Summary
On Friday, protesters marched from Irving Park to the North Police Precinct. The rainy night still brought out about 200 participants. Some protesters threw eggs and paint at police cars that were parked blocking a side street on one side of the precinct. Police used smoke and impact munitions to clear protesters away from the cars multiple times, returning back behind the vehicles each time. Just after 1 AM, an unlawful assembly was declared, which was immediately upgraded to a riot. Police pushed protesters back from the precinct and into the neighborhood, making several arrests. A small number of protesters attempted to regroup, before ending the night.
Scheduled Events
- Car Caravan Protest – 5:30 PM
- Irving Park direct action march – 8 PM
Timeline
A peek at tonight’s car caravan, during a break in the rain (Portland has very dry summers, so this mid-70s and raining situation is a little weird):
#PortlandProtest 21 August, 2020. 6:55pm at NE Weidler St. & NE 9th.#PDXprotest #PNW #BLMprotest #BLM #BlackLivesMatter #PDX #DefendPDX #PortlandOregon pic.twitter.com/j9re9LgIUF
— Lesley McL (@Human42LM) August 22, 2020
Tonight at Irving Park, the shield umbrellas may be needed for a more traditional use:
I’m at Irving Park with @MollyHarbarger on the I-don’t-even-know-eighty-something night of protest.
— Beth Nakamura (@bethnakamura) August 22, 2020
Aretha Franklin—R-e-s-p-e-c-t—is playing. It’s rainy and looks like one of those paintings#PortlandProtests pic.twitter.com/h9uOMVoQiX
There might be fewer umbrellas than usual tonight. We get ittttt, you’re Portlanders!
— Molly Harbarger (@MollyHarbarger) August 22, 2020
Ready to march!
Crowds assembled at Irving Park have just started marching. At least have arrived despite the rain. #PortlandProtests #PDXprotests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/dfQiFAgXi0
— Portland Independent Documentarians (@PDocumentarians) August 22, 2020
“Out of your house and into the streets!” Chants the crowd. Before the gentrification of NE Portland, Irving Park was a major hub of protests in the 60s and 70s. And a bunch of those were, likewise, against racist policing. pic.twitter.com/Re3laWKCp1
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
A shield wall leads ~200 protesters (and press, medics, legal observers, etc) as they cross Alberta St. pic.twitter.com/GzV3JYEogV
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) August 22, 2020
A slight shift in the usual route?
The crowd made the interesting choice to bypass NE 6th as they approached the N Precinct. Opting to avoid this welcoming party by the PPB motor pool, in favor of whatever they’re likely to find on the MLK side. pic.twitter.com/l5VYFb2kaH
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
The crowd has reached the North Portland police precinct. There is caution tape blocking off NE Emerson street. Three unoccupied police cars are parked behind the tape. Officers watch around the corner of the building. pic.twitter.com/0ewK778uO9
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) August 22, 2020
We have a few eggs being thrown at police vehicles, police tape removed. Here come police pic.twitter.com/hvb4J3qqw6
— Beth Nakamura (@bethnakamura) August 22, 2020
The LRAD is really loud! “Anyone who is involved in criminal behavior, including throwing projectiles [will be subject to arrest, etc]…. stop throwing objects.”
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) August 22, 2020
Perhaps on account of the rain, the police have opted to sit in their cars with floodlights. @LCRWnews tells me that, as I was coming around the building, the vehicles were initially unoccupied? pic.twitter.com/Ip73K7NXLc
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Shield wall formed at the north precinct and several officer vehicles holding a line. pic.twitter.com/uciHD8cbZd
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) August 22, 2020
Ok, after this LRAD, there have been some mild shenanigans. A few eggs have landed near the cruisers. And I’ve seen two bottles break on the pavement well short of the vehicles. Safe to say no officers are in any danger. pic.twitter.com/RIyPetWNG1
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Well this is different (the person depicted uses she/her pronouns, fyi):
Speaking of shenanigans, we have one protester taking some liberties. pic.twitter.com/Gvvv9DnpNY
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Officers believe there have been lasers, apparently. Haven’t seen that. One bottle landed at the front bumper of the middle cruiser, and something small glanced off one of the vehicles. Again, all officers are currently inside the building or vehicles, or well out of range. pic.twitter.com/hfMwwIoZbj
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
We are still in a lull. @Bitchwitch20 are here with their wagon of water, snacks, face masks and hand sani. NLG is writing their number (971-247-1072) on people’s arms. It all feels deeply familiar, as if we have been doing this for fully 12 weeks. ?
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) August 22, 2020
In the absence of barricade materials, the barricade Doozers have opted for a game of “move the cones and caution tape closer to the police.” LRAD again, same message. Nothing thrown since last time, that I’ve seen. pic.twitter.com/dGfH79on6Q
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
More warnings, more water bottles thrown pic.twitter.com/iw9jG2rC7o
— Beth Nakamura (@bethnakamura) August 22, 2020
Caution Tape update: it’s on the front bumpers. LRAD update: police now reminding everyone not to enter or remain on property of north precinct. Since the Blazers Boys & Girls Club building is just south, folks seem to be assuming that’s not PPB property. pic.twitter.com/yoRQpt5NG5
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Police have now specified that they mean “move off of NE Emerson east of Martin Luther King Boulevard”. Hey PPB, you lurkin on my feed?
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Couple of rounds of something like sand or salt. Knocked off someone’s goggles. pic.twitter.com/cjomEiN91r
LRAD now giving long-winded instructions about where protesters can stand, and calling out specific protesters who aren’t complying (including, I believe, the protester who was shot in the forehead by a less-lethal munition earlier)
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) August 22, 2020
LRAD tells press they “appreciate” us being here, but that we also need to leave the NE Emerson street area. #PortlandProtests #PDXprotests
— Shauna Sowersby (@Shauna_Sowersby) August 22, 2020
A member of the crowd asks, via megaphone, for clarification on “lots of windows”. This is the first night it’s occurred to me that DJ LRAD knows people call him DJ LRAD. he might even think it’s funny. Which is weird to think about. pic.twitter.com/GbZgOqbYKg
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Word going through the crowd of riot line staging on the east side of the building. Since that’s the main precinct entrance, this seems likely. pic.twitter.com/AfPkCrRbuO
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Police say that they plan to make “targeted arrests” and warn press, legal observers and everyone else to get on MLK to avoid arrest. Also say to move away from people “engaged in criminal behavior.”
— Molly Harbarger (@MollyHarbarger) August 22, 2020
Did we mention the LRAD is loud tonight?
A resident of the neighborhood wishes to convey the following message: “This is the residents of the King neighborhood: PPB shut the fuck up already.” That’s a direct quote.
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Protesters have decorated the parked cop cars you could say #portlandprotests pic.twitter.com/S3GTz42dHD
— Peter (@gravemorgan) August 22, 2020
Some protesters threw eggs and paint at the police cars earlier, and this:
Slashed tires pic.twitter.com/4ULIbNAdaO
— Daddy M (@R3volutionDaddy) August 22, 2020
And tonight, the barricade Doozers have fully committed to playing police-cruiser Mr Potato Head. Riot line formed behind the building, pushed forward, and briefly spooked the crowd, who had perhaps gotten a little overly comfy, considering the circumstances. pic.twitter.com/nQNnXMU7Bc
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
One person arrested in a “targeted arrest.” The same person in a reflective jacket who has spent most of the night putting things on the hoods of the cop cars.
— Molly Harbarger (@MollyHarbarger) August 22, 2020
More warnings:
Police LRAD warning about not vandalizing the vehicles pic.twitter.com/Gsbr7DWx3M
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) August 22, 2020
And now smoke and impact rounds:
Lots of smoke. And when it clears, a few impact rounds and marking rounds. The vehicles are definitely empty. pic.twitter.com/aPCK3NahrX
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Bunch of smoke thrown into crowd and then kicked back at police car line. Calm again now. pic.twitter.com/7w0H5AL0g7
— Molly Harbarger (@MollyHarbarger) August 22, 2020
Police rush again to remove cones from one cruiser. Another definitely has flat tires now. pic.twitter.com/PAZvbNMzCo
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
After unleashing a barrage of smoke cannisters, Portland Police riot officers rushed out in an attempted targeted arrest. Unsure as of now if an arrest has been made.#PortlandProtests #PDXprotests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/uo2j2ASZhk
— Portland Independent Documentarians (@PDocumentarians) August 22, 2020
PPB repeatedly pushing and withdrawing tonight. It’s a new tactic for them.
