Summary
A right-wing organized rally, “Oregonians for Peace”, at 1 PM on July 12th drew a crowd of a few hundred people, including some counter-protestors. While words were exchanged between the two groups, the event ended without any physical altercations.
At the nightly demonstration in Chapman and Lownsdale Parks across from the Justice Center and Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse, most of the night was largely uneventful. Riot Ribs, quick becoming a Portland protest staple, fed protesters and passersby alike with barbecue and also acted as a mutual aid station providing water, tampons, and Advil to anyone who needed it.
There were various fires set throughout the night, the biggest being a combination of four smaller fires set in the fountain of the former Elk statue. Law enforcement made their first appearance of the night around 2:30 AM after protestors set a fire in the intersection between the Justice Center and the federal courthouse. As The Portland Police and sheriffs were retreating back into the Justice Center after having the fire put out, protestors followed them closely to the door, where an officer fired an unidentified munition into the crowd hitting a protestor.
There are unofficial reports of a few arrests made, but the Portland Police Bureau has yet to release a statement on the number of arrests made during the July 12th demonstration.
Scheduled Events
NW Portland Youth Led Protest – 3 PM
Black Lives Matter March – 6 PM
Timeline
At 1 PM today, an event called “Oregonians for Peace” organized by a right wing lifestyle vlogger was held at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park downtown. This event drew the attention of left wing counter-protestors, who showed up about an hour into the rally.
Portland protest day 45
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) July 12, 2020
This A.M. crowd is a kind of counter protest pic.twitter.com/SM8VzkfVn1
About 100-150 people, suburban parent types pic.twitter.com/HG2BEsfDB4
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) July 12, 2020
Some members of ‘Oregonians for Peace’ have come to verbally engage the counter protesters. Both sides are remaining peaceful so far. #PortlandProtests #PDXprotests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/lYn4bw2lVm
— Portland Independent Documentarians (@PDocumentarians) July 12, 2020
The nightly demonstration downtown in front of the Justice Center and Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse began as usual around 9 PM.
Riot Ribs is grilling and it smells incredible. pic.twitter.com/uFuqRWNpNp
— Robert Evans (The Only Robert Evans) (@IwriteOK) July 13, 2020
Please consider supporting Riot Ribs, who are out by the Justice Center most nights feeding protesters and passersby alike at no charge. (Venmo: @riotribs / CashApp: $riotribs)
Back at the justice center tonight. So far ther are at least a hundred people in the park and a long line for riot ribs
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) July 13, 2020
Maybe 300 people in the parks. Chanting is picking up, but the overall vibe remains chill. Despite the historical reality that at any moment the US Kohl’s could appear and start inflicting whatever violence they happen to feel like inflicting. pic.twitter.com/QkKKTaQf0I
— Brian Oaster (@BrianOaster) July 13, 2020
A musical vigil for Donovan LaBella, the young man who was shot in the head last night by federal agents for holding a boombox. pic.twitter.com/m2a1s42Jz3
— Robert Evans (The Only Robert Evans) (@IwriteOK) July 13, 2020
So…@Human42LM and I have arrived downtown. This is the current scene in front of the federal courthouse. pic.twitter.com/5kTmsRUvnm
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) July 13, 2020
This individual sitting in the vehicle is armed. He has told other protesters that he is armed, and is here to “defend the justice center”. #PortlandProtest #PDXprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/gCyp5Ct9lS
— Portland Independent Documentarians (@PDocumentarians) July 13, 2020
250-300+ people here, my guess. Discussing figures like Kate Brown and Teressa Raiford, getting caught up on news, some just hanging.
— ?️?Andrew D. Jankowski?️? (@AndrewJank) July 13, 2020
No sign of PPB or feds.
