Protests for August 22

Posted on by audrey

Saturday was a long day of protests, starting with a counter-event to a rally that encompassed a large collection of far-right groups. Trump supporters, Proud Boys, Three Percenters, and QAnon appeared to be represented. In the two hours that the right-wing groups faced off with BLM protesters, there was significant fighting, use of mace, and a loaded pistol drawn by a well-known far-right participant. Reporters on the scene described it as the most violent event they’ve witnessed to date. Portland Police remained behind the scenes, making LRAD announcements that encouraged groups to self-monitor, despite a situation that many people present described as a full riot. As the far-right protesters were leaving and BLM protesters remained in Terry Schrunk Plaza, which is a federal property, DHS officers declared it an unlawful gathering and cleared the park.

Saturday night, BLM protesters gathered at Normandale Park in NE Portland for a march to the Penumbra Kelly Building, which houses a Multnomah County Sheriffs Office and Portland Police precinct. The march was impeded by a line of riot police blocking the I-84 overpass at NE 47th Ave. The march turned back to find another route, only to see police blocking the road in the direction protesters had been told to go. The marchers then changed tactics and organized a carpool from the park to their destination.

At the Penumbra Kelly Building, protesters chanted and played music, waiting for riot police to catch up to them. A large art piece of a guillotine with a teddy bear under the blade was set up in the driveway of the building, in front of the protest line. The piece was later set on fire. Protesters threw occasional water bottles in the direction of the police, mostly staying off the property as the LRAD continued to warn against trespassing. After a protester was observed firing paintball rounds at the building, police declared it an unlawful assembly and pushed the group west into the neighborhood, where a chaotic scene ensued with several arrests and conflicting instructions on where to go. During this push, police announced that the protest was now a riot.

After police retreated, a smaller group of protesters returned to the building, setting fire to a mattress and other items in the street. The protest dispersed without further police interactions after 2 AM.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

Downtown

Today a BLM counter-protest is happening against a far-right “rally against Marxism” event. (“Cultural Marxism” is a racist dog-whistle.)

The LRAD is telling people to police themselves:

Several of the far-right protesters have QAnon statements, including “save our children” and this cryptic code:

Demetria Hester on the megaphone:

Someone was hit, maybe with a smoke grenade:

CW for injury/blood. They’ve been clearly going after press today:

CW for assault:

Some demonstrators remain at Schrunk Plaza:

The feds declare an unlawful assembly a little before 3 PM:

The protest appears to have wrapped up at this point.

Normandale Park march

People are starting to gather now at Normandale Park in NE Portland. Shout-out to the reporters who covered the earlier event and are out again tonight (scroll down to find out how you can support them).

The march paused briefly to decide which way to go after a report that riot cops were staged along the route.

“Take off your riot gear!”

The protesters seem to have decided to redirect to go around the continuing police efforts to block the march, so while we’re waiting on an update on that, here’s what’s happening at the presumed destination.

Some protesters have headed directly to the Penumbra Kelly building (East Multnomah County Sheriffs Office / SE Precinct):

Sounds like the march turned into a carpool, which is a clever way to go around:

This is being displayed while a popular protest song by The Coup plays:

11:40 PM – unlawful assembly declared:

The dispersal push (possibly smoke being used):

Protesters regroup:

Brent here is also known as officer #12, frequently identified at the lead of the violence coming from the riot cops:

“We’re going to keep antagonizing them until they can’t take it any more”

Media

Present

Articles

It’s Going Down

Hundreds of Portlanders Push Out Violent Far-Right, Qanon & Proud Boy Rally

OPB

Protesters fight using pepper spray, baseball bats in Portland on Saturday

The Oregonian

Portland Mercury

Portland Police Stand By As Armed Alt-Right Protesters and Antifascists Brawl

Portland Tribune

Street brawls break out at dueling Portland protests

The Washington Post

Portland police stand by as Proud Boys and far-right militias flash guns and brawl with antifa counterprotesters

Willamette Week

Police

Agencies present

  • Portland Police Bureau
  • Feds: DHS

Munitions used

  • Pepper balls (feds)
  • Smoke (PPB)
  • Flash bangs (PPB)
  • Pepper spray (PPB)
  • Pepper balls or other impact munitions (PPB)
  • Tear gas (possibly OC) (PPB)

Number of arrests

PPB: 14

Charges

  • Assaulting a Public Safety Officer
  • Interfering with a Peace Officer
  • Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
  • Resisting Arrest
  • Riot
  • Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree