Summary
On Wednesday, PDX Stripper Strike held a lively organizing picnic at Laurelhurst Park. In the evening, folks gathered at Lownsdale Park across from the Federal Courthouse to enjoy another meal from Riot Ribs. No local or federal law enforcement officers were seen for much of the night, until an incident with a person leaving the precinct garage who shoved a protester and reportedly pulled a gun.
At 5 AM, the Portland Police declared the parks closed and begun putting up fencing. Several people were arrested, including most of the Riot Ribs crew, and all of the gear and supplies they’ve gathered were taken. In a time of severe economic struggle, the free meals and safe campsite that’s been offered here are a meaningful show of what Portland can be. There is nothing about these sweeps and arrests that supports community safety.
Scheduled Events
PDX Stripper Strike – 3pm at Laurelhurst Park
Timeline
The Stripper Strike folks are having a picnic to talk about their organizing efforts:
Back at the Justice Center for another night of food, friends, and protesting the police (with possible guest appearances by the feds):
You can still see the blood on the sidewalk near where Donavan LaBella was struck in the head with some kind of riot control munitions Saturday. There is cellphone footage of the incident, in which he was holding a speaker over his head at the time. pic.twitter.com/OA7rKAwcUz
— Danny Peterson (@DannyJPeterson) July 16, 2020
People have set up a barrier to block traffic outside the Federal Courthouse:
Shoutout to the folks giving the parks bathroom a badly needed scrub!
Some amazing people are cleaning the bathrooms pic.twitter.com/MPmULY3bhB
— Griffin – Live from the Justice Center (@GriffinMalone6) July 16, 2020
Good crowd:
Several hundred people at SW 3rd & Main in Portland, Ore. tonight. Seemingly more numbers than last night, their chants louder and more focused than other nights. pic.twitter.com/rVpBZQFIK9
— ?️?Andrew D. Jankowski?️? (@AndrewJank) July 16, 2020
Speakers cover numerous topics: how we are on stolen Chinook land, how a lack of money under capitalism destroys people’s lives, a detailed history of KFC’s herbs & spices from enslaved people, how Black people shouldn’t have to pay taxes as reparations, a theory on HIV/AIDS.
— ?️?Andrew D. Jankowski?️? (@AndrewJank) July 16, 2020
Someone in the Federal Courthouse is flashing a light through a window on to the crowd in the park. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #portland #oregon #blm #acab #portland #justicecenter #riotribs #CLAT pic.twitter.com/9T7PpMkKe4
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) July 16, 2020
Banging at the door. pic.twitter.com/vPNgF2IcI2
— Danny Peterson (@DannyJPeterson) July 16, 2020
There are 2 skaters at the federal courthouse. There are 126 protesters chanting, “All cops are bastards,” on Main and in the park. There are 2 journalists wearing helmets. There is one dummy not wearing a helmet (me). pic.twitter.com/7KrZ6WjflO
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 16, 2020
All dogs are good.
??? good boy alert ??? pic.twitter.com/lT3ha2XjT7
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 16, 2020
Because the feds are using unmarked cars, people have been trying to take down the license plate so they can be recognized later (when they grab someone off the street, for example).
Someone on the east side of the JC confronted a person in a car, then the person kicked the confronter to the ground and pulled a gun on them.
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 16, 2020
AND THEN ANOTHER PERSON PULLED OUT THEIR PHONE AND SAID WE NEED TO CALL THE POLICE.
The crowd chants “Quit Your Jobs!” to the Portland Police Officers inside their garage in the Justice Center. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #portland #oregon #blm #acab #portland #justicecenter #riotribs #CLAT pic.twitter.com/HEsBcLnz7z
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) July 16, 2020
Folks started a fire at the base of the Elk Statue (minus Elk these days) as often happens at some point in the night:
And they’re having themselves a little flag burning. #flagburning #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #portland #oregon #blm #acab #portland #justicecenter #riotribs #CLAT pic.twitter.com/YEIAuI1czQ
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) July 16, 2020
Something sung to the tune of Nelly’s “Hot In Herre.” pic.twitter.com/4JfNStRejC
— ?️?Andrew D. Jankowski?️? (@AndrewJank) July 16, 2020
This sign says, “Tear gas is a war crime.” pic.twitter.com/ObzarQRr8Q
— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 16, 2020
Things settled down for the night, then at 5 AM the Portland Police announced they were going to sweep the parks:
No tear gas yet, but cops declared the area south of SW Salmon closed, said the city has closed the parks until further notice. The LRAD is dying. Can’t hear the announcements. There was just at least one arrest. Filmed it on my other phone. Standoff at 3rd/4th and Salmon. pic.twitter.com/Hyl703vqoo
— e c o n o m y b r e a k f a s t (@econbrkfst) July 16, 2020
— Matcha chai (@matcha_chai) July 16, 2020
Police assault a cyclist:
WATCH – Portland Police officers knock a protester off of his bicycle and arrest him outside of Lownsdale Square Park near the Federal Courthouse downtown #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/tow0GzeyzW
— Dan McCarthy (@DanMcKATU) July 16, 2020
Cops rushed across the street, grabbed a woman, arrested her. I filmed it on my other phone. I didn’t see what prompted it. She didn’t seem to be in the street.
— e c o n o m y b r e a k f a s t (@econbrkfst) July 16, 2020
Line of cops defending Salmon St from folks crossing south/going into Lownsdale Square. They’re building a fence. pic.twitter.com/kmwqh3YZSt
“Does this make you feel good?” I asked. “Yes it does” they said. pic.twitter.com/LEgvxgSNxw
— Jake “wear a mask” Johnson (@FancyJenkins) July 16, 2020
The president of the Portland Police Association was invited to come watch the sweeps ?
I just talked to Portland Police Association President Daryl Turner. He said he came out to observe the protest and make sure everyone is treated fairly. He said this sweep needed to happen. He said this park belongs to everyone and shouldn’t be occupied by a single group. pic.twitter.com/RtBYpNjr6b
— Elise Haas (@EliseKOIN) July 16, 2020
Folks from Riot Ribs were arrested, and all their gear taken by the police:
Media
Present
- Andrew D. Jankowski – CashApp $AndrewJank
- Danny Peterson (KOIN)
- Garrison Davis – CashApp $hungrybowtie / paypal.me/garrisondavispdx
- Nick Lee – CashApp: $economybreakfast / PayPal: economybreakfast@gmail.com
- Portland Independent Documentarians – CashApp: $portlandindepend / PayPal: https://paypal.me/portlandindepend
- Tuck Woodstock – CashApp $tuckwoodstock
Articles
KOIN
‘Intolerable’: Lawmakers blast federal response to Portland protests
Chicago Tribune
The Oregonian
2 Portland parks near Justice Center, federal courthouse closed amid ongoing protests
Willamette Week
Federal Officers Sent by President Trump Run Downtown. Little Restrains Them.
Police
Agencies present
- Portland Police Bureau
Munitions used
Number of arrests
None reported by PPB or federal agencies
Charges
- Interfering with a Police Officer
- Trespass II
- Disorderly Conduct II