Protests for August 6

Posted on by audrey

Summary

On Thursday night, protesters returned to East Portland and the precinct on SE 106th Ave. Hours before, the Portland Police Bureau posted on Twitter that they were aware of the protest announcement and it “will not go unanswered”. As protesters gathered at Floyd Light Park near the precinct, a small counter-demonstration shared their views of the protests and policing. Police encouraged this group to leave before the march arrived. As the Wall of Vets formed a line in front of the building, other demonstrators threw paint on the plywood covering the building entrance and lit a small fire in a trash can, which led to verbal confrontations with two elderly neighborhood residents.

At about 9:50 PM the police made an announcement on the LRAD that the protest was now an illegal assembly. Protesters were ordered to go north, but since the LRAD truck was also parked in that direction, people remained where they were. Around 10:20 PM, riot police arrived to disperse the protest. They rushed the crowd, forcing them to the north and east at a rapid pace that reporters struggled to keep up with or film effectively. Police also slashed the tires on the Snack Van, which was slowly following the protesters in the ordered direction of dispersal.

After pushing to SE 113th, the police held a line on SE Stark, then retreated, firing smoke canisters. Protesters followed them, returning to the precinct. Police rushed the protesters again, splitting them into multiple groups to the north and east. As people returned back to the protest origin, they were rushed again, with one group being chased through the nearby shopping center parking lots. These patterns of dispersal continued until about 12:30 AM, when the police made an announcement that the area from SE 106th Ave from SE Washington St to SE Cherry Blossom St was closed, citing a law intended for life-safety situations such as bomb threats and major disasters. In contradiction of that law, they also announced that press could be arrested for remaining in the closed area.

Smaller groups of protesters remained in the area, with most activity dropping off after 2 AM.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

Having a look around before tonight’s scheduled protest at the East Precinct, a follow-up to what happened last night:

Earlier today, the Portland Police Bureau made a baffling choice to call out the PNW Youth Liberation Front, which is made up of teenage activists, for sharing information about the protest:

Because of the impact of last night’s police action, activists have organized outreach and supply distributions for neighbors who may be at risk of being exposed to tear gas again:

The increased attention has also brought out some counter-protesters:

The BLM protest is warming up:

The Wall of Vets is lined up outside the East Precinct:

First LRAD announcement at 9:44 PM:

On hearing that announcement, the vets check their safety gear:

Paint has been splashed on the building:

Just after 9:50 PM an unlawful assembly is declared:

Someone has busted up a surveillance camera:

The order to go north seems a little questionable:

Now a trash fire:

Surveillance continues:

No sign that people intend to disperse:

Quick recap:

And the riot cops are out:

Ventura Park is half a mile from the precinct. Only about 10 minutes have passed since the push started.

The police have blocked off SE Stark:

Somehow the LRAD truck got a flat tire (the Snack Van tires were slashed again – all four! – by the riot cops):

Another push:

I think this is a new tactic tonight:

It sounds like groups have gotten split up a little, but this is north of the precinct past a major arterial:

Police continue to interfere with the press:

More pushes:

The East Precinct is in a weird spot next to a defunct mall, some other strip malls, a divided arterial, and a twisty maze of residential streets, so there are a lot of ways to get separated or turned around.

Let’s have a look at happened to those police cars’ tires (note that we don’t have any independent confirmation that these caltrops were used):

Police chasing protesters and press through the Target parking lot:

Back at the East Precinct:

And pushed to SE 106th and Washington (just north of the precinct):

Then the police announce they’re closing this area and will arrest people who don’t leave, including press:

This is what they’re citing:

But they’re ignoring the rest of what that law says:

Multiple reports of the police destroying or stealing medical supplies:

Another push (north on SE 106th):

Most people seem to have left at this point:

Media

Present

Articles

OPB

The Oregonian

Portland Tribune

Portland Police declare unlawful assembly at East Precinct

The Washington Post

Chad Wolf defends Trump administration’s Portland protest response

Willamette Week

Police

Agencies present

  • Portland Police Bureau
  • Oregon State Police

Munitions used

  • Pepper balls
  • Smoke
  • Pepper spray

Number of arrests

PPB: 13

Charges

  • Interfering with a Police Officer
  • Harassment
  • Riot
  • Escape III
  • Criminal Mischief I
  • Disorderly Conduct II
  • Resist Arrest

