Protests for September 30

Posted on by sal

Summary

September 30th marks the 2 year anniversary of the death of Patrick Kimmons. His mother, Letha Winston, has been a staple at Portland protests ever since his death, and since the George Floyd Protests began has been leading weekly marches in honor of her late son. Tonight, Letha organized a march and memorial for Patrick, and the community showed up in the hundreds. At its peak there were an estimated 500 people at the event. The event began at Pioneer Square in Downtown Portland, and from there the group marched to their final destination: SW 3rd and Harvey Milk Street, where Patrick Kimmons was killed by Portland Police two years prior. Here, there were food and drink vendors set up to feed protesters, and multiple black community members spoke to the crowd before Letha Winston took the mic, gripping the crowd with an emotional speech about losing her son. After the speeches concluded, local black artists performed for the crowd and the demonstration took on the atmosphere of a block party. This relaxed feeling, a rarity in Portland protests, carried throughout the night, and by 1 am the night ended quietly and without any interruption by police.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

The nightly demonstration is taking place downtown tonight and marks the 2 year anniversary of the death of Patrick Kimmons, who was killed by Portland Police.

Just after 7:05 pm, protesters leave Pioneer Square and begin marching through the downtown area.

At 8 pm, speeches begin at the site of Patrick Kimmons’ death.

A truck driving erratically nearby towards the protest distracts the group briefly.

Letha Winston, the organizer of the demonstration and mother of Patrick Kimmons, steps up to the mic.

A reportedly intoxicated individual briefly disrupts Letha Winston but is quickly escorted away from the protest.

Media

Present

Articles

Courthouse News Service

The Nation

OPB

The Oregonian

Portland Mercury

Truthout

Willamette Week

Police

Agencies Present

None

Munitions

None

Arrests

None

Charges

None

Protests for September 29

Posted on by sal

Summary

A small group of protesters met at Laurelhurst Park near the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office’s (MCSO) Penumbra Kelly Building for the nightly demonstration. The group had lower numbers than usual, and in the past have elected to not march based on heightened safety concerns with a small group. However tonight was not one of those nights. Protesters arrived at the MCSO building around 9:40 pm after making the short march from Laurelhurst Park. With a small group and the police only coming out of MCSO sporadically throughout the night to make targeted arrests, it appeared that not a lot happened in between the footage journalists caught of protesters being arrested. A vehicle belonging to the Snack Mamas, a local mutual aid group, was towed by Portland Police early in the night and a total of 3 arrests were made later. By just after 1 am, most protesters had left the area and the last members of press decided to head home as well. All in all it was a slow protest night for the community.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

Protesters gathered at Laurelhurst Park ahead of their march to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office’s (MCSO) Penumbra Kelly Building.

At about 9:30 pm, the small group of protesters departed from the park.

Around 9:40 pm, protesters arrived at the MCSO building.

The towed car reportedly belongs to @SnackMamas, a mutual aid group that provides snacks and drinks to protesters. You can support them by donating on Venmo (@Snack-Mama) and Cashapp ($SnackMamas).

Around 11:45 pm, officers rushed out of the MCSO building to chase after some protesters, but did not arrest any.

Media

Present

Articles

The New York Times

OPB

The Oregonian

Politico

Portland Mercury

Slate

The Washington Post

Willamette Week

Yahoo News

Police

Agencies Present

  • Portland Police Bureau

Munitions

None

Arrests

1 adult, 2 minors

Charges

Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct II, Trespass II, Escape III

Protests for September 28

Posted on by audrey

Summary

The direct action march on Monday night had an unexpected start when a large number of police officers showed up at Kenton Park while people were gathering there. The police searched people without consent and took supplies from the mutual aid tents, and also arrested someone with a “Vote!” sign. A warning was issued that force could be used against people in the street or blocking traffic, so when the police withdrew and the march began around 10 PM, protesters remained on the sidewalk.

Protesters arrived at their destination, the Portland Police Association building, and police made an announcement that the sidewalks outside the building were “closed”. They did not declare an unlawful assembly at this point, but rushed the protesters and began making arrests. Protesters then regrouped across the street from the PPA building. Reporters captured video of police officers gathering rocks from a street median with no one else around, which is significant because police reports often say that rocks have been thrown by protesters while reporters dispute or are unable to confirm these claims.

Police declared an unlawful assembly at about 11:34 PM and rushed the protesters again, making more arrests across the street in a 7-Eleven parking lot. Officers used OC gas and pepper spray during these actions. A smaller group returned to the PPA after this, and the protest tapered off around 1 AM.

