Summary
For the night of September 20th, the nightly demonstration’s location was the Red House on Mississippi Avenue in Portland. The black indigenous family that has lived there since 1955 is facing eviction, and is using community support and action to hopefully keep their home.
The night started at Unthank Park nearby, where protesters gathered to listen to musical performances and dance. By 8 pm a noise complaint had been issued in the neighborhood, so protesters moved to their intended destination – The Red House. Once there, they listened to speeches by community leaders, musicians continued performing, and a dance party broke out on the lawn of the Red House as well as the street in front of it. The family invited community members to camp out on their lawn, a sit in that was also planned on the flyer for the protest, which some protesters took them up on. Overall it was a quiet night in terms of law enforcement intervention. The music and dancing, however, sustained into the early hours of the following morning.
Scheduled Events
- BIPOC Makers Pop Up Market – 11 am
- Self Care Sundays – 1 pm
- Building Bridges at Cafe Zamora – 1 pm
- Resist-Dance at Laurelhurst Park – 6 pm
- Direct Action March & Sit-In – 7 pm
Timeline
Some background on the reason for the location of tonight’s protest, a home known as “the Red House” on Mississippi Avenue:
For anyone heading down to the action tonight here’s a little background on the McKinney family’s struggle. Also check out the thread from @garbagefilth! https://t.co/aKQF3ah9Ad
— Brian Conley (@BaghdadBrian) September 21, 2020
Protesters met at Unthank Park for a musical performance and dance party, then moved to the Red House.
@Jahdi_ just did a truly incredible set. I’ll try to post some more of it on the Insta. And then, it being Laurelhurst, a very nice park ranger told the party that neighbors had called the cops with a noise complaint. At 8 pm.
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 21, 2020
So now the dance party is headed to N Mississippi. pic.twitter.com/aYqyv9jfHp
2123: After gathering in Unthank Park in N Portland, protesters are beginning their planned march #DefendPDX
— PDX Frontline Alerts (@pdxfrontline) September 21, 2020
Just after 8:30 pm, protesters arrived at the Red House.
Protesters have arrived at the home pic.twitter.com/7oFvzKvkGU
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) September 21, 2020
And there’s another party up at the Red House on N Missisippi. This house is a fixture of the neighborhood, and this party is in support of the family here who is facing foreclosure. pic.twitter.com/AwqGFwNRn6
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 21, 2020
A neighbor was seen throwing glass bottles towards the crowd from their balcony.
while a very chill and very supportive crowd is assembled for this eviction-resistance-cum-block-party, someone up on this balcony has now thrown about a half-dozen glass bottles down toward the crowd. The bottles have hit the street, and the neighboring property’s front lawn. pic.twitter.com/LZD60MUCbg
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 21, 2020
“Space Walk”- the current jam, offered by the BIPOC family fighting foreclosure “to all our relations” pic.twitter.com/IDcDevR0xf
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 21, 2020
Update on the balcony: folks from the block party were given access to the building and have hung a banner reading “eviction is violence” from the railing. Presumably building management wasn’t thrilled that one of their residents was throwing glass bottles at neighbors. pic.twitter.com/ylCuL1VThU
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 21, 2020
The family has invited people to camp out on their lot tonight in support. Folks are settling in for the evening. pic.twitter.com/e3ipJNISSL
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 21, 2020
And several more glass bottles from the balcony, most of which appeared to hit the roof of the neighboring house. It appears to be a shared balcony, and lots of people on the ground are now keeping an eye on it. pic.twitter.com/f0MRf5L3D8
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 21, 2020
And some supportive folks up on the balcony just came to the railing and waved, and informed the crowd of the apartment they believed was the source of the glass bottle throwing.
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 21, 2020
Some of the glass being cleaned up pic.twitter.com/fDrA2UxwXe
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) September 21, 2020
Even after dealing with harassment spirits are still high. pic.twitter.com/yD20KLVdR4
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) September 21, 2020
An enterprising individual has decided to use their vape pen as a smoke machine. pic.twitter.com/M3MOJ4O0TF
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 21, 2020
So this is, objectively speaking,
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 21, 2020
Chill As Hell. I’m gonna head out, but gosh it’s nice to see this crowd get to dance around in smoke intended to make their dancing look cooler, and not smoke intended to hurt their lungs and eyes. pic.twitter.com/DtxXmQYsNt
It’s dance party time at the overnight sit in. This is how portland is disrupting the eviction process tonight pic.twitter.com/M88Ugs0w5u
— Alissa Azar (@R3volutionDaddy) September 21, 2020
Protesters are assembled in front of 4406 N Mississippi Ave to help prevent an eviction of a black indigenous family. It is a relatively small crowd gathered here listening to speeches & enjoying each other’s company. #PortlandProtest #PDXprotests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/yXgvmj0d7v
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 21, 2020
Protesters continued dancing and occupying space on the lot of the Red House throughout the night.
A dance party now ensues. The atmosphere has been calm tonight. Most other protesters are sitting in small groups having a conversation. #PortlandProtest #PDXprotests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/P32Np97Rny
— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) September 21, 2020
To support the family that lives in the Red House:
The cash app, venmo, and go fund me for the Red House. they now anticipate a 2-year appeal process to try to remain in their family home. N Missisippi was formerly redlined, and was at the heart of the Black community in North Portland, and has now been heavily gentrified. pic.twitter.com/YeNqEptHpS
— 45th ןǝןןɐɹɐd ʇsıpɹnsqɐ ǝpɐbıɹq (@45thabsurdist) September 21, 2020
Media
Present
- Alissa Azar @R3volutionDaddy – CashApp: $pdxalissa / Venmo: @R3volutionDaddy
- Bryan Conley @BaghdadBrian – CashApp: $Baghdadbrian / Venmo: baghdadbrian
- Justin Yau @PDocumentarians – CashApp: $portlandindepend / PayPal: https://paypal.me/portlandindepend
- 45th Parallel Absurdist Brigade – CashApp: $45thabsurdist / Venmo: the45thabsurdist
Articles
Forbes
Trump Threatens To Issue Executive Order Preventing Biden From Being Elected President
KOIN
BLM Art Therapy event to promote positive vibes in community
The Oregonian
Nebraska bar owner found dead in Oregon days after his indictment in killing of protester
Portland Mercury
Good Morning, News: Supreme Court Crisis, Portland Protests Resume, and Looking Back at RBG
Willamette Week
Nebraska Bar Owner Indicted for Fatal Shooting of Protester Has Been Found Dead in Hillsboro
Police
Agencies Present
None
Munitions
None
Arrests
None
Charges
None