Protests for August 20

Posted on by sal

Summary

The night’s demonstrations began at Kenton Park, where an event organized by PDX Black Youth Movement was held. Organizers gave speeches at the park, then eventually departed to march through the streets of North Portland. The crowd of about 200 people were led by a pick up truck hauling a speaker system which organizers used to lead chants and to continue making speeches while on the move. While it seemed the protesters were headed specifically for The Portland Police Association (PPA), they only paused to chant in front of the building briefly before continuing onwards. After marching for a while longer the crowd eventually turned around, passing the PPA once again where they stopped to sit and listen to speeches, before marching all the way back to Kenton Park where they started.

As the demonstration at Kenton Park winded down, an impromptu event at Elizabeth Caruthers Park, where protesters had begun the night before as well, was just beginning. This gathering had a clear final destination – the ICE building less than a mile away. By 11 pm, when protesters left the park, there were about 100 people in the crowd. What followed for the night was repeated pushes away from the ICE building, including Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers executing dynamic charges (a.k.a. “bullrushes”) against the crowd on multiple occasions. Multiple members of the press were also injured by impact munitions that were fired at close range, and at least one street medic was arrested. By 1:30 am the crowd that had been already relatively small from the start had been going through hours of dispersals by federal officers and PPB, scattering them around the area, and the night ended by that time.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

Kenton Park

Protesters gathered in Kenton Park, which is near The Portland Police Association (PPA) building.

After pausing briefly to chant at the PPA, protesters continued marching past the building.

Just before 9 pm protesters arrived once again at the PPA, where they sat down and listened to speeches by black youth organizers standing on the bed of the truck that had been leading the march.

U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Before protesters began gathering in the area, a check in with the ICE building:

As the demonstration ended at Kenton Park in north Portland, on the southwest side of town an impromptu event was beginning at Elizabeth Caruthers Park.

Just before 11 pm, protesters departed from the park and made their way to the ICE building.

At about 11:20 pm, law enforcement officers appeared on the scene.

Just before 12:20 am, federal officers emerged from the ICE building to push protesters out of the area for the second time of the night.

Just before 12:25 am, PPB declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.

Multiple members of the press were injured during the demonstration at the ICE building:

For clarity, Claudio is @PhrenologyPhun.

Media

Present

Articles

Courthouse News Service

Judge: Federal Agents Lack Authority to Clear Portland Streets

KATU

Portland protests: 13 events declared riots in more than 80 days, police say

KGW

Protesters, officers clash outside ICE building in Portland for 2nd consecutive night

KOIN

Ongoing Portland protests fanning out across the city

OPB

COVID-19 gives cover to press crackdowns around the world

Oregon ArtsWatch

The lens is cracked: Art and protest in the summer of 2020

The Oregonian

Portland protests continue for 85th night: Here’s what you should know

Portland Mercury

Good Morning, News: Protesters Target ICE, West Coast Wildfires Rage, and Steve Bannon’s a Fraud

U.S. News

Police: More Than 500 Arrests Since May at Portland Protests

Willamette Week

Civil Rights Leader and Director of Western States Center Calls for the Resignation of Portland Police Union President Daryl Turner

Here’s What Happens When a Republican Carries an American Flag Into Downtown Portland

Regional Jail in The Dalles Will End Controversial Contract With ICE

Police

Agencies Present

  • Department of Homeland Security – Federal Protective Services
  • Portland Police Bureau

Munitions

  • pepper balls
  • tear gas
  • flash bangs

Arrests

3

Charges

Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct II, Harassment