Protests for July 31

Summary

Protests continued across Portland, from a car caravan that looped from East Portland to downtown, to a Firefighters in Solidarity with BLM event, to The People Vs. ICE holding a march and rally to talk about its impact on their community and solidarity with other oppressed groups.

Marchers gathered at Waterfront Park before proceeding to the Justice Center, including the Unemployed Workers for Black Lives march which marked the scheduled expiration of CARES act funding on July 31. AZN Bloc and Moms for Black Liberation also rallied together with the workers’ group. At the Justice Center, minimal police presence was seen as protesters gave speeches, chanted, and started small fires in the street. Most activity had wound down by 2 AM.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

The People vs. ICE is a rally and march this afternoon:

The Portland firefighters for BLM are gathering at the park named in their honor at NW 18th & Burnside:

Multiple times a week, car caravan protests offer a COVID-safe option to get out and show support for Black Lives Matter:

Several groups are planning to join protests tonight at the Justice Center, including an unemployed workers’ march, and Asians for Black Liberation. Folks are gathering at Waterfront Park to start this off:

At the Justice Center, speeches are happening on the steps and a support team is handing out safety gear next to the park:

Marchers leave Waterfront Park:

Meanwhile at Revolution Hall:

Downtown, the Justice Center/Federal Courthouse protest has grown to about a thousand people:

“Abolish the police!”

“Do you want to taste freedom, or not? Do you want to taste justice, or not! Justice is not those individuals being put in prison, justice is when we prevent this from ever happening again!”

A little percussion to go with the chants:

It’s still quiet on the law enforcement side of the fence:

Some small fires:

Not much police presence on the street level, but they’re definitely watching:

This is turning into a decent little campfire:

Fires continue to provoke disagreement, but also –

Some reports of Trump supporters who showed up to yell at people (and probably start a fight):

Some of the moms want the fire put out, so that’s the end of it.

On the other side of the block, cops come out and sweep trash away from one of the doors:

The moms left, so now there’s another fire:

New art!

Media

Present

Articles

Associated Press

Oregon hopes for changes from ongoing Portland protests

Courthouse News

The Guardian

US homeland security surveilling journalists covering Portland protests

The Nation

Playing War While Dressed to Kill in Portland

NBC News

‘They have to defend themselves’: U.S. Marshals speak out on violent clashes with Portland protestors

The New York Times

Homeland Security Shuts Down ‘Intelligence’ Reports on Journalists

OPB

The Oregonian

Politico

Portland Mercury

Reuters

Washington Post

Police

Agencies present

  • Federal: unknown, watching from the Federal Courthouse upper levels
  • Portland Police Bureau
  • Oregon State Police

Munitions used

N/A

Number of arrests

PPB: none

Charges

N/A

Protests for July 30

Summary

At about 5:30 am on July 30th individuals living in Lownsdale Square Park, across from the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse, were abruptly told by Portland Police Bureau officers that they had 10 minutes to gather what they could and vacate the area in an early morning sweep. The blue tents that had become a staple at the nightly protests providing food and medical supplies to protestors were taken down and the park was cleared of the belongings of the people that lived there. The park was then taped off and it was announced that Lownsdale Square and its neighboring parks, Chapman Square and Terry Schrunk Plaza, were closed.

At 10 AM, a march demanding justice for Patrick Kimmons led by his mother was held downtown. The group began at the Justice Center, then marched to the place where Patrick was shot by police, and then back to the Justice Center, where they encountered Portland Police officers in one of the closed off parks. At this demonstration, two protesters were arrested by Portland Police. Pro-police “Blue Lives Matter” counter-protesters were also present in the area downtown, but besides some mild verbal interaction between the two groups, there were no altercations.

At night, the demonstration in front of the Justice Center and Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse proceeded as usual, and it was a largely uneventful night. Protesters gathered in front of the Justice Center initially to listen to members of the community speak and then moved over to the federal courthouse. There were only some minor incidents, including small fires set around the area and protesters shaking the fence surrounding the federal courthouse, but none of these prompted a response by law enforcement officers. Law enforcement officers were seen only once throughout the night, around 2:50 AM, when unidentified federal officers (it was difficult to see their uniforms in the dark in the few videos that captured them) stepped out of the courthouse and into the portico between the front of the building and the surrounding fence, looked around, and then went back inside. From here the night ended without any further incident.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

At 10 AM a group of protesters rallied at the Justice Center demanding justice for Patrick Kimmons, led by his mother.

