Summary
Today was a quiet day for Portland’s protest community. With no events planned either during the day or at night, the community got a day to rest and do mutual aid work, like distributing ballistic vests to BIPOC community members and Portland Street Mechanics holding a clinic at Lents Park.
There was, however, a Back the Blue Rally during the day at the Justice Center and then the ICE facility. Despite some members of the crowd coming armed, the event began and ended without any significant confrontations from counter-protesters, of which there were none. By 4:30 pm, after about 3 hours of flag-waving, the right-wing protesters had cleared the area.
Scheduled Events
None
Summary
During the day, a Back the Blue Rally takes place downtown near the Justice Center.
No far right activity at the JC currently. There are perhaps 20 people doing a flag wave on the Gibbs St Pedestrian Bridge. They seem to be a family event at this time: mostly women, a few kids. No weapons.
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 18, 2020
I think best to leave this one alone pending further developments
Update: maybe 15 chuds at the JC. I see at least one AR.
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 18, 2020
They are watching me tweet and talking shit, it's weird to be recognizable on sight. I just wanted to go for a Sunday run pic.twitter.com/AMwur3fKAE
It is unclear if the rally taking place at the ICE facility is the same group as the one at the Justice Center, or if it is an entirely different Back the Blue Rally happening concurrently.
There is a Back the Blue rally at the ICE facility currently. pic.twitter.com/eM4ELxLAlS
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) October 18, 2020
Several vehicles pull into the facility. pic.twitter.com/9MoNQxlU9c
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) October 18, 2020
Local activist Dr. Juniper Simonis was harassed by right-wing rally-goers at the ICE building. Journalist Laura Jedeed relays the situation:
I just spoke to @JuniperLSimonis and here's what happened
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 18, 2020
When they arrived to count pepper ball impacts outside the ICE building and perform other documentary tasks for their work, a man was power washing the street
They asked the man who he works for. The man got upset t
Within a few minutes of the man getting on the phone, armed far right activists showed up. I am receiving reports that they have removed BLM signs from the Cottonwood school next to the ICE building. When I drove by, I saw them having a conversation with a DHS officer
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 18, 2020
I will now attempt to walk up to the protest. Not excited. Wish me luck
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 18, 2020
Between 15 and 20 activists kitty-corner from the ICE building. They were on federal property when I drove by the first time; perhaps they were asked to move away
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 18, 2020
At least 2 AR-15s and a few sidearms in this crowd
A woman thinks I took a picture of her car. I didnt pic.twitter.com/T8QdsMdqHE
Then, all the armed protesters came over with a few others to explain that I'm not intimidated by them. Apparently if you don't break down crying, you're not intimidated. It's real interesting
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 18, 2020
They told me for about ten minutes how pro free speech they are
The exchange between journalist Laura Jedeed and a right-wing rally-goer who had threatened them a few weeks ago at another Back the Blue Rally downtown.
Ok, I'm home, let's see if I can actually upload video
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 19, 2020
The gentleman who called me a fucking cunt and threatened me last week approached me to accuse me of doxxing him. His armed friends soon followed
I tried, and failed, to explain that comments left under my videos aren't me pic.twitter.com/Bd8PInY6jH
The gentleman asks why anyone would doxx him. I say, you'll have to ask them, but possibly because you threatened me with a gun
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 19, 2020
He explains he wasn't threatening me, then tells me to "keep a safe distance" which feels like another threat and also dude, YOU approached ME pic.twitter.com/S62fwfBOgj
Two men with AR15s inform me I'm not intimidated
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 19, 2020
They also accuse me of throwing things, then demand to know why I didn't stop others from throwing. Astoundingly, they say they'd protect me if people antagonized me
It is difficult to talk to people who believe their own lies pic.twitter.com/87SU3OdOOs
The gentlemen next take issue with me encouraging violence somehow and also with calling them neo-nazis, which I have NEVER done
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 19, 2020
We fight about the word chud
Mr. "You fucking cunt" says he isn't far-right. I ask him to elaborate on his beliefs. He either can't or won't pic.twitter.com/WiJO2KZCJI
The armed gentlemen say that I called Antifa on them (no). They conflate two weekends, get confused about time
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 19, 2020
This is where things begin to go off the rails. I start reacting and begin to lose control of the conversation
The rest of these videos are clinics on what NOT to do pic.twitter.com/jrtpunbmlJ
I ask about harassment of Juniper. They deny it, which tracks with the story I was told (they came when called but did not participate)
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 19, 2020
They ask about my nationality, I tell them, then he gets to do a gotcha: he's also from the middle east. Look at how racist they aren't pic.twitter.com/Fp6hz4qEIA
I also get heated and it results in a tactical error: I advance on one of them to demonstrate how Mr. "Fucking cunt" over there advanced on me
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 19, 2020
They, of course, take this as proof that I'm not intimidated
We'll talk about that in a second, but it is a bad tactical choice pic.twitter.com/kWnRQnoZBn
I did at least ask about he magazine in the gentleman's weapon. He refused to give me a straight answer, unsurprisingly
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 19, 2020
I should bring my own AR to a protest sometime with a magazine in and see if the police are as cavalier about it as they are with this guy pic.twitter.com/wFJeNkw68g
By 4:30 pm, the Back the Blue rally-goers have left the area.
Update: they're gone
— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) October 18, 2020
Media
Present
- Cory Elia (KBOO) – CashApp $CoryElia / paypal.me/CoryElia / Venmo @ Cory-Elia
- Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) – CashApp/Venmo: misanthrophile / PayPal: askmisanthrophile@gmail.com
Articles
The Oregonian
- President Trump, ‘lock her up’ chants incite ‘domestic terrorism,’ Michigan governor says
- 15 Portland cops make more than $200,000 – mostly driven by huge OT (Subscriber Exclusive)
Reuters
Vice
- WTF is Antifa (Youtube Video)
Village Portland
Willamette Week
- Black Portlander Says Service Station Refused Him Gasoline, Suggested He Would Use It to Start Fires
Police
Agencies Present
None
Munitions
None
Arrests
None
Charges
None