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:
I’m here at Kenton Park tonight reporting. So far the crowd is only a few dozen people in size.
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) September 29, 2020
Officers have shown up at the park and have started searching and seizing property. @CascadianJake had an energy drink taken directly out of his pocket by officer #41. The officer suspected it of being alcohol. A mutual aid cart was also taken. pic.twitter.com/mTj5pq1LsY
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) September 29, 2020
Fall is in the air here at Kenton Park, where there’s cold brew coffee, bowls of apples and well over 100 protesters aaannd POLICE HAVE DESCENDED ON THE PARK#PortlandProtests pic.twitter.com/8BK2NGdByp
— Beth Nakamura (@bethnakamura) September 29, 2020
After chasing some of the crowd to through the park officers have returned and are going after the mutual aid tents and volunteers. pic.twitter.com/TGBFg2qJXE
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) September 29, 2020
I’m in Kenton park in Portland . Was completely peaceful – about 50 protesters . Out of nowhere a bunch of riot cops showed up and escalated things. Tense now. Cannot stress enough how peaceful it was before
— Tess Owen (@misstessowen) September 29, 2020
An arrest is being made. (Sorry about the focus issues) pic.twitter.com/F5cWW5JXAB
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) September 29, 2020
Riot line in the park pic.twitter.com/wqIUN9Qa3c
— Peter (@gravemorgan) September 29, 2020
Police arrive at Kenton park apropos of nothing. Protestor we’re staging here before marching to the protest site. police didn’t declare an unlawful assmebly or any orders, they just moved through the park to “take a walk” one officer said pic.twitter.com/OCbYg3rH3o
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
No announcements have been made and the crowd was literally standing in the Park, some of the crowd is being pushed back.
— Shea? (@SheaPDX_) September 29, 2020
Welcome to life when PPB has federal power.
This officer in charge is asked why police are in the park “we’re just walking, taking a nice stroll through the park” pic.twitter.com/vdsQwzDzW6
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
Officers are occupying the area of the park where the mutual aid tents were once and small squads of them are walking through the crowd conducting searches. pic.twitter.com/IEU3LutO5F
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) September 29, 2020
Yep, the cops are hanging out in the park. Maybe 150 protesters surround them
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
Deputization has made them bold pic.twitter.com/hAiBHE4aWF
The cops stand in the park. The protesters chant the correct version of my least favorite chant:
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
“Show we what a police state look like!
This is what a police state looks like!”
Correct
Then they leave. After I shut off my camera someone threw a goddamn wrench at one of the closed-top cars. It bounces off the roof. I’ll pretend to be mad if you want me to pic.twitter.com/tIuyeL0A5w
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
There’s no indication that protesters have been blocking traffic when these announcements are made:
Police just gave a use of force warning for standing in the street, “move into the park or on the sidewalk” or be subject to impact weapons and OC munitions
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
Portland Police has just warned protesters to leave the roadway. Crowds have not yet left Kenton Park for their march, or declared an illegal assembly. #PortlandProtests #PDXProtests #BlackLivesMatter. pic.twitter.com/AuwAhQjcGU
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 29, 2020
I join much of the press corps at the opposite side of the park where we discver that there are in fact people blocking the road: the cops
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
They eventually leave pic.twitter.com/8XcAo4FssG
The group is now moving.
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) September 29, 2020
The protest moves out. They have elected to stay on the sidewalk since the police have made it clear they’re looking for any excuse tonight
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
In 113 days of protest I haven’t seen police preemptively show up to a park(staging area) to do a show of force before the protest begins. It’s had an effect, protestors are walking to the protest site using the sidewalk, not the street
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
Crowd marches to PPA from Kenton on the sidewalk (like the orders stated) and were immediately greeted by another LRAD stating to get out of the street.
— Shea? (@SheaPDX_) September 29, 2020
Police say they’ve closed the sidewalk near the PPA, use of force warning given for standing on the road or the sidewalk, impact weapons and OC munitions pic.twitter.com/UPZv38Ar0o
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
Police arrive to PPA and make arrests. No unlawful assembly has been declared. pic.twitter.com/juuuEjhtXI
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
Some Portland Police officers are no longer displaying their helmet numbers. An unprecedented change in policy. #PortlandProtests #PDXProtests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/zdb0UKFRm6
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 29, 2020
Portland Police officers have just rushed crowds in front of the PPA building & made at least 2 arrests. So far, they have declared an unlawful assembly. #PortlandProtests #PDXProtests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/w30fUu71c7
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 29, 2020
Police are making an arrest a few blocks away from PPA, they chased a protestors and tackled him on someone’s lawn. There 26 police officers here. pic.twitter.com/y3sCHCQOmw
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
The police charge three blocks to make a targeted arrest. They abandon their line formation to simply sprint
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
This leaves police more vulnerable to attack, since their buddies aren’t directly next to them. They clearly feel very safe
(Connection too bad for video)
A handful of arrests at both the park and now here at the PPA bldg in North Portland, where a protester just blasted Why Can’t We Be Friends:
— Beth Nakamura (@bethnakamura) September 29, 2020
“I’d kinda like to be the president
And I could show you how your money’s spent” pic.twitter.com/PydzG6GIq9
A homeowner asks a Portland police officer how do these protest end
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
Police officer responds “if people liked our trump government a lot more, we probably wouldn’t have this issue in the first place” pic.twitter.com/iHBtdTtkZJ
Cops just came in to pick up these rocks out of a Bush so if the press release says they were thrown projectiles… well you saw what happened pic.twitter.com/eFcTtdoC8O
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) September 29, 2020
Riot vans pull up. Some cops walk halfway down Elmont for some reason, then return to the van. Both vans leave
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
Protesters occupy the street immediately
Police move in and arrest a protester for standing on the sidewalk. No unalwudl assembly declared, but police did say earlier the sidewalk near the PPA is “closed” pic.twitter.com/77k9TmNuQu
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
Riot vans also return immediately. Another arrest. I think that’s OC gas but am not sure
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
Cops form a line in the middle of Lombard street. Someone should really tell them this road is open to vehicular traffic pic.twitter.com/HcsQMuXOaH
Police walk through the crowd, pushing protesters and press, they drop smoke, no unlawful assembly declared pic.twitter.com/8izbX28JVq
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
An activist tells people to get in the street
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
“What, did we come here to stand on the sidewalk? They just pushed us through a park for no reason, you think they’re gonna leave us alone if we stay on the sidewalk?”
