Protests for July 26

Posted on by sal

Summary

During the day, the Push for Peace rally was held and occurred without incident. A couple hundred protestors “marched” on wheels (including bicycles, skateboards, and roller skates) from Laurelhurst Park to Burnside Skate Park, where they listened to black teen community leaders speak about police brutality and call for police abolition.

In the evening, at its height about 1000 protestors were gathered downtown in front of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse and the Justice Center. This event saw attendance from the Wall of Moms, the Dad Pod, and the Wall of Vets, who have all been regular attendees of the nightly demonstrations downtown recently.

Just after midnight, the crowd saw their first round of tear gas from federal officers, which continued for hours throughout the night. At 12:15 AM, Federal Protective Services declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and the use of tear gas continued without warning before each new wave against the crowd. Federal officers were also seen using high powered lasers from a higher vantage point somewhere on the courthouse to mark protestors that were throwing tear gas canisters back over the fence surrounding the courthouse.

The Witches, a group that has been providing mutual aid to protestors and running a medical supply tent in one of the parks across from the federal courthouse and Justice Center, were forced out of the area by the high volumes of tear gas deployed by federal officers. According to other witnesses in the area and one of the volunteers working with The Witches, the medical supplies in the tent were intentionally destroyed after their departure. This action was said to have been done by federal officers.

There were also reports of a shooting that occurred around 7:30 PM at Lownsdale Park before the demonstration began for the night. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the incident, both of whom have since been released from police custody. It is unclear if this event had anything to do with the ongoing protests in the area.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

A march on wheels was held midday starting at 1 PM at Laurelhurst Park.

In the evening, the demonstration downtown in front of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse and Justice Center occurred as it has nearly every night for the last two months.

Just after midnight the Federal Protective Services announced over their loudspeaker that protestors had to disperse or risk use of force.

At about 12:15 AM, the Federal Protective Services declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.

At about 1:15 AM, federal officers exited the courthouse and the surrounding fenced area to stand in front of the fence facing protestors.

[Content Warning (below): intense/frightening scene of police violence] In the clip, two arrests were made by federal officers.

Note: It is difficult to distinguish between some federal officers and Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers because they both wear dark uniforms. There had been no indication that PPB officers were on the scene.

From here there was no more coverage of the demonstration, as journalists likely went home in the early morning hours.

The Witches (who have been running a medical aid tent every night in one of the parks in the area of the protests) had their supplies destroyed, allegedly by federal officers.

Media

Present

Articles

AP News

On Portland’s streets: Anger, fear, and a fence that divides

CBS News

Portland protests again culminate in use of tear gas by federal agents

CNN

Why Portland? The city’s history of protest takes an exceptional turn

The Guardian

Anti-fascists linked to zero murders in the US in 25 years

Clashes in Portland as Trump’s actions light fuse under protests in other cities

‘These are his people’: inside the elite border patrol unit Trump sent to Portland

KGW

Portland protests continue for 60th night

KOIN

PPB: 2 arrested, released after 1 shot near Lownsdale Square

Los Angeles Times

Column: They’re fed up with the ‘tyranny’ of face masks. But Portland? That’s about ‘law and order’

Protests reignite across U.S. as standoffs in Portland continue between protesters and federal agents

The New York Times

Cities in Bind as Turmoil Spreads Far Beyond Portland

Who Gets to Be a ‘Naked Athena’?

NPR

Tear Gas Fired On Protesters Again During Overnight Protests In Portland

OPB

More federal officers deploying to Portland as protests gain momentum

The Oregonian

Inside the Portland protest zone: ‘I don’t think there’s an end in sight’

Police say 2 arrested, 1 injured in gunfire near downtown Portland protest site

Willamette Week

Portland’s “Naked Athena” Speaks for the First Time to a Local Podcast

Portland Settles With Downtown Resident Whose Apartment Filled With Tear Gas

Police

Agencies Present

  • U.S. Marshals
  • Department of Homeland Security – Federal Protective Services

Munitions

  • tear gas
  • pepper balls
  • lasers
  • flash bangs
  • rubber bullets

Arrests

10

Charges

Assault of a federal officer, violating a no-fly zone with a drone