Protests for August 5

Posted on by sal

Summary

On the night of August 5th, the main demonstration took place at The Portland Police Bureau’s East Precinct, a location that until then had not seen any protests besides small ones during the day. Protesters first met at Floyd Light City Park nearby, then made their way to the front of the precinct. There, protesters made quick work of spray painting over cameras, attempting to smash the front doors of the building, and setting small fires. Just 20 minutes after protesters arrived, Portland Police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and ordered protesters to disperse. About 5 minutes later Portland Police declared the gathering a riot. The tactics that law enforcement officers used to disperse protesters included tear gas, pepper balls, foam rounds, and bull-rushing and pushing protesters from behind with their batons. Several arrests were made as police continued pushing protesters for multiple blocks and into the surrounding residential neighborhood. Multiple members of the press also got footage of officers unlawfully demanding that press move off the street and onto the sidewalk (in a neighborhood that did not appear to have sidewalks) and threatening them with arrest.

As protesters were pushed into the residential neighborhoods during one of many bull-rushes executed by law enforcement officers, some community members in the area elected to open up their front yards and homes for protesters to wait safely for officers to pass. But one individual was caught on video standing on her front steps, in clear view of protesters, wearing a jacket with a swastika armband on its sleeve. This individual was quickly noticed by protesters, who demanded she remove the arm band. When she did not do so, some protesters tried to pull the band off of her arm. She eventually returned back into her home unscathed.

Portland Police, with the help of Oregon State Police, continued bull-rushing and pushing protesters further out of the area, until they were forced to split off into many small groups. These small groups managed to regroup into a crowd of reportedly over 100 people, who managed to get a short way back towards the police precinct before once again being pushed out of the area by waiting riot officers. After this last push, protesters appeared to vacate the area and the night ended.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

While the nightly demonstrations have taken place in Downtown Portland most nights throughout the George Floyd/Black Lives Matter protests, it appears that was not the case this time.

Protesters gathered at Floyd City Light Park right across from The Portland Police Bureau’s (PPB) East Precinct.

Just before 9:30 pm, protesters arrived at the PPB East precinct.

Only a few minutes after protesters arrived, PPB announced over their loudspeakers (LRAD) that peaceful protesters should vacate the area.

Just before 9:40 pm (20 minutes after protesters arrived), PPB declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.

Around 9:55 pm (25 minutes after protesters arrived), PPB declared the gathering a riot.

At 10:05 pm, officers in riot gear appeared on the scene.

An individual was spotted standing on their porch wearing a Nazi armband.

An officer in an Oregon State Police uniform was seen on the riot line with other law enforcement officers.

The demonstration ended not long later without further incident.

Here’s an important interview with community members who were affected by tear gas in their neighborhood tonight:

Media

Present

Articles

The Columbian

Chief: Violent Portland protests detract from message

KGW

Riot declared, tear gas used outside Portland police’s East Precinct

KOIN

Night 69: PPB declares riot at East Precinct

New York Magazine

Portland’s Bigger Policing Problem Was Always Local

OPB

Portland sends federal government $528,000 fine over courthouse fence

Neighbors ask Lake Oswego family to remove signage in support of Black Lives Matter

Portland police return to using tear gas during protests Wednesday night

The Oregonian

Kaiser Permanente studies effects of tear gas on people exposed during Portland protests

Multiple fires reported in downtown Portland parking garages

Police declare riot for second consecutive night Wednesday, disperse crowd using tear gas

Portland Mercury

More Portlanders Share Experiences of Being Snatched—and Detained—by Federal Police

Willamette Week

A New Gallery Exhibit About Don’t Shoot PDX Shows That While the Context of the Protests Has Changed, the Message Has Not

Oregon’s Black and Indigenous Kids Are Disciplined at Twice the Rate of Their White Classmates

What’s Driving the Spike in Portland Gun Violence?

Three Homeland Security Flights Circled Portland Protesters. Here Are Their Flight Paths.

Police

Agencies Present

  • Portland Police Bureau

Munitions

  • tear gas
  • rubber/foam bullets
  • pepper balls

Arrests

8

Charges

Reckless Driving, Criminal Mischief I, Riot, Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Escape III, Resist Arrest, Disorderly Conduct II, Interfering with a Police Officer