the perfect camp dog who seems to be everyone�s best friend. |
| Spud Brubaker, Aaron Colyer |
| Dave, Aaron Beaucage, Aaron Colyer |
| Matt |
| Robert and Aaron Colyer |
| Local Hero Spud Brubaker, with Cory and Butch Brubaker |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Paulette Bade |
| Aaron Beaucage at new Nickelsville site |
| Spud and Matthew Brubaker |
 |