Summary
September 7th in Portland saw the start of a windstorm that brought in smoke from fires in the Mount Hood and nearby Washington areas, making the air uncomfortable to breathe in some areas and dangerous for sensitive groups in others. Possibly as a result of this, there was no night demonstration in Portland. There were, however, an abundance of right-wing rallies to cover in the area.
In Oregon City, a caravan of Trump supporters rallied at Clackamas Community College. Hundreds of people gathered and listened to a few speeches before setting off in a caravan that drove along the freeways around the area before some of the group split off while the rest continued all the way to Salem, Oregon. In Salem, the group held a flag waving rally at the city’s capital building. This rally was met by some Salem community members coming out to counter-protest, although the group of counter-protesters appeared to be visibly smaller than the right-wing rally.
Members of the flag waving rally were noticeably aggressive towards both counter-protesters and press. Assaults on multiple individuals were caught on video by journalists on the ground. As a result of one of the assaults, two ring-wing protesters would arrested by Salem Police but were quickly released. It is unclear if these individuals were actually charged with a crime.
In Portland, a demonstration for Black Lives Matter was held around mid-day. Protesters in attendance listened to speeches and performances by community members. The group eventually left the park to march around the area, and by the time they returned for more speeches, the smoke blowing into Portland had gotten visibly more severe. Unlike in Salem, this event ended without any altercations or interference by police officers.
Scheduled Events
- Rally in Support of MoC Workers – 11 am
- Meditation for Black Lives – 6 pm
- Black Lives Matter Lents Family-Friendly Protest – 6:30 pm
Timeline
Oregon City to Salem
Trump supporters held a rally in Oregon City just outside of Portland.
There is currently a pro-Trump rally in the Clackamas Community College campus in Oregon City. There are 100s of attendees with their flag adorned vehicles ready to start their convoy rally. #PortlandProtests #PDXProtests pic.twitter.com/rV1ilasNRz
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 7, 2020
Joey Gibson is making a motivation speech to the pro-Trump attendees. He briefly discussed the death of Aaron Jay Danielson & being removed from Facebook. #PortlandProtests #PDXProtests pic.twitter.com/wxpkA1dgWS
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 7, 2020
Speaker tells crowd to sign up on clipboard for “flash rallies”, ones that won’t be posted on social media and will happen in different cities pic.twitter.com/VDtbTDhq7u
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 7, 2020
Organizer gives route details, says police will close off lanes, Proud boys riding with caravan and continuing on to Salem for rally with others like Patriot Prayer’s Joey Gibsom pic.twitter.com/FynhQnOVe7
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 7, 2020
The pro-Trump rally attendees are preparing to start their caravan. It is hard to overstate the number of flags on display, creating an interesting visual dynamic. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/RRzpBgcDV7
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 7, 2020
The Trump Cruise Rally is continuing their journey to Salem for a flag waving event. Attendees include members of Patriot Prayer & Portland Chapter Proud Boys. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/ZSXnBLQihx
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 7, 2020
The pro-Trump car caravan made their way to Salem for a flag waving rally.
The trump rally in Salem, the Oregon capital pic.twitter.com/ogVa2vOAFF
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 7, 2020
The BLM side pic.twitter.com/elQcJqlaIX
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 7, 2020
Both sides are staring at each other pic.twitter.com/BEeTakrEb7
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 7, 2020
CONTENT WARNING: The video below shows multiple individuals from the right-wing rally assaulting a leftist protester.
Proud boys bull rush BLM, take baseball bat to man, then proud boy punches man on the ground, woman then maces him on the ground pic.twitter.com/rouWGGm8bM
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 7, 2020
Proud boy chases down another BLM supporter, beats them down. Police make arrests pic.twitter.com/J9YlhpoRnO
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 7, 2020
“Fuck antifa” pic.twitter.com/YVrLGszNnd
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 7, 2020
Paintballs are shot at @BaghdadBrian , a trump supporter tells the crowd not to touch him, crowd listens pic.twitter.com/ersA8A5Jch
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 7, 2020
Some proud boys thank officers on their way out, one asks for a sticker (and gets it) pic.twitter.com/bpq9CIDbh4
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 7, 2020
Two individuals who were assaulting a counter protester were arrested…
This is an arrest, but it almost looks like their just shooting the shit pic.twitter.com/PZ9RRcroa7
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 7, 2020
… And then quickly released.
The second man who was arrested appears to be free, rejoins his friends with hugs pic.twitter.com/TpnMbXJLwu
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 8, 2020
The other man who was arrested is also out pic.twitter.com/ylcU2qRnQI
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 8, 2020
Cathedral Park
In North Portland, protesters gathered at Cathedral Park for a demonstration and march.
Arriving at Carhedral Park to the end of an Indigenous drum circle. Folks are clapping. “No more clapping!” says a drummer. “I want to hear your war whoops!”
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 7, 2020
This is beautiful. I feel bad for @PDocumentarians and @1misanthrophile who are at the Trump Traffic Jam in Clackamas pic.twitter.com/UasKYthA4X
So this is Kunu Bearchum and Rising Buffalo Tribe. They’re very good. pic.twitter.com/RypiXbATvx
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 7, 2020
March starts at 3:30. Letha just dropped a strong speech, seemed to back and forth a bit about radical action.
— The Editor ?? (@MacSmiff) September 7, 2020
BLM is the focus, not fires, but she still respects and thanks the fire starters for their passion and commitment to her cause, is what she seems to be saying. pic.twitter.com/kPOpsw9erK
The march heads out into St. John’s. pic.twitter.com/4oL9Ol20nL
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 7, 2020
The march is moving. I got adopted by AznBloc today and I already got yelled at once for being on my phone too much.
— The Editor ?? (@MacSmiff) September 7, 2020
Also, this hill outta the park is not fun. pic.twitter.com/N27uEj10Yo
Very important members of the community were in attendance of the march, seen below:
Good Dogs For BLM abound. The Aussie has taped up ears so that the chanting does not hurt their fuzzy ears. It seems to be working out well. The Wagon Dogs have sick jams. pic.twitter.com/1MV8EU314x
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 7, 2020
The march returns to the park. It has gotten very smoky out. For those of you who know nothing about Portland other than what you hear from the White House, this is an excellent opportunity to crow about how Portland is ablaze. Mazel tov. pic.twitter.com/Hgx9YDiRJk
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 8, 2020
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 8, 2020
Current speaker from the PDX Black Youth Movement, addressing educators: “stop asking black students to explain white supremacy!” pic.twitter.com/1y5Y4GUiuI
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 8, 2020
One last powerful speech with the sun looking like the end of the damn world pic.twitter.com/snF3lr17Zl
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 8, 2020
Media
Present
- Justin Yau @PDocumentarians – CashApp: $portlandindepend / PayPal: https://paypal.me/portlandindepend
- Mac Smiff – CashApp: $MacSmiff
- Sergio Olmos
- 45th Parallel Absurdist Brigade – CashApp: $45thabsurdist / Venmo: the45thabsurdist
Articles
OPB
Hundreds gather for pro-Trump vehicle rally in Portland suburb
The Oregonian
Multiple arrests after Trump supporters, Proud Boys gather for Labor Day caravan, Salem rally
Portland City Council fractured and on vacation
Right-wing activists and supporters of President Donald Trump gathered in Oregon City (Video)
Wildfire smoke pours into Portland metro, threatening air quality; state warns worse could come
We Out Here Magazine
Police
Agencies Present
- Salem Police Department
Munitions
None
Arrests
None
Charges
None