It’s compelling. Protest moves to the street
An individual with @PdxWolfpack was cited for having a “weapon in the park – pepper spray” earlier. They explained to me it was a personal deterrent device and actually was a small pocket sized canister. pic.twitter.com/BGLXmmY3hV
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) September 29, 2020
The music stops and people move to the side of the road
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
Fuck, the cops, I think, then realizw they’re moving to let a semi truck through
As soon as he’s through, the protest moves to the center of the road again pic.twitter.com/qfBDY8RaCf
The crowd is now occupying the street in front of the PPA building, giving speeches, and listening to music.
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) September 29, 2020
They’re back, formed up against the PPA and at the Chevron. Lots of them
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
Officers have returned and have made an arrest of an individual with a shield. They are now chasing people around randomly. I got caught in the middle of it all and an officer tripped over me as I was filming.
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) September 29, 2020
Unlawful assembly declared at about 11:34 PM:
They charge. It’s an absolute shitshow. Police pushing protesters into police. Attempts to dearrest. Mace deployed
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
The police start to retreat. A water bottle hits one in the back. They turn and make another arrest
Tear gas deployed
Unlawful assembly declared
Police arrest someone who was trying to cross the street pic.twitter.com/uGGr8mNxvs
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) September 29, 2020
The cops charge and make a violent arrest pic.twitter.com/wQS0CgrxMA
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
The crowd is now returning back towards the PPA building.
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) September 29, 2020
Three police SUVs turn West onto Terry from Denver as DJ LRAD tells protesters back at the PPA they will all be arrested if they don’t leave
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
Weird standoff just North of Peninsular on Denver pic.twitter.com/ON2sxjzkDI
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
The riot vans and LRAD are now just cruising around. The group is significantly split up. pic.twitter.com/KVvg4F5PB5
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) September 29, 2020
The cops make what I think was another arrest in the 7/11 parking lot, then return to their line
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
Here’s a cop with no identifying info fantasizing about using that gun he’s got his hands on. I mean, I assume. Maybe it’s just a convenient resting place pic.twitter.com/hvYpP8sFL1
PPB arrest Dustin (@2lesslegs) pic.twitter.com/YH1AMoEfhs
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) September 29, 2020
Police take down two protesters. Notice how a cop gets a quick, subtle spray of mace in as he goes down pic.twitter.com/bbYTqEFEF9
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
CW for pepper spray/assault & audio of injured protester during arrest
Police announce they are aware of TRO regarding press and will abide by the restraining order
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
Police have also given a tear gas warning, even though the mayor has banned Portland police from using tear gas pic.twitter.com/KXPVZXbb53
A lot going on in this clip:
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
A protester shoved while trying to comply@2lesslegs gets arrested
A cop maces someone standing right next to me
I am white-passing. The person maced is Black pic.twitter.com/8GT72NDS9n
The mayor has banned the use of tear gas.
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 29, 2020
Portland Police have just given a tear gas warning.
Current situation: maybe 40 protesters left. Cops formed up by the PPA. Half the people here are LOs and press at this point
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
Protesters yelling at cops. I can hear @2lesslegs continuing to heckle the cops from where he is detained deep within their lines. God bless
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 29, 2020
Police are loading up on the riot vans… it appears they are letting random humans walk on the sidewalk next to PPA
— Jake “wear a mask” Johnson (@FancyJenkins) September 29, 2020
Media
Present
- Alissa Azar @R3volutionDaddy – CashApp: $pdxalissa / Venmo: @R3volutionDaddy
- Beth Nakamura (The Oregonian)
- Cory Elia (KBOO) – CashApp $CoryElia / paypal.me/CoryElia / Venmo @ Cory-Elia
- Cozca @KohzKah – CashApp $cozca
- Jake Johnson @FancyJenkins – CashApp: $bucksarecool / Venmo: jakefartstoo / http://Paypal.me/fancyjenkins
- Justin Yau @PDocumentarians – CashApp: $portlandindepend / PayPal: https://paypal.me/portlandindepend
- Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) – CashApp/Venmo: misanthrophile / PayPal: askmisanthrophile@gmail.com
- Peter @gravemorgan
- Sergio Olmos
Articles
OPB
Portland area officers will remain federal deputies through end of year
The Oregonian
- ACLU calls for special prosecutor after video shows officers’ aggressive tactics during weekend protests
- Portland police oversight ballot measure has detractors, but no formal opposition
- Strippers, vigilantes run amok in the Anarchist Jurisdiction: 1970s B-movie posters are remade to capture Portland today
- Bomb squad called to downtown Portland; no explosives found
- 56 federally deputized Portland police officers will keep extra authority until the end of the year
- Portland Police move in before planned protest march begins, seize shields and signs, make arrests
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
Charges
- Interfering with a Peace Officer
- Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
- Escape in the Third Degree
- Menacing
- Harassment