At one point a woman was reportedly assaulted near protesters. Police officers standing nearby did not respond. It is also unclear if either party of the incident were a part of the protest.

Pro-police counterprotesters were seen downtown by the Justice Center.

Two protesters were arrested, including an individual (seen in the second video below) that has been seen playing a trumpet for protesters at demonstrations.

In the evening, the nightly demonstration in front of the Justice Center and Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse happened as usual.

At about 1 AM, a new version of the Snack Van (which has been providing snacks for protesters for weeks and has repeatedly been the target of attacks by law enforcement) arrived at the demonstration.

As 2 AM hit and protester numbers dwindled, there still hadn’t been any engagement from law enforcement officers.

Just after 2:50 AM, law enforcement officers were seen walking around in the portico in front of the federal courthouse. Minutes later they went back inside and did not engage with protesters.

Media

Present

Articles

ABC News

How Portland became nation’s hotbed for clashes between protesters and federal agents

CNN

A photojournalist who was shot in the eye says it’s not just violent rioters being targeted in Portland

Columbia Journalism Review

Taking shots in Portland

Forbes

Trump Calls Portland Protesters ‘Anarchists’ And ‘Agitators.’ Data Shows Otherwise.

The Guardian

Portland sees peaceful night of protests following withdrawal of federal agents

Independent

Trump threatens to send National Guard to Portland and calls protesters ‘terrorists’

KGW

Campers cleared from Portland parks after protest

Mic

How Black anarchists are keeping the protest movement alive

The Nation

How the DHS Can Still Arrest Journalists in Portland

NBC News

Trump calls Portland protesters ‘terrorists,’ claims they ‘hate our country’

The New Republic

All Police Can Be Secret Police

NPR

How Portland’s Racist History Informs Today’s Protests

OPB

Analysis: Portland protesters vary as much as their arrests

Portland leaders promise less tear gas as Oregon State Police arrive

Portland police clear parks across from federal courthouse in early-morning sweep

The Oregonian

Oregon state troopers start duty at federal courthouse ahead of Portland protests Thursday

Leaders in Thursday night crowd called out violence, turned focus away from federal courthouse in Portland

Politico

Citing impostors, feds urge lifting of court order protecting journalists amid Portland protests

Portland Mercury

Portland Police Temporarily Barred From Live-Streaming Protests

Portland Police Will Work Closely With State Troopers Guarding Federal Courthouse

ProPublica

Portland Protesters No Longer Being Banned From Attending Protests to Win Release From Jail

Reuters

Portland protesters put out fires as feds withdraw

Revolt

America, here’s the truth about Portland’s protests that the mainstream is hiding

The Seattle Times

Man takes stand against street bonfire amid uncertainty over what happens next in Portland protests

Shootings increase during Portland protests

Time

‘It’s About the Core Values of Black Lives Matter.’ Portland Activists Are Trying to Remind People Why They Started Protesting to Begin With

The Washington Post

DHS compiled ‘intelligence reports’ on journalists who published leaked documents

Protests live updates: Calm returns to Portland protests as federal forces pull back

Protests live updates: No charges for former officer who killed Michael Brown; DHS compiles reports on journalists

Willamette Week

Holly Martinez and Rian Peck Are Suing the Federal Government. They’re Not Alone.

President Trump Gives Oregon State Police Two Days to “Clean Out This Beehive of Terrorists”

Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Says It Is Investigating the Federal Rinsing of Tear Gas Into Storm Drains

Mayor Ted Wheeler Apologizes for Portland Police Bureau’s Excessive Use of Tear Gas

Police

Agencies Present

  • Portland Police Bureau
  • Unidentified federal officers

Munitions

None

Arrests

2

Charges

Disorderly conduct II, Criminal mischief II, Trespassing II, Interfering with a peace officer