Plenty of folks braving the courthouse steps. No sign of federal goons yet. pic.twitter.com/UsUcaTxhkL
— Brian Oaster (@BrianOaster) July 13, 2020
Ok, here’s the deal. If you’re in the park, you’re eating ribs and playing cornhole (literally). If you’re in the street, you’re watching a teen karate kick the door of the federal courthouse and waiting to get tear gassed. If you’re at the elk, you’re building the hugest fire. pic.twitter.com/nN2FwsAPYZ
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 13, 2020
Luak pvt chito micha libesha hoke! ?
— Brian Oaster (@BrianOaster) July 13, 2020
These fires are hella big and warm! ? pic.twitter.com/uxjsapNZzS
Folks have stacked wood in front of the doors the feds live behind. There has been a lot of spraypainting and wall kicking and even peeing. So far, no response from inside. pic.twitter.com/t1p4tI9mi5
— Robert Evans (The Only Robert Evans) (@IwriteOK) July 13, 2020
At 11:45 PM protestors began making their way from the front of the federal courthouse to the front of the Justice Center across the street.
I don’t want to jinx anything but we are slowly moving towards the Justice Center, away from the federal courthouse.
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 13, 2020
I really thought the door-kicking routine would end in tear gas, but it didn’t and now we’ve almost forgotten about the federal courthouse. pic.twitter.com/iLqXBZvkdH
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 13, 2020
At 12:20 AM, a small group broke off from the larger demonstration with the intention of marching to Mayor Ted Wheeler’s home.
Some people from Portland Protest Bureau tried to get everyone to march to Ted Wheeler’s condo. Most protesters weren’t into the idea. Eventually they marched away with a very small group chanting, “Fuck Ted Wheeler,” kind of sadly.
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 13, 2020
At around 12:45 AM, an individual showed up to the demonstration and appeared to be instigating verbal altercations with protestors and live-streaming.
This person was refusing to put a mask on and yelling, “This is what crackers do!” over and over and also live-streaming (???) lol pic.twitter.com/fDvYQGXqtc
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 13, 2020
This guy is now pissing protesters off but refusing to leave.
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 13, 2020
Also, if you’re going to wear your mask like this, you’re extremely missing the point. pic.twitter.com/i9kmV7ybaA
Someone is being escorted out of the protest, people around him say he is trying to get people to fight him on video. This is like… the most heated it’s been all night, which is to say not very.
— ?️?Andrew D. Jankowski?️? (@AndrewJank) July 13, 2020
Baby fire on the east side of 3rd & Main. The fire builder yells, “Boy Scouts USA, mother fucker!” pic.twitter.com/bKymDDbWJR
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 13, 2020
The pallet fire has grown pic.twitter.com/VCJqHXDQ6c
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) July 13, 2020
The crowd is chanting Quanice Hayes. Read this: https://t.co/Yqy3YbaOIv (seriously, read it)
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 13, 2020
Moment of silence for Dominique Dunn, a Black man shot to death by a white man in Portland on Thursday.
— Brian Oaster (@BrianOaster) July 13, 2020
In case you were worried that the fire was gone. I was actually cold so this is nice. pic.twitter.com/T9f9CEXCeB
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) July 13, 2020
aaaaand other protesters put the fire out and are scolding the plywood person.
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 13, 2020
An update on the group that broke off to go to Mayor Ted Wheeler’s downtown condominium:
I’m just riding by. Nobody here.
— Brian Oaster (@BrianOaster) July 13, 2020
At 2:30 AM, an announcement could be heard over loudspeakers coming from the Justice Center.
Everything was quiet but then smoke from campfire was apparently getting into the Justice center prompting LRAD announcement to clear “so fire department can put out a tiny fire” pic.twitter.com/M1dOebE9x5
— Jake “wear a mask” Johnson (@FancyJenkins) July 13, 2020
LRAD announcement blames the fire. pic.twitter.com/dGNrLRLcEu
— Brian Oaster (@BrianOaster) July 13, 2020
Cops backed into their hole by the crowd. So tense. The police 100% started this. Crowd was done and leaving ten minutes ago. I literally watched people run back who had left to defend their friend from the police. The night was done, the fire was fine. pic.twitter.com/hBnBxTpoeb
— Donovan “It was the blurst of times” Farley ?? (@DonovanFarley) July 13, 2020
Protesters are not amused. A cop shoots a munition through a peephole point blank into the crowd. People call medic. pic.twitter.com/JtOqcdlrUE
— Brian Oaster (@BrianOaster) July 13, 2020
PPB has announced via LRAD south on 3rd that anyone lighting fires or “brings flammable materials” will be subject to arrest because the smoke is making an unhealthy environment in the JC for employees and “persons in custody” loud ass bang, firework?