Scheduled Events

  • Kenton Park Direct Action March – 8 PM

Timeline

Protesters are gathering at Kenton Park in North Portland:

There’s no indication that protesters have been blocking traffic when these announcements are made:

Unlawful assembly declared at about 11:34 PM:

CW for pepper spray/assault & audio of injured protester during arrest

Media

Present

Articles

OPB

Portland area officers will remain federal deputies through end of year

The Oregonian

Portland Mercury

Hall Monitor: An Authorized Militia

Portland Monthly

The Possums, the Police, and the Burger Barn

Verso

The End of Violence: 100 Days of Protest in Portland

Police

Agencies present

Portland Police Bureau (federalized, as of 9/26)

Munitions used

  • Pepper spray
  • Smoke
  • OC gas

Number of arrests

24

Charges

  • Interfering with a Peace Officer
  • Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree 
  • Escape in the Third Degree
  • Menacing 
  • Harassment

Protests for September 27

Posted on by sal

Summary

Yesterday was a long day for Portland. Between the Proud Boys Rally during the day and the rampant police brutality at night, it appears protesters are tired enough to take the night off. While the community takes a break from protesting this evening, a rally was held during the day by Letha Winston, mother of Patrick Kimmons, where she spoke to community members.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

Letha Winston, mother of Patrick Kimmons who was killed by Portland Police in 2018, held a rally at Peninsula Park during the day.

Media

Present

Articles

ACLU

KOIN

The New York Times

OPB

The Oregonian

Raw Story

Willamette Week

Police

Agencies Present

None

Munitions

None

Arrests

None

Charges

None

Protests for September 26

Posted on by sal

Summary

Portland’s protest community has known about the Proud Boys Rally that took place today for weeks, ever since it was first announced. As has always been the case, this meant that there would be at least one counter-protest in the city. These dueling protests have, in the past, been hot beds of conflict. Many have taken place in the downtown area, where there’s ample room between city buildings for the two opposing groups to face off in the street. Today, however, counter-protesters did not directly confront the Proud Boys and their rally’s attendees. Two different Black Lives Matter rallies took place: one at the Vanport Historical Marker, just a freeway away from the Proud Boys Rally, and one at Peninsula Park, in an entirely different part of town.

By the most liberal of estimates, the Proud Boys Rally at Delta Park had between 200-300 attendees. The first thing some journalists on the scene noticed when arriving was what looked like armed security covering a checkpoint at the entrance to the park. When nearby Portland Police were informed of this by the journalists, the officer said he did not know about the armed guards and would inform the command center. Despite the armed individuals both standing around the perimeter and on the grounds attending the rally, the rally itself was uneventful. Some members gave speeches, but it appeared that for the most part people were standing around chanting and talking amongst themselves. What was eventful, however, were that several members of the press were assaulted by attendees of the rally, some of whom accused them of being “Antifa” and physically made them leave. With only small scuffles here and there and no arrests at Delta Park, by around 2:45 pm the rally had ended and most of the attendees had left.

The rally at Peninsula Park in North Portland began around noon, at the same time as the Proud Boys Rally. At its height the demonstration had between 1,000-1,500 attendees, dwarfing the Proud Boys in comparison. There were different mutual aid and food tables set up around the park, as well as shields for attendees. At the start of the rally, some of the shield makers had reportedly been informed by police nearby that they could not pass out the shields, but they were eventually able to get them to the park and to protesters. Despite a stretch of rain in the middle of the rally, over one thousand community members stood on the lawn of Peninsula Park and listened to speakers and chanted. By around 3 pm the event ended, and some attendees made their way to Irving Park, where another rally had formed.

Before Irving Park, most of the protesters at that event began at the Vanport Historical Mark, where there was a counter-protest near the Proud Boys Rally. This event, which also began around noon, drew around 200-300 protesters who listened to speeches by community members and chanted. Around 1:30 pm the group departed from the park in a car caravan bound for Irving Park. Before they got there the caravan passed Peninsula Park, where the other event was still happening, and circled it, honking their support. When they got to Irving Park, a group that soon comprised of protesters from both counter-protests, listened to more speeches and musical performances. While there was some talk among the Proud Boys of also going to Irving Park, this did not appear to happen.

In the evening, protesters met at a location that was undisclosed by journalists on the ground. As more people arrived and people posted pictures and videos of the event, however, it soon became clear that the location was the Justice Center downtown. Protesters stood in front of the Justice Center listening to speeches for about an hour before police came out around 9:15 pm and began arresting anyone standing in the street. At this point an unlawful assembly had not be declared by any law enforcement agency. What followed for the next few hours was officers indiscriminately shoving protesters with their batons, including press and legal observers, pushing them around the area, and making mass arrests. Many members of the press were assaulted, and at least one bystander, a delivery person on a bicycle, was arrested for being in the area and was not actually involved in the protest. An unlawful assembly was eventually declared after many arrests had already been made. By 2 am, the crowd that started with around 100 – 150 people had been getting pushed around for hours, and the night finally ended.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

Proud Boys Rally – Delta Park

Right-wing extremist group the Proud Boys gathered in Vancouver before driving into Portland for their rally at Delta Park.

There are reports of armed individuals guarding at least one entrance to the park.

There has been no indication that protesters at Vanport near Delta Park are making any moves towards the Proud Boys Rally. In spite of this, this announcement was made:

Portland Police liaison officers that had been at Vanport earlier in the day were seen at Delta Park with the Proud Boys.

Tension between the attendees of the Proud Boys Rally and members of the press continues:

With protesters from Vanport already on their way to Irving Park, right-wing protesters also say that they’re headed to the same location.

Anti-fascism Rally – Peninsula Park

In North Portland, community members gather at Peninsula Park for their own rally opposing the Proud Boys’ presence in the city.

Portland Police are taking protesters’ shields and arrested at least one person.

A celebrity appearance at Peninsula Park: Cesar the Llama.

Too sweet to not post:

After an over 3 hour long demonstration, protesters begin wrapping up.

Counter-protest – Vanport

Just across the freeway from Delta Park, community members gather at the Vanport Historical Marker for a counter-protest.

Protesters prepare for the car caravan as speeches end.

Evening – “Undisclosed Location”

In the evening, protesters gather at an undisclosed location in Portland.

Around 9:15 pm, police appear and push protesters back for the first time of the evening.

CONTENT WARNING: violent arrest.

Portland police briefly reappear.

Around 11:45 pm, police declare an unlawful assembly.

Richard is a regular at nightly protests and beloved members of the community.

Police exit the area around 1 am.

Around 1:50 am, officers in riot uniforms reemerge on the street.

Media

Present

Articles

ABC News

Courthouse News

The Daily Beast

The Guardian

KGW

Medium

The New York Times

OPB

The Oregonian

Portland Mercury

Southern Poverty Law Center

Vice News

The Washington Post

Willamette Week

Police

Agencies Present

  • Portland Police Bureau
  • Oregon State Police

Munitions

  • smoke grenades
  • mace

Arrests

30

Charges

Attempted Assaulting a Public Safety Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, Resisting Arrest, Harassment, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Riot, Assaulting a Public Safety Officer, Escape in the Third Degree, Aggravated Harassment

News for September 25

Posted on by audrey

No in-person events are happening today, due to the far-right Proud Boys rally expected in North Portland tomorrow. Instead many groups are taking the time to prepare for counter-protests and other support.

Media

Articles

Associated Press

The Intercept

How the Protests Upended Portland’s Mayoral Race

The New York Times

OPB

The Oregonian

Portland Mercury

Gov. Brown Puts State Troopers, Sheriff’s Office in Charge of Policing Proud Boy Rally

Willamette Week

Protests for September 24

Posted on by audrey

Summary

On Thursday morning, protesters gathered downtown at City Hall for the weekly Justice for Patrick Kimmons event. Patrick’s mother, Letha Winston, led the group in chants.

Thursday evening, about 100 direct action protesters gathered at Arbor Lodge Park in North Portland to march to the Portland Police Association building. Activists stood outside the building giving speeches until an unlawful assembly was declared at about 10:30 PM, after a small fire was set outside the building. Riot police then cleared the group away from the building, making several arrests. Police left after inspecting the building, then returned for more arrests. At about 12:30 AM police left again and the protest thinned out, eventually ending around 1 AM.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

Downtown this morning at the weekly Justice for Patrick Kimmons event:

A small group has gathered at Arbor Lodge in North Portland for the direct action march:

Protesters are giving speeches outside the PPA building:

Unlawful assembly declared at 10:27 PM:

Media

Present

Articles

OPB

The Oregonian

Portland Mercury

Activists Counter a Planned Proud Boy Rally with “Black Joy Weekend”

Willamette Week

Police

Agencies present

  • Portland Police Bureau

Munitions used

Number of arrests

Fourteen

Charges

  • Disorderly Conduct II
  • Interfering with a Peace Officer 
  • Arson II
  • Trespass II 

Protests for September 23

Posted on by sal

Summary

The announcement of the court ruling in Breonna Taylor’s case ignited protests all over the country tonight. Portland’s response was no different.

The nightly demonstration in the city began at 7 pm downtown. Despite the demonstration slated to take place in a different part of the city initially, the location was changed after the announcement that brought no indictments for the murder of Breonna Taylor. In solidarity with Louisville, the people of Portland gathered in front of the Justice Center downtown, just like they had for the first few months of protests. Estimates from journalists on the ground put numbers around 400 people at its height.

The night began with the bulk of protesters standing at the front of the Justice Center listening to speeches by black activists. Eventually a smaller group splintered off and moved to the back of the Justice Center, where they threw things at an unboarded window above the back door of the building, cracking the window. Two small fires were also set against the building at different points in the night but both quickly put themselves out.

After declaring an unlawful assembly just before 10 pm, officers made their first appearance of the night and pushed protesters a couple blocks west while using impact munitions and tear gas. This confrontation did not last long, and officers quickly retreated back towards the Justice Center. Protesters then returned to the back of the Justice Center.

Half an hour after their first appearance, police officers reemerged on the street and began pushing protesters out of the area again. They weren’t there long before a protester rounded a corner officers were about to pass with an incendiary device, referred to by those on the ground as a Molotov cocktail, and threw it towards officers. The device landed right behind the riot line of officers, appearing to catch one officer’s shoes on fire for a few seconds.

The next few hours consisted of law enforcement officers, a mix of both state and federal officers, dispersing protesters out of the area. The protesters were heavily splintered by the heightened police presence, and one group got pushed all the way to the freeway on the edge of the downtown area, about 15 blocks away from where they started. While protesters were being dispersed, some officers also tasked themselves with destroying the tents of houseless folks living in the area and attempting to disperse them as well.

By 1 am the night ended without any further incident.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

The nightly demonstration in Portland began at 7 pm in front of the Justice Center downtown.

Protesters stood at the front of the Justice Center chanting and listening to speeches from black activists.

Another group of protesters made their way to the back of the Justice Center.

A silver car reportedly drove through the crowd of protesters at the front of the Justice Center. No one was harmed.

At 9:54 pm, Portland Police (PPB) declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.

About 10 minutes after the unlawful assembly declaration, law enforcement officers made their first appearance on the street while firing tear gas towards protesters.

PPB pushed protesters west to the parks across the street from the Justice Center.

After a brief standoff between police and protesters, officers eventually left the scene.

A fire was started on some wood paneling on the Justice Center, but it quickly put itself out.

At about 10:20 pm, PPB declared the gathering a riot

Protesters set another fire on the Justice Center.

Just after 10:30 pm, officers reemerged on the street.

Some protesters managed to make their way back to the Justice Center before being pushed back by police and federal officers.

A separated group of protesters continued being pushed west to the edge of the downtown area.

The group that had gotten back to the Justice Center were also pushed west.

Officers retreated back towards the Justice Center and federal courthouse, prompting protesters to also make their way back.

There appeared to be a large group of officers in front of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility despite the lack of protesters in the immediate area.

Protesters continued trying to get back to the Justice Center.

Protesters once again managed to return to the Justice Center.

Officers from The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were seen in the area of the protests.

Media

Present

Articles

The Atlantic

Bellingcat

The Guardian

KGW

Newsweek

The New York Times

NPR

OPB

The Oregonian

Politico

How Portland Became a Nightmare for Democrats

Portland Mercury

Vice News

Willamette Week

Police

Agencies Present

  • Portland Police Bureau
  • Department of Homeland Security – Federal Protective Services
  • U.S. Marshals
  • The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Munitions

  • tear gas
  • smoke grenades
  • pepper balls
  • mace

Arrests

13

Charges

Harassment, Attempt Murder, Attempt Assault I, Arson I, Possession of a Destructive Device, Resist Arrest, Riot, Interfering with a Police Officer, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, and Disorderly Conduct II, Criminal Mischief I 

Protests for September 22

Posted on by audrey

Summary

On Tuesday, the weekly Kid-Centered March for Black Lives gathered over a hundred participants for speeches and a neighborhood march in SE Portland. In the evening, direct action protesters marched from Laurelhurst Park to the Penumbra Kelly building on E Burnside Ave, where the Portland police and Multnomah County Sheriffs Officers are located. After speeches and dancing, many protesters left around midnight without interacting with the police. At about 12:30 AM, three activists were arrested on trespassing charges, two of whom had confronted someone who pulled a gun on them earlier in the evening. No details were available about the shots fired that are reported by PPB as being related to protest attendees.

Scheduled Events

  • Kid-Centered March for Black Lives! – 5 PM at Sunnyside School Park
  • Laurelhurst Park direct action march – 8 PM

Timeline

Great turnout for the weekly Kid-Centered March for Black Lives in SE Portland:

Tonight at Laurelhurst Park, things are off to a slow start:

A speaker is sharing sections of a recent NYT story about Portland protests with their own commentary:

Many people left the protest around midnight after no direct interactions with police, with a smaller group remaining outside the building.

Two of the people arrested are activists who reported a gun being drawn on them earlier in the evening. Police say there was a shooting that injured two people around 10:30 PM.

Media

Present

Articles

AL.com

Alabama native carries state motto to Portland protests

CNN

Around 20 DHS intelligence reports recalled in the wake of Portland controversy

The Oregonian

The Washington Post

Luxury cars, MAGA flags and Facebook invites: How an unknown Idaho family organized the Portland rally that turned deadly

Willamette Week

Police Brutality and Its Links to the Housing Crisis Are Themes in the Portland-Set Short, “Forgive Us Our Debts”

Police

Agencies present

  • Portland Police Bureau

Munitions used

Number of arrests

Three

Charges

  • Interfering with a Peace Officer
  • Escape III 
  • Resisting Arrest
  • Trespass II
  • Disorderly Conduct II

Protests for September 21

Posted on by sal

Summary

The main protest for the night began at Laurelhurst Park with a march slated to go to the nearby Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Penumbra Kelly Building. About 100 community members began at Laurelhurst Park and, at around 9:15 pm, arrived at MCSO. The night consisted of activists giving speeches, performances, and dancing. The only interaction that the group of protesters had with law enforcement was at least one announcement from the sheriffs’ loudspeaker. Law enforcement officers did not confront protesters at the MCSO building.

At the same time as the bulk of protesters demonstrated outside MCSO, a much smaller group remained present at The Red House, the site of last night’s protest. The inhabitants of the Red House, a black indigenous family that is facing eviction, has been drawing on community support to keep their home. As the demonstration ended at MCSO, many members of the group made their way to the Red House around midnight to continue the night of protests. There, a journalist reported being watched by a Portland Police officer in a cruiser, but no altercation occurred.

Protests at both sites remained calm throughout the night; by around midnight most folks had left MCSO, either to head home or to the Red House. The demonstration at the Red House lasted throughout the night, with community members remaining on the lot of the house camped out on the lawn.

Scheduled Events

Timeline

Penumbra Kelly Building

Protesters gathered at Laurelhurst Park for the nightly demonstration.

Just after 9 pm, protesters departed from the park and began marching.

At about 9:15 pm, protesters arrived at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Penumbra Kelly Building.

A staple at the Portland protests, an older man named Richard, stood in the parking lot of the Penumbra Kelly Building prompting the sheriffs to make the first announcement of the night on their loudspeaker.

An individual came to the demonstration and began confronting protesters. Multiple reports indicated that he was intoxicated.

Some protesters went from the Penumbra Kelly Building to The Red House, the location of last night’s protest.

The Red House

At the Red House, a small group of community members spent the night camped out on the lawn, just as they had yesterday. Local activist Emily Gansberg was present before reporters arrived later in the night.

Media

Present

Articles

KGW

Portland is ‘permitting violence and destruction of property’, DOJ says

Protesters gather outside Kelly Building in Portland

High Country News

Will Portland’s summer of unrest reshape city politics?

The Nation

Federal Agencies Tapped Protesters’ Phones in Portland

The New York Times

Some Protests Against Police Brutality Take a More Confrontational Approach

OPB

Justice Department labels Portland ‘anarchist jurisdiction,’ threatens cuts to federal funding

President Trump to announce Supreme Court pick to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Saturday

Trump’s Supreme Court front-runner hailed by right, feared by left

The Oregonian

Feds say protester in Portland threw a rock but he says it was a bouncy ball. He now faces assault charge.

Former Wisconsin police chief to review Jacob Blake shooting

Top contenders for Trump’s Supreme Court nomination

Trump administration lists Portland, Seattle, NYC as ‘permitting anarchy and violence’

Portland Mercury

Good Afternoon, News: Mourning RBG, Trump’s Icky Supreme Pick, and Portland: America’s #1 “Anarchistic Jurisdiction”!

The Washington Post

Justice Dept. targets Portland, New York and Seattle over protests

Luxury cars, MAGA flags and Facebook invites: How an unknown Idaho family organized the Portland rally that turned deadly

Police

Agencies Present

  • Multnomah County Sheriffs

Munitions

None

Arrests

None

Charges

None