Summary
During the day, an event called Latinos for Black Lives was held at Peninsula Park in North Portland. According to a journalist on the ground there were bout 150 people in attendance. The demonstration aimed to use art as a form of protest, which is a change in tactics from the usual marching or building confrontations that are seen every night in Portland. Instead, musicians and poets performed their pieces, and Latinx community members stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, conveying that solidarity in their art.
The nightly demonstration began at Woodlawn Park in North Portland. Estimates from reporters on the ground put the crowd at about 200 people when they departed from the park heading for the North Precinct of The Portland Police Bureau (PPB). Among other things, protesters chanted the name “Jacob Blake“, a black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin who had been shot 7 times in the back by a police officer, prompting a mass protest in Kenosha on August 23rd.
After arriving at the North Precinct, protesters formed a shield line facing three police cars that had their headlights on and pointed at protesters, which did not appear to be occupied. Protesters used multiple dumpsters, some on fire, and what appeared to be the bed of a Uhaul truck as a wall between themselves and the precinct. At 10:30 pm police had declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and by 11:10 pm, without a documented marked change in behavior from the crowd, a riot had been declared. Items such as ceramic tiles and plastic water bottles had been thrown in the vicinity of the empty police vehicles with their headlights shone on protesters and at least one awning on the building was set on fire, which did not appear to cause damage to the building itself.
Multiple times throughout the night, PPB officers suddenly rushed out of the precinct and made multiple arrests, only to reenter the building shortly after. Tear gas was used, sometimes fired down by officers who were on the roof of the precinct, but the dynamic rushes that are so often a tactic of the PPB in dispersing protesters was not seen being used as much on the night of August 23rd. By about 2 am the crowd had dwindled in front of the precinct and the night ended.
Scheduled Events
- Fridays 4 Freedom Garage Sale Fundraiser – 10 am
- Petitions & Posters for Teressa Raiford – 11 am
- Families Marching for Black Lives – 12:30 pm
- Self Care Sundays – 1 pm
- Latinos for Black Lives – 3 pm
- Direct Action March – 8 pm
Timeline
An event called Latinos for Black Lives was held at Peninsula Park in North Portland during the day. Please consider seeing Cata’s thread on the event in its entirety, where they chronicle the events of the day in much greater detail than there is room for in this timeline. (Click on the first tweet below to get directed to Twitter to see the thread)
I’m at Peninsula Park in North Portland today for Latinos for Black Lives, an event bringing together Portland’s Latino community in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
— Cata Gaitán (@catalinagaitan_) August 23, 2020
About ~150 people are gathered in the grass listening to Mexican singer/songwriter Edna Vazquez: pic.twitter.com/rvp9d1yUfD
“Black people have done a lot of work to fight for justice and for us — for all people who are immigrants to this country. We wanted to bring a different style instead of marches, to bring our music and our musicians’s songs about social justice, and bring it to the community.”
— Cata Gaitán (@catalinagaitan_) August 23, 2020
A band performs an anthem honoring women who have disappeared: pic.twitter.com/zwvmWgDiWT
— Cata Gaitán (@catalinagaitan_) August 24, 2020
Poet Alberto Moreno, El Llanero Inmigrante, reads one of his pieces for the crowd:
— Cata Gaitán (@catalinagaitan_) August 24, 2020
“Someone asked me – they asked, ‘how does the death of George Floyd make you feel?’ Could I identify my feelings? Give them pretty names? And the truth is, I couldn’t.” (1/5) pic.twitter.com/r8Io0IZRas
Today’s event, Latinos for Black Lives, has wrapped. Here, Edna Vazquez leads the crowd in chanting “¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” and “Black lives matter!”
— Cata Gaitán (@catalinagaitan_) August 24, 2020
“Together. Together, united. Estamos unidos. Estamos unidos!” pic.twitter.com/GVvGhsWkim
In the evening, protesters gathered at Woodlawn Park.
At Woodlawn Park, where there is a direct action march planned to happen soon. Around 200 people in the park currently. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/VTdo3O5WtA
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
The call was for 8pm assembly. At the moment, about 150 folks here, with more arriving. In week 12, protests against racist policing are operating on the same timing rules as a house show. @/herbsforactivists (on insta) is here with salve and tea! pic.twitter.com/OIAqqaXAWx
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
“Hey everybody! I think it’s time to kick this shit off, what do you think?” The crowd seems to agree. Bikes assembled, folks getting hooked up with water and snacks.
