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