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Police make a targeted arrest pic.twitter.com/uHC8K76Sl3
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) August 22, 2020
Protesters chanting “this is not a riot, it’s a revolution!”
— Daddy M (@R3volutionDaddy) August 22, 2020
Given that the main objects that it seems like protesters are throwing are water bottles and paint balloons, without further evidence it’s possible the window was broken by impact munitions instead:
Police tell protestors they broke windows of boys and girls club van pic.twitter.com/eS4k7UrRbF
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) August 22, 2020
If I had to speculate , PPB might be planning to use vandalism of the patrol vehicles to bring more serious charges. Curious if there’s any specific threshold that 3 police patrol vehicles crosses, in terms of monetary value and legal category pic.twitter.com/7d7p4J4gEG
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Shield wall moves forward pic.twitter.com/l6KklmUyx2
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) August 22, 2020
An unlawful assembly was declared at 1:07 AM then immediately upgraded to a riot.
A haunting national anthem plays during dispersal pic.twitter.com/eDlyDW5oy8
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) August 22, 2020
A member of the press was arrested, push by riot police happens #portlandprotests pic.twitter.com/cHWExJPnYs
— Peter (@gravemorgan) August 22, 2020
Police move to disperse the crowd, using smoke, flash bang explosives, batons, fists, etc. pic.twitter.com/HjO6xJsJ7K
— Katie Shepherd (@katemshepherd) August 22, 2020
First push off Emerson on to MLK pic.twitter.com/TRVfykOlms
— Molly Harbarger (@MollyHarbarger) August 22, 2020
Police make an arrest, officer physically push press back pic.twitter.com/SoinBdQdfZ
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) August 22, 2020
Here’s scene at North Precinct now after riot declared and protesters pushed in all directions. pic.twitter.com/o1dW6lzbiL
— Molly Harbarger (@MollyHarbarger) August 22, 2020
A shield wall forms while police make an arrest across the street pic.twitter.com/BLYo9gYte5
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) August 22, 2020
Police run into protestor shield wall pic.twitter.com/7Btj2agOtI
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) August 22, 2020
Riot van departs pic.twitter.com/0nuiqTxJVb
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
After two pushes, second one of which took the crowd to Williams and several blocks south, crowd is back pic.twitter.com/1b5k4znp3y
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 22, 2020
Many protesters seem to have departed by this point.
Media
Present
- Alissa @R3volutionDaddy – CashApp: $pdxalissa / Venmo: @R3volutionDaddy
- Beth Nakamura (The Oregonian)
- Cory Elia (KBOO) – CashApp $CoryElia / paypal.me/CoryElia / Venmo @ Cory-Elia
- Justin Yau @PDocumentarians – CashApp: $portlandindepend / PayPal: https://paypal.me/portlandindepend
- Leslie McL (KBOO) – CashApp: $LuhCreative / PayPal: http://PayPal.me/LuhCreative / Venmo: @Human42LM
- Molly Harbanger (The Oregonian)
- Peter @gravemorgan
- Sergio Olmos
- Tuck Woodstock – CashApp $tuckwoodstock
- 45th Parallel Absurdist Brigade – CashApp: $45thabsurdist / Venmo: the45thabsurdist
Articles
Courthouse News
Black People Nearly Twice as Likely as Whites to Be Arrested at Portland Protests
Portland Mercury
Prison Inmates Are Fighting Oregon Wildfires for Under $10 a Day
OPB
- NORCOR, last jail in Oregon to hold immigration detainees, to end ICE contract
- ‘OPB Politics Now’: Ted Wheeler struggles with protest response
The Oregonian
- Suspect in downtown Portland beating turns himself in, police say
- All federal buildings close in Portland amid threat
- FBI warns of threat to federal buildings in Portland
- Riot outside Northeast Portland police precinct followed warnings, requests, ‘targeted’ arrests Friday: Key takeaways
Willamette Week
Major Downtown Property Owner Urges City Council to Address “Lawlessness You Are Endorsing Downtown”
Police
Agencies present
Portland Police Bureau
Munitions used
- Impact munitions (pepper balls?)
- Smoke
- Flash bang grenades
Number of arrests
Charges
- Interfering with a Peace Officer
- Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
- Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree
- Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree
- Assaulting a Public Safety Officer
- Riot
- Resisting Arrest
- Harassment
- Escape
- Attempted Assaulting a Public Safety Officer