Protests for August 28

Posted on by audrey

Summary

On Friday, protesters gathered for a march to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington. The event was co-headed by the local NAACP chapter and Fridays 4 Freedom, a youth activist group. The march processed from the Oregon Convention Center to Revolution Hall, where many protests gathered in June, and concluded with speeches. The NAACP reflects an older and more conservative Black establishment, while F4F is made up of more radical youth, and this led to concerns and criticism about whether Fridays 4 Freedom was being supported or co-opted.

In the late afternoon, another protest gathered at the North Park Blocks downtown before marching into the Pearl District, where Mayor/Police Commissioner Ted Wheeler lives. Activists entered his condo building and began a sit-in, presenting a list of demands, followed by the marchers who set up a sound system for music and spoken performances. Neither Wheeler nor the police arrived to respond, and the activists ended their sit-in around 10:15 PM. The music ended a short while later, and many protesters then continued to North Portland for a vigil at Peninsula Park.

Shortly before midnight, the group at the vigil formed a march to the Portland Police Association. Protesters quickly painted graffiti on the blank surface of the PPA building, and created street barricades with dumpsters. A small fire was started at the boarded-up door of the building, and police arrived and declared it a riot at about 12:40 AM. Police put out the fire quickly, then made seemingly random targeted arrests of the crowd, repeatedly saying they would arrest anyone who hadn’t dispersed unless they were clearly marked as press. PPB concluded this action at about 1:45 AM, then returned 15 minutes later after several shots were fired by someone in a passing vehicle. No one was injured in this shooting. Both police and protesters had concluded their activities for the night by 3 AM.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

This afternoon, people are gathering outside the Convention Center for a March on Portland, which commemorates the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington.

Meanwhile, Portland is being well represented by Destiny and other activists who have traveled to DC:

Back to Portland:

Moving to the Bloc Party event, protesters are marching through the Pearl District chanting “abolish the police!”

Nearby, a group of protesters has gone to Mayor/Police Commissioner Ted Wheeler’s home with some demands:

The Bloc Party march has arrived outside:

Someone brought a bouquet of used munitions:

The other vigil across town is kicking off, so follow that below under the header “North Portland”.

The music is wrapping up, and reports are that people are leaving to go to the Peninsula Park event now.

North Portland

Tonight’s vigil at Peninsula Park:

Shots fired north of the event seem to be unrelated:

12:39 AM – riot declared

CW: assault with pepper spray

We’re seeing them repeatedly target anyone who isn’t marked as press for arrests during these dispersals, and physically shoving reporters they think are too close:

Shots fired at about 2 AM, after police had left the scene:

Media

Present

Articles

The Guardian

Portland suffers serious street violence as far right return ‘prepared to fight’

OPB

The Oregonian

Portland Mercury

Police

Agencies present

  • Portland Police Bureau

Munitions used

  • Pepper spray

Number of arrests

18 adults, one juvenile

Charges

  • Riot
  • Resist Arrest
  • Interfering with a Peace Officer 
  • Attempt Assaulting a Public Safety Officer
  • Disorderly Conduct II 
  • Escape III

Protests for August 27

Posted on by sal

Summary

During the day community members met at Kenton Park in North Portland to clean up the park and the bordering neighborhood. Kenton Park and the surrounding area leading to The Portland Police Association nearby has been the site of many protests in the last few months. As a result, community-made flyers indicating that there has been high levels of tear gas exposure in the area have been posted around the neighborhood. Another unfortunate result is the litter that sometimes got left behind by the large crowds. In response, community members got together for a couple of hours and were provided tools and trash bags to pick up litter in the area.

In the evening, a march by PDX Black Youth Movement led protesters in downtown Portland. This event drew around 100 people, who marched around the downtown area chanting the names of victims of police violence, including Jacob Blake, and asking those watching from their windows above the streets to join them. There were also speeches along the route by young black activists leading the march. By about 9:45 pm, the group of protesters returned to Duniway Park, where they had begun their march, and the event ended.

Following the end of the march downtown, there was some confusion about whether or not there was another demonstration planned for the night. There was some talk on social media of protesters reconvening at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building, but a protest in that area didn’t appear to materialize. An event hadn’t been planned, which left the night’s protests to end by 10 pm.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

In the middle of the day, community members assembled at Kenton Park near The Portland Police Association building to clean up the park and neighborhood.

In the early evening protesters gathered at Duniway Park in Southwest Portland for a march.

While there was talk on social media of protesters reconvening at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building, it didn’t appear to draw enough numbers to move forward.

Media

Present

Articles

Courthouse News Service

Feds in Portland Now Unrestrained in Removing Journalists at Protests

The Guardian

White supremacists and militias have infiltrated police across US, report says

Jefferson Public Radio

Portland Protests Reach Three Months. OPB’s Sergio Olmos Explains

KOIN

74 face federal charges from Portland protests

NPR

Police Declare Portland Protests A Riot But This Definition Could Be Rooted In Racism

OPB

Appeals court suspends protections for journalists, legal observers covering protests

As the nation reckons with race, a new poll finds white Americans least engaged

Pence aide: NBA protest over Kenosha are ‘absurd and silly’

The Oregonian

Black National Convention puts spotlight on police brutality

Federal orders to disperse apply to journalists, legal observers at Portland protests, appeals court says

Portland Business Alliance says mayor pledged quick action to revive downtown

Portland police ramp up protest enforcement; 217 arrests in August, half of those since last week

Portland Mercury

Good Afternoon, News: Proud Boy Suspiciously Escapes Arrest, Mayor Appeases the Wealthy, and Trump Headlines GOP Garbage Parade

Portland Police Say They’re Needed to Prevent Gun Violence. Experts Disagree.

Portland Tribune

Portland police overtime up 200% in June as staffing slumps

Willamette Week

In Purge of Extremists, Facebook Removes Page of Portland Protest Organizers

Last Month, Oregon Prisons Implored Guards to Wear Masks. Since Then, Four Inmates Have Died From COVID-19.

Mayor Ted Wheeler Wants an End to Violence at Protests and Pledges to Restart the City’s Economy

U.S. Attorney’s Office Levies Federal Charges Against 74 Portland Protesters

Police

Agencies Present

None

Munitions

None

Arrests

None

Charges

None