Summary
At about 5 am this morning, residents of the Red House awoke to police at their door attempting to forcefully evict them. Many of their belongings were haphazardly tossed outside and they were given a small amount of time to gather their things and vacate the premises. In response, the community mobilized and came to the aid of the Kinney family, a Black and Indigenous family who have lived at the Red House for decades and have been fighting eviction since September. Community members showed up in numbers and were successfully able to push the police back, but not before 7 people were arrested including two members of the Kinney family. After the departure of riot police, community members took to building a barricade around the block of the Red House and have remained in the area all day, anticipating the eventual return of the police. While police have not returned throughout the day or the next morning, protesters remain in the area and the barricades are still up.
The Kinney family issued a press release about the day’s events here.
You can also donate to the Kinney family here,
Scheduled Events
Timeline
Portland Police Officers arrived at the Red House on Mississippi early in the morning in an attempt to evict the family who has been living there and protesting their eviction. The community came to their aid.
They are doing a raid on the Red House on Mississippi right now!!! Riot cops and yellow tape blocking off the road pic.twitter.com/LmbQcZG7LZ
— ProtestaBloc (@ProtestaBloc) December 8, 2020
Welcome to Portland, where apparently the laws are merely suggestions and the mayor/police commissioner kicks a family out of their home during a deadly pandemic and the police kettle and mace folks trying to defend them pic.twitter.com/9ORNPQdJNP
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) December 8, 2020
LEO reinforcements have left on the south sides. The alley behind Red House is accessible now. Riot cops stare down the north side. pic.twitter.com/Rc9KzpfVjy
— Melissa “Claudio” Lewis (@Claudio_Report) December 8, 2020
We are at “fuck the fence”
— Melissa “Claudio” Lewis (@Claudio_Report) December 8, 2020
O’clock pic.twitter.com/LUs4lg0XUl
PPB hit numerous people with their car. They’re relatively ok but presumably shaken up from it pic.twitter.com/KfiilEAZIn
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) December 8, 2020
Holy fucking shit that was probably one of the craziest things I’ve ever witnessed. The activist defending red house just chased out four cop cars along with cops on foot. I likely cannot post shit lmao. WOW. When they said don’t mess with the community…
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) December 8, 2020
After protesters successfully push back riot police, community members begin removing the fencing around the Red House.
I’m at Red house where several cop car windows were smashed and fist fights have erupted with the cops. For now, they have retreated. The group removes the fence around the house. pic.twitter.com/7mFGuWHR5Z
— Peter (@gravemorgan) December 8, 2020
Police have left the area. Activists are attempting to salvage thousands of dollars worth of equipment and personal property that County Sheriff’s deputies, Portland Police, and Port of Portland Police tore apart and threw in a pile behind the house.
— Sean Bascom (@baaascom) December 8, 2020
Many hands make light work as over a hundred activists band together to clear the debris, save any salvageable food, and fortify the area. The food in the foreground of this photo is not salvageable because it has touched the ground and is not fully enclosed in a can or bottle. pic.twitter.com/nqvhvO6go3
— Sean Bascom (@baaascom) December 8, 2020
@RageRagina rallies the crowd pic.twitter.com/c9wlSGj4Rx
— Melissa “Claudio” Lewis (@Claudio_Report) December 8, 2020
Protesters have erected a barricade around the street of the Red House.
Barricades are being erected on all sides of the street by the Red House on Mississippi pic.twitter.com/2DgbRFZW4a
— Peter (@gravemorgan) December 8, 2020
The community defense continues as the group builds out several layers of defense against the inevitable return of the cops to evict the Red House. Nails, bricks and concrete are starting to fill the street. pic.twitter.com/3byQMjXgwt
— Peter (@gravemorgan) December 8, 2020
Also: mutual aid. Community members start arriving with food to replenish what was taken by PPB, some show up with gallons of hot coffee & changes of clothes for those that were maced.
— Peter (@gravemorgan) December 8, 2020
It’s not just black bloc here, curious neighbors are walking over to ask how they can help.
At 6 pm Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler makes this announcement on his Twitter:
I am authorizing the Portland Police to use all lawful means to end the illegal occupation on North Mississippi Avenue and to hold those violating our community’s laws accountable. There will be no autonomous zone in Portland.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) December 9, 2020
Protesters have remained in the area throughout the day, anticipating the return of police.
The scene. People are working on projects and talking together. There is a feeling of community in the air, dampened by the mayor’s recent tweet in which he authorized “Portland Police to use all lawful means to end the illegal occupation on North Mississippi Avenue.” pic.twitter.com/iyCQSkM99k
— Sean Bascom (@baaascom) December 9, 2020
Things have evolved considerably in the few hours I’ve been gone. Multiple layers of barriers have been fortified – at least 3 to the north I’ve counted in defense of the Ted House on Mississippi #RHAZ pic.twitter.com/FIMuNII0iw
— Peter (@gravemorgan) December 9, 2020
Currently- music is playing, tarps and tents are going up, there’s a bonfire, it’s RAINING!!! But people are still showing up
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) December 9, 2020
Media
Present
- Alissa Azar @R3volutionDaddy – CashApp: $pdxalissa / Venmo: @R3volutionDaddy
- Melissa “Claudio” Lewis – Cashapp: $ClaudioReport / Venmo: Claudio_Report
- Peter @gravemorgan
- Sean Bascom – CashApp: $Baaascom / Venmo: @Sean-Bascom
Articles
AP News
Democracy Now!
- Black Mom Swarmed & Beaten by Philly Riot Police with Toddler in Car Demands Officers Be Fired
- Police Raid Home of Data Scientist Who Blew Whistle on Florida COVID-19 Reporting
Double-Sided Media
Future Human
KGW
The Nation
OPB
- Portland mayor authorizes ‘all lawful means’ to clear protesters from occupied area on Mississippi Ave.
- U.S. Marshals task force shoots man during arrest attempt in North Portland
The Oregonian
- Occupation outside North Portland home continues, despite mayor’s condemnation, warning
- Portland weighs easing limits on where homeless shelters and camps can operate
- Protesters re-occupy longtime Black-owned N. Mississippi Ave. property after clashes with police trying to ‘re-secure’ house
- West Linn to send outside firm’s report on bogus Michael Fesser theft case to fired police chief before making it public
Yakima Herald
Police
Agencies Present
- Portland Police Bureau
Munitions
None
Arrests
Charges
Trespass II, Resisting Arrest