Summary
Despite much of the city’s attention pulled in the direction of the fires burning just southeast of Portland, the nightly demonstration proceeded as usual, just as it has for over 100 days. This event began at Elizabeth Caruthers Park in southwest Portland, the regular meeting spot for protesters that planned to demonstrate at the nearby Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. At its height the event pulled around 100 – 120 protesters.
Just after 10 pm, the group arrived at the ICE facility. What followed was several hours of chanting and dancing by protesters. Despite the continued presence of a small group of federal officers at the front of the building and documented reinforcements at the back of the building, officers largely did not engage besides to make two announcements to protesters to not set fires near the building. By 12:30 am federal officers had gone inside the building and numbers in the ranks of protesters dwindled, signaling the end of the night.
Scheduled Events
- PDX Car Caravan Protest – 5:30 pm
- Direct Action March – 8 pm
Timeline
Protesters gathered at Elizabeth Caruthers Park in Southwest Portland for the nightly demonstration.
Hi there, coming at you from Elizabeth Caruthers park, where the air isn’t as bad as it was a couple hours ago and where protesters have gathered, once again, to protest police brutality#BlackLivesMatter #PortlandProtest #JusticeForJacobBlake #JusticeForDanielPrude
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
Small gathering tonight: maybe 75 people here right now. Between the fires, the exhaustion, and the brutality last night, I’m not surprised
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
A chant of “Black Lives Matter” goes up just as I get here: a signal that the evening is about to begin
Looks like we’re gonna hold off on marching for a little bit:https://t.co/rLMCsgLxTx
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
How do you forget your helmet on Day 104? My brain lately: not on top of things. All the more reason to protect what’s left with a helmet
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
As I return helmeted I see the crowd has grown to maybe 120. @SoundBlocPDX is playing Les Chant de Partisans. People chat quietly
For more information on the Attica Prison Riot click here.
A speaker announces that this is the 49th anniversary of the Attica prison riot in response to subhuman conditions. They took over the prison for 4 days and issued a list of demands. They achieved all of them
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
33 people died for that change
About 100 protesters have gathered in SW Portland. A speaker is giving a speech on the dangers and dehumanization of incarceration. #PortlandProtests #PDXprotests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/UalATyymcM
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 10, 2020
The activist leads the crowd in a chant for Breonna Taylor
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
“We’re gonna effect change, right?”
The crowd cheers
At about 10:05 pm, protesters who marched from Elizabeth Caruthers Park arrived at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building.
March just arrived at the ICE detention center. Protesters are chanting “fuck ICE!”
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) September 10, 2020
Crowds have just arrived in front of the ICE building in SW Portland. Officers from the federal protective services are waiting in front of the building. #PortlandProtests #PDXprotests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/Oz1QwJxz88
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 10, 2020
The march arrives at ICE, where federal agents already await us, gas masks on
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
They announce something about moving away from the facility but I can’t hear it over shouts of “Chinga La Migra!”
Definitely gas mask time pic.twitter.com/ux8osPfUkB
Activist sings to a line of federal officers as protesters face off with them at the ICE detention center in Portland pic.twitter.com/bCuVw5KKJ5
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) September 10, 2020
“Look to your left! Look to your right! One of these cops beat their wives!”
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) September 10, 2020
“You’re not wanted! You’re not needed!”
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
Meanwhile, some protesters walk to the back of the ICE building to check out the reserve forces: pic.twitter.com/aPriU3SOew
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
DHS police and other federal officers in fatigues. The ladder leads to the roof for roofcop access fed edition pic.twitter.com/xVI5LV9bnp
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) September 10, 2020
An activist notices one of the DHS personnel in the back using a GoPro to record the crowd. This is, to my understanding, illegal
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
When challenged, he holds it up so we can get a clear shot. Why not? What are we gonna do, call the cops? pic.twitter.com/Dr2Qquxa6U
Confirmation: Department of Homeland Security officers outside ICE facility in Portland OR. #PortlandProtests pic.twitter.com/KzqdpLD7a6
— Peter (@gravemorgan) September 10, 2020
The crowd parts to let’s bus through. As the driver maneuvers drives past the crowd he honks his approval. Huge cheers
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
Standoff continues. No real change. 0 things thrown, 0 illegal activity of any sort
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
For now, DHS seem content to listen to the various taunts and creative obscenities hurled their way
Dance party! pic.twitter.com/REq0aCaUcf
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
One of the dancers just playfully dangled a pair of handcuffs to the cops, it was amazing
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
They’re getting closer and closer. A game of chicken
Reinforcements arrive and the dancers melt back into the crowd
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
“Mask up!” someone shouts
Looks like it’s sticks for now though. An ancient human tradition pic.twitter.com/LvI9Lijk6Y
Just after 11:05 pm, federal officers made an announcement on their loudspeaker to protesters.
