Protests for July 28

Posted on by audrey

Summary

Tuesday night’s protests downtown started with an Indigenous group gathering to sing and mark a ceremony in the park across from the Federal Courthouse. The Walls of Moms and Vets returned to stand in protection of other protesters, while speeches happened outside the Justice Center. About 1500 people were participating at the night’s peak.

Much of the night was uneventful, with periodic announcements from the Federal Courthouse and sporadic firing of pepper balls. Around 1:30 AM the feds announced an unlawful assembly, ordering people to leave and firing tear gas. There was no further escalation until after 2 AM as several members of the press began to leave, at which point a large group of feds emerged from the courthouse and began marching up the street and clearing the parks. After teargassing the area and pushing protesters toward SW 5th Ave, the feds then retreated. There was minimal activity after this until about 4 AM when a remaining member of the press was suddenly arrested.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

Back at the Federal Courthouse again tonight, let’s have a quick look at the current fence situation:

Meanwhile in the park across the street, a Native group is holding a ceremony:

Hosing off the courthouse entrance while people are gathered outside seems like a good way to make sure everyone gets another dose of last night’s chemical weapons:

Speeches are happening on the steps of the Justice Center:

The moms are in place, facing the Federal Courthouse:

There’s an announcement from the Federal Courthouse LRAD:

Just before 10 PM the feds emerge from the courthouse, where few people are currently gathered. People are reporting that they briefly fired some pepper balls, then returned inside.

Speeches continue, the Native group is singing in front of the Federal Courthouse, and there’s always some chants:

Folks have been commenting that the federal LRAD announcements seem to be on a schedule:

If we confirm that from previous night’s accounts, I’ll add a note here.

There’s a small trash fire next to the fence:

The consensus from the people we’re following seems to be that the vibe is off tonight, lots of random fights and people policing others’ protests:

The bathroom situation down there has not been great, so this is a nice touch:

The wall of moms and vets moves in formation, toward the courthouse:

Another announcement at just about 11:30 PM:

Another look at the crowd, definitely smaller tonight:

A little after midnight there was a scare when the feds came out, but it was short-lived:

About 20 minutes later, a short burst of activity from the feds:

There’s another small trash fire going:

The moms are still here and ready:

Half an hour later, the feds again shoot some pepper balls at the crowd. Not much precedes this aside from the occasional firework:

Periodic announcements to not damage the fence continue:

At about 1:30 AM the feds declare an unlawful assembly:

Protesters are ordered to move away to the west and north:

Then the feds start shooting tear gas:

Protesters pull back from the fence to the opposite side of the street:

A section of the fence was torn at some point:

Around 2 AM, things had thinned out substantially and reporters started talking about wrapping up:

Not long after, the feds marched on the street:

They then use tear gas and riot munitions to clear the streets outside the courthouse and the (city) parks:

Warning: flashing lights on this video

Just before 4 AM, long after the feds had retreated back to the courthouse, a journalist is arrested:

Media

Present

Articles

Associated Press

Source: US, Oregon in talks about pulling agents in Portland

CNN

Trump administration plans to keep federal presence in Portland into October, email shows

East Oregonian

Crowdfunding campaign places Black Lives Matter billboard in Pendleton

The Intercept

Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Lieu Introduce Amendment to Curtail Federal Crackdown on Protesters

The New York Times

Newsweek

Portland Photojournalist Arrested During Protests Describes Abuse by Federal Agents

OPB

The Oregonian

Portland Mercury

Pro Publica

“Defendant Shall Not Attend Protests”: In Portland, Getting Out of Jail Requires Relinquishing Constitutional Rights

Washington Post

Oregon governor, federal officials announce withdrawal of most federal agents, but timelines differ

Willamette Week

Police

Agencies present

Federal: DHS, US Marshals, etc.

Munitions used

  • Pepper balls
  • Flash bang grenades
  • Tear gas

Number of arrests

Federal: one charged (as of 4pm on 7/31)

Charges

  • Arson

Protests for July 27

Posted on by sal

Summary

In Downtown Portland, the nightly demonstration in front of the Justice Center and Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse continued as it has almost every night for the last 60 days. Among the hundreds of participants were some recognizable groups including the Wall of Moms, the Wall of Vets, and the Dad Pod. Unfortunately, a group that wasn’t there was locally beloved Riot Ribs (who had been feeding protestors and the surrounding community alike free of charge for the last few weeks), who announced during the day over Twitter that they were dissolving.