— Jake “wear a mask” Johnson (@FancyJenkins) July 13, 2020
So now, after that obvious lie of needing to clear the road for the fire dept, we have actual anger born anew. People were droopy-eyed, stoned, full of BBQ & ready to dip. Now? That guy that looks like the Bitter Beer Face giy but is just a sad weirdo got to shoot someone.
— Donovan “It was the blurst of times” Farley ?? (@DonovanFarley) July 13, 2020
After filming (and praying) for about 8 minutes, I saw the PPB officers let them go. No violence, no arrests. Yakoke, Hvshtvli! Maybe Creator was listening.
— Brian Oaster (@BrianOaster) July 13, 2020
— Jake “wear a mask” Johnson (@FancyJenkins) July 13, 2020
Protesters are saying federal officers pointed a gun out this window at them while they were chilling. There is a little light you can see shining around from inside. pic.twitter.com/amsgYuUyNZ
— Jake “wear a mask” Johnson (@FancyJenkins) July 13, 2020
Shift change w/ escort has crowd excited. Protester said “our shift is still goin”
— Jake “wear a mask” Johnson (@FancyJenkins) July 13, 2020
I left early, but cosign @DonovanFarley‘s and @FancyJenkins‘ reports that last night/this morning’s protest would have gone entirely incident-free if PPB had remained inside.
— ?️?Andrew D. Jankowski?️? (@AndrewJank) July 13, 2020
Also, this idea that a small fire is more hazardous to JC occupants than indiscriminate tear-gassing..? https://t.co/bRbugSk8TC
Media
Present
- Sergio Olmos
- Portland Independent Documentarians – CashApp: $portlandindepend / PayPal: https://paypal.me/portlandindepend
- Robert Evans
- Brian Oaster – Venmo: @brianoaster
- 45th Parallel Absurdist Brigade – CashApp: $45thabsurdist / Venmo: the45thabsurdist
- Donovan Farley – CashApp: $DonovanFarley1 / PayPal: DonovanFarley / Venmo: Donovan-Farley
- Cory Elia (KBOO) – CashApp $CoryElia / paypal.me/CoryElia / Venmo @ Cory-Elia
- Leslie McL (KBOO) – CashApp: $LuhCreative / PayPal: http://PayPal.me/LuhCreative / Venmo: @Human42LM
- Andrew D. Jankowski – CashApp $AndrewJank
- Lindsey Smith – CashApp: $LindseyPSmith7 / Venmo: Lindsey-Smith-55
- Suzette Smith
- TJ @nogumbofornazis – CashApp: $nogumbofornazis
- Jake Johnson @FancyJenkins
- Cozcacuahutli Itzpapalotl @KohzKah – CashApp $cozca
Articles
It’s Going Down
The Oregonian
Protests continue in Portland for 46th day after demonstrator hospitalized previous night
The Seattle Times
Meet the Youth Liberation Front behind a militant marathon of Portland protests
Willamette Week
Oregon Governor and Senators Condemn Trump’s Use of “Occupying Army” on Portland Protesters
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler Asks Federal Officers to Use Restraint in Crowd Control
Police
Agencies Present
- Portland Police Bureau
- Multnomah County Sheriffs
Munitions
Unknown, at least one deployed
Arrests
No official reports as of 10:30 AM 7/13
Charges
No official reports as of 10:30 AM 7/13