Bafflingly, the Feds get on the loudspeaker to tell us not to light the ICE building on fire
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
No one has attempted this to my knowledge. I mean, there were some fire dance moves I guess but that’s as far as it’s gone
Looks like the reinforcements have left. Back to the old standoff
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
Stick cops still here. If I was in full armor holding a beatin’ stick facing down a bunch of dancing protesters with “I wanna dance with somebody” blasting, I would feel self-conscious
But I’m not a cop
You may have noticed the cops are carrying bags. The protesters have noticed too. “What’s in the bag!!” people keep screaming
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
Theories so far:
-Cocaine
-Gwyneth Paltrow’s head
-Paperwork (theory immediately dismissed, we know they don’t do paperwork)
Not a lot is happening – it’s funny how there’s no violence when the cops don’t rush or engage with the crowd ? it actually looks like quite a few folks are leaving. Smart, yet boring strategy for them. Probably helps that no one is willing to light a dumpster fire tonight.
— Peter (@gravemorgan) September 10, 2020
Things continuing much as before
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
Apparently the owners of the building across from ICE are not fans of the protest. I’ve heard of fighting fire with fire, but never of fighting graffiti with worse graffiti
It is certainly an aesthetic choice pic.twitter.com/M78YJmVtbq
Lot fewer reserves out back pic.twitter.com/laEs9yWHY8
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
The dance party grows, though a large part of the crowd had departed. Federal agents from the federal protective services continue to stand guard. #PortlandProtests #PDXprotests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/y1ZgnTrzVE
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 10, 2020
The DHS line has thinned considerably and so has the protest. Could it be that tonight will end without violence or arrests? pic.twitter.com/qmbNOpMJIv
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
Just before 12:25 am federal officers, who had been standing outside the ICE facility since protesters arrived, went inside the building.
The last of the DHS line just went inside
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
There are maybe 25 people left, many of whom are still demanding to know what’s in the bag. We may never know
Sound on for the current situation pic.twitter.com/p8Ju1UnnWT
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
Folks, I’m heading out. Another night in the books, far less gas that I expected, and no new fires in Oregon. Gonna call this one a win
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 10, 2020
Solidarity with everyone still out here!
Media
Present
- Alissa Azar @R3volutionDaddy – CashApp: $pdxalissa / Venmo: @R3volutionDaddy
- Justin Yau @PDocumentarians – CashApp: $portlandindepend / PayPal: https://paypal.me/portlandindepend
- Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) – CashApp/Venmo: misanthrophile
- Peter @gravemorgan
Articles
The Hill
KGW
Protests continue in Portland, PPB chief talks initiatives and training
KOIN
New riot charge for protester accused of hitting officer with shield
Night 104: Direct action march planned for Elizabeth Caruthers Park
Record arrests, repeat offenders, dropped charges: August protest stats
Newsweek
Portland Police Urge Protesters Not to Start Fires as Blazes Ravage Oregon
The New York Times
D.H.S. Downplayed Threats From Russia and White Supremacists, Whistle-Blower Says
OPB
Portland passes nation’s toughest restriction on facial recognition technology
The Oregonian
Acting DHS Secretary says elected leaders in Portland ‘played partisan politics with public safety’
Much-touted alternative first responder program now expected to launch a year late
Witness says officers never gave commands before firing at Michael Reinoehl outside WA apartment
3 Portland police officers put on desk duty while misconduct allegations investigated
Portland Mercury
Portland Pays $975,000 Settlement to Family of Man Slain by Police
U.S. News
How Racist Policies Fostered Portland’s White Majority
Willamette Week
Department of Corrections Deploys Nearly 150 Prisoners to Fight Oregon Wildfires
Police
Agencies Present
- Department of Homeland Security – Federal Protective Services
Munitions
None
Arrests
None
Charges
None