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
Just after 9:40 pm, protesters departed from Woodlawn Park.
And the crowd is on the move. Sounds like Trumpet guy is here? pic.twitter.com/8YAN0YFQxf
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
The march in NE Portland has begun. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/1Nuza3jOTH
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
And there is a new name. “Say his name! Jacob Blake!” Killed by police today in Kenosha, WI by 7 shots to the back.
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
“Stand up fight back!” pic.twitter.com/ulc7BHbbAn
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
And though the “out of your homes and into the streets” chant got swapped out a few blocks back, some neighbors are, in fact, coming out of their homes, and joining the march. Just saw two.
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
An informational flyer posted along the march route. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/RHycvBLX0O
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
And just like that, the march is on Killingsworth, approaching the North Precinct.
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
The crowd is at the intersection next to Portland Police Bureau’s north precinct. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/LeoGxh2DXt
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Just before 10:10 pm, protesters arrived at the North Precinct of The Portland Police Bureau (PPB)
March has arrived at the North Precinct. Confetti is in the air. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/fHykBS4HrX
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Police issuing a warning to not go on the street or sidewalk, threatening teargas and impact munitions. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/B7tFw98oan
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
GoPro on the roof of the precinct. Recording the crowd in this way may actually be technically illegal currently, per court orders. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/bPfvYdNdhj
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Yup. Those are technically thrown projectiles. Plastic water bottles. pic.twitter.com/hLOKy6PRNr
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
And a photographer in an Oregonian shirt just withdrew because they were nervous about the LRAD identifying them by outfit.
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
The protester PA is pretty effective at drowning out the LRAD. pic.twitter.com/KihAqvYajU
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
The shield line on Emerson and MLK, some paint balloons, and what are presumably, again, three empty police vehicles. The vehicles are further back than they were on Friday. A single egg sized rock just hit the hood. pic.twitter.com/3H6WsgfDQL
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
At about 10:30 pm, PPB declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.
Unlawful assembly already… dj lrad sounds tired.
— Daddy M (@R3volutionDaddy) August 24, 2020
Shield wall advances forward. Police try to make an announcement, the sound is immediately drowned out by the crowd. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/I2AkSzATlC
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Multiple roof cops. Hard to see. pic.twitter.com/Zbo3ocZECI
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
Dispersal order to the south. Protester LRAD gives a counterpoint, citing domestic abuse statistics pic.twitter.com/pD5xGv7y48
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
Protesters are using this uhaul for cover. And now this cardboard dumpster. PPB has placed its vehicles next to the Boys and Girls Club vans, presumably also for cover. pic.twitter.com/rAXtUljzIh
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
Another dumpster joins. Shields to the left. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/LTOiB5WnAo
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Police giving orders to the Press and legal observers about where they can and can’t go. This is directly against the Federal TRO. Also a firework thrown. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/L5snHWi8SZ
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
I’m here for night 88 of #portlandprotests. 200 people here at north police precinct and the crowd is MAD. Tonight we stand in solidarity with Kenosha. #kenoshaStrong pic.twitter.com/8jlKhNCKqO
— Peter (@gravemorgan) August 24, 2020
A lot more things, apparently tiles, getting thrown generally towards the empty police vehicles. pic.twitter.com/ybg61Hevvn
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
The dumpster fire moves forward a few feet, LRAD DAD tells crowd to disperse, shield wall holds tight #portlandprotests pic.twitter.com/4Mix12v1M2
— Peter (@gravemorgan) August 24, 2020
Just before 11:10 pm, PPB declared the gathering a riot.
Riot declared.
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
Sound on – it is LOUD here, the crowd doesn’t move an inch. Riot declared. #portlandprotests pic.twitter.com/OjWzs2N2Oj
— Peter (@gravemorgan) August 24, 2020
Firework thrown onto the roof of the precinct. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/jT1aIdkN3p
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
This is happening I guess. Awning next to the motor bay of the precinct on fire. pic.twitter.com/17v9DFtPbl
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
Police try to extinguish the fire pic.twitter.com/bU7EXx5swP
— Peter (@gravemorgan) August 24, 2020
Porland Police Fire munitions at protesters from the roof of the precinct #portlandprotests pic.twitter.com/Y60PDlgZKD
— Peter (@gravemorgan) August 24, 2020
Teargas is being used by the Portland Police. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/AQvbDvU0Q9
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Bella Ciao comes around on the playlist. Crowd returns. Awning fire is out. pic.twitter.com/GeOW5Gi9ZC
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
Another canopy on fire. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/4h044m941e
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
As an officer puts out the fire with a garden hose, they purposefully spray this reporter who is standing off to the side. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/exd0ExOfFx
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
A barrage of teargas is shot and officers charge into the street. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/7Kr7naz6dV
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Arrest in the street. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/CqXPMlwLrO
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Police take someone’s shield and advance south on the sidewalk. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/MobWI0NiYY
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Police shoot teargas towards residential housing, at the group of protesters that headed west not south. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/xvj8Fcyq4u
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
At about 11:50 pm, officers withdrew and went back into the North Precinct building.