Multiple fires were set early in the night, one at the site of the former elk statue and one in the portico in front of the federal courthouse. Not long after, federal officers deployed tear gas, pepper balls, flash bangs, and impact munitions at protestors from inside the courthouse.

At 11:40 PM, after multiple heavy rounds of tear gas use, federal officers declared the demonstration an unlawful assembly. Following this declaration was more deployment of tear gas, pepper balls, and impact munitions against protestors until just after 1 AM, when federal officers moved out onto the streets and pushed protestors west out of the area. After federal officers retreated back off the streets, protestors promptly returned to the area in front of the courthouse.

The night seemingly ended without further incident.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

A vigil was held in honor of Tete Gulley, a black houseless woman in Portland whose death was labeled a suicide, which has been widely contested by her family and the community.

Downtown, the evening demonstration in front of the Justice Center and Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse occurred as usual.

Journalist Eder Campuzano outlined the two different groups that were demonstrating downtown:

At about 11:30 PM, federal officers emerged from the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse for the first time of the night. By 11:35 PM they had begun deploying tear gas and impact munitions against protestors from inside the fence surrounding the courthouse.

At about 11:45 PM, federal officers warned that they would declare the gathering an unlawful assembly.

Following about 20 minutes of tear gassing and shooting pepper balls at protestors, federal officers reentered the courthouse after putting out the fire in the portico.

At about 11:40 AM, federal officers declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.

Just after 1 AM, federal officers exited the courthouse and pushed protestors out of the area going several different directions.

After federal officers withdrew, protestors appeared to move back to the area in front of the federal courthouse that officers had cleared.

After this point the night seemingly ended without further incident.

Early the next morning, Riot Ribs posted a press release to their Twitter account explaining their decision to dissolve:

Media

Present

Articles

ABC News

US Attorney: Feds will stay in Portland until attacks end

AP News

Barr to condemn rioting at much-anticipated House hearing

BBC News

Portland protests: Ban federal agents from cities, Democratic mayors say

Business Insider

A journalist who’s worked with PBS and National Geographic tells us what it was like being shot in the eye by law enforcement in Portland

CBS News

Barr to tell House Judiciary Committee that Portland protests are “an assault on the government of the United States”

Courthouse News

Portland Protesters Undeterred by Near Triple-Digit Heat

CNN

Peaceful protests and violent clashes erupted this weekend. Here’s what happened in 6 cities

The Hill

Wall of Moms, Black Lives Matter sue Trump admin over Portland response

22 people facing federal charges in connection to Portland protests

KATU

Don’t Shoot PDX, Wall of Moms file lawsuit against Homeland Security

22 protesters face federal charges after arrests in Portland over the weekend

KGW

Demonstrators congregate in downtown Portland as protests continue

Los Angeles Times

As protests against federal agents grow in Portland, Black activists worry their message is getting lost

‘The Moms Are Here’: ‘Wall of Moms’ Groups Mobilize Nationwide

The Oregonian

At Portland protests, Riot Ribs is dissolving completely after threats to group’s safety

Law office of Portland police union attorneys vandalized

Wall of Moms, Don’t Shoot Portland sue federal Homeland Security, Justice Departments

Two Portlanders hospitalized after shot with munitions: ‘If that round had hit me in the neck, I definitely would have died.’

Portland protests return for 61st day after weekend of large crowds, clashes with police (live updates)

Portland Mercury

Federal Officers Probably Aren’t Leaving Downtown Portland Anytime Soon

Portland State Vanguard

Diverse voices join resurgence in Portland protests

Portland Tribune

Wheeler, Hardesty request meeting with feds

Lewis & Clark history department chair shot at protest

Street Roots

Feds sprayed chemicals into the eyes of a retired ER nurse and veteran

Truthout

If We Don’t Want Armed Feds Occupying Our Cities, We Must Hit the Streets

The Washington Post

More federal agents dispatched to Portland as protests rise in other cities

Protests resurge across U.S. as clashes continue in Portland

Wall of Moms, Black Lives Matter protesters sue Trump administration for use of tear gas, force in Portland

Willamette Week

Groups and Individuals Active in Nightly Portland Protests File New Lawsuit Against Federal Agencies

Portland Police Association Warns City Council New Police Oversight Proposal Is Illegal

Police

Agencies Present

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

Munitions

  • tear gas
  • pepper balls
  • impact munitions (rubber bullets)
  • flash bangs
  • lasers

Arrests

State: 1 juvenile

Federal: 2

Charges

State: Criminal mischief, Disorderly conduct

Federal: Assault of a federal officer, Failure to comply with lawful order