The police head back to at least behind their cruisers with bright lights. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/l0SbYU6viD
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Ok so boom. pic.twitter.com/yvDnZa4MJ7
— Daddy M (@R3volutionDaddy) August 24, 2020
“Every city every town, burn the fucking precincts down.”
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) August 24, 2020
Notable that the ppb has been very low-key with their push. No riot vans. The crowd is pretty un-ruffled, but the initial build-a-barricade/throw-tiles-at-a-driveway energy is now more of a “heckle and hang” vibe. pic.twitter.com/uD02qSwJG7
Right as I’m leaving, police shoot of tear gas and/or smoke. Officers firing lots of impact rounds from the roof. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/OSP52T3rpR
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Just after 12:45 am, PPB officers reemerged from the precinct and made several arrests.
They just charged out of nowhere and arrested at least 4 people. I think cops took @ProtestSound speakers ?
— Daddy M (@R3volutionDaddy) August 24, 2020
Police arrest a mom, then all pull back to the precinct. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #acab #PortlandProtests #PortlandStrong #PortlandPolice #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/EBLkWnNzZN
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
As police pull back behind the precinct an officer remarks “Look how the press form a human shield for protesters…willingly.” Myself and other press were on the sidewalk as instructed by police. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #BLM #acab #Portlandstrong #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/YURjBY5IbS
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 24, 2020
Police arrived and made several arrests from the group assembled at MLK & Emerson.
— Lesley McL (@Human42LM) August 24, 2020
At the corner of MLK & Killingsworth, a block away, a few people are shouting to the officers stationed on the roof. pic.twitter.com/rm0QzpEyXW
The group continued to thin out but a few were still gathered around the area when I left. pic.twitter.com/RWFUvH26mr
— Lesley McL (@Human42LM) August 24, 2020
Media
Present
- Alissa @R3volutionDaddy – CashApp: $pdxalissa / Venmo: @R3volutionDaddy
- Cata Gaitán – CashApp: $catalinagaitan / Venmo: @catalina-gaitan
- Garrison Davis – CashApp $hungrybowtie / paypal.me/garrisondavispdx
- Leslie McL (KBOO) – CashApp: $LuhCreative / PayPal: http://PayPal.me/LuhCreative / Venmo: @Human42LM
- Peter @gravemorgan
- 45th Parallel Absurdist Brigade – CashApp: $45thabsurdist / Venmo: the45thabsurdist
Articles
It’s Going Down
Hundreds Of Portlanders Push Out Violent Far-Right, Qanon & Proud Boy Rally
KATU
23 arrested Sunday as police declare protest near Portland’s North Precinct a riot
KGW
Reaction comes after Portland police have little presence at dueling protests
KOIN
1 arrested after assault at ‘Recall Kate Brown’ rally
OPB
Portland’s protests: 3 months in, no end in sight
The Oregonian
Awning set on fire during Portland protest; police declare riot, use tear gas: key takeaways
Editorial: Leaders must speak against protest violence
Letter from the Editor: I look forward to many more civil conversations
Portland’s first Black woman cop now ‘ the inspiration’ for a new PCC criminal justice scholarship
Shots fired: Deadly Portland police encounters reveal troubling patterns
Portland Mercury
Portland Police Stand By As Armed Alt-Right Protesters and Antifascists Brawl
The New York Times
Black Artists Find Ways to Make Their Voices Heard in Portland
In Portland, a Prosecutor Must Decide: Which Protesters Should Go to Jail?
Police
Agencies Present
- Portland Police Bureau
Munitions
- flash bangs
- mace
- tear gas
Arrests
Charges
Resisting Arrest, Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, Assaulting a Public Safety Officer, Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, Escape in the Third Degree, Riot, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree