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If you aren’t in Portland, OR, you likeky don’t know how bad things are here.
Even folks who live here don’t know, unless they’re on Twitter, or follow indie journalists, or are out in the streets....
Even folks who live here don’t know, unless they’re on Twitter, or follow indie journalists, or are out in the streets....
For 48 days, people have been gassed and beaten in the streets. Shot in the head with less lethals. Hospitalized. Arrested. Masks ripped off. Maced point blank. Wrists broken. Bruised. Brutalized. Tackled and restrained while having seizures.
Snatched while talking in parks.
Snatched by Federal officers in unmarked cars while walking.
Snatched by Federal officers in unmarked cars while walking.
There are snipers on rooftops.
There are local police (most of whom don’t live in Portland).
Federal officers.
DHS officers.
There are local police (most of whom don’t live in Portland).
Federal officers.
DHS officers.
People have head injuries. Trauma. Gastric distress and lung damage from tear gas. People are getting multiple tear-gas-induced menstrual periods.
In the midst of all of this police brutality, while the president crows about how sending federal officers to Portland has gone so well at quelling the uprising....
People have been showing up to care for each other.
Providing rides, medical care, financial support, food, clothing, water. People opened and cleaned the previously locked toilets. They’ve cleaned the parks. Made art.
Providing rides, medical care, financial support, food, clothing, water. People opened and cleaned the previously locked toilets. They’ve cleaned the parks. Made art.
Eatly this morning, the free restaurant that has been feeding people 24/7 and providing space for folks to rest, was crushed. Smashed. Raided.
People were arrested for feeding others and supporting community.
People were arrested for feeding others and supporting community.
A person was tackled and arrested for the crime of riding their bicycle.
The parks are being fenced off. Closed.
All that vibrant community, gone.
All that vibrant community, gone.
Why?
Because “the parks belong to everybody, not just a few.”
So now they are closed to all.
Because “the parks belong to everybody, not just a few.”
So now they are closed to all.
Why?
Because power over cannot bear it when anyone says, “Enough!” and decides to act according to the wishes of their conscience, in service of community.
Because power over cannot bear it when anyone says, “Enough!” and decides to act according to the wishes of their conscience, in service of community.
Why?
Because justice does not exist within the systems that claim to hold and enforce its laws.
Because justice does not exist within the systems that claim to hold and enforce its laws.
But the community lives on.
The free restaurant may be crushed and the parks fenced in, but people will still get fed, community cares for, and art made.
The free restaurant may be crushed and the parks fenced in, but people will still get fed, community cares for, and art made.
Why?
Because the people know where real power rests:
In every heart and hand that shows up in myriad ways and says, “I’ve got your back. How can I be of help?”
Because the people know where real power rests:
In every heart and hand that shows up in myriad ways and says, “I’ve got your back. How can I be of help?”
The uprising lives on.
Because so many people are reading this, I’d like to add additional context to yesterday morning’s Portland thread....
#BlackLivesMatter
#BlackLivesMatter
First: after yesterday’s crackdown, there were protests in three main places last night: North Precinct, Multnomah Sheriff in SE, and downtown in front of the Justice Center and Federal courthouse.
And folks managed to get it together with food, water, and medical supplies despite their things being impounded or trashed.
Community resilience.
Community resilience.
Second: though protests have happened throughout Portland in the past month and a half, they’ve been largely concentrated downtown at the Justice Center and courthouse and the small parks there.
That’s SW of the Willamette river.
Downtown is largely shuttered by covid-19.
That’s SW of the Willamette river.
Downtown is largely shuttered by covid-19.
Most of Portland is SE of the Willamette, and folks aren’t going downtown because those offices and shops are closed.
As we know, covid is isolating.
So unless you’re in the midst of the tear gas, pepper rounds, less lethals, flash bangs, and LRAD, it’s easy to not notice what’s happening.
So unless you’re in the midst of the tear gas, pepper rounds, less lethals, flash bangs, and LRAD, it’s easy to not notice what’s happening.
So: Feds have been snatching protestors in unmarked mini vans.
They shattered one person’s facial bones with a less lethal. The person had simply been standing in the park, holding up a speaker.
They shattered one person’s facial bones with a less lethal. The person had simply been standing in the park, holding up a speaker.
Here’s an article—finally—on folks getting snatched by Federal officers:
https://twitter.com/opb/status/1283882468118913025?s=21 https://twitter.com/opb/status/1283882468118913025
https://twitter.com/opb/status/1283882468118913025?s=21 https://twitter.com/opb/status/1283882468118913025
But more context: Portland Police have been brutal, even before the Feds and DHS arrived.
Head shots with less lethals. Tear gas. Beatings. Snatch and grabs.
Head shots with less lethals. Tear gas. Beatings. Snatch and grabs.
There were protests leading up to the city budget meeting. Thousands testified and sent emails calling for massive cuts to police.
The budget was passed with barely any cuts to PPB.
But our parks and other services are out of funds. And folks are houseless during a pandemic.
The budget was passed with barely any cuts to PPB.
But our parks and other services are out of funds. And folks are houseless during a pandemic.
So the protests continue, night after night, and that includes feeding our houseless neighbors. Who are also helping to feed themselves and others in acts of mutual aid.
It’s the parks downtown that were raided and closed, forcing people out yesterday morning.
At my volunteer gig yesterday, many of the houseless folks who showed up were talking about it.
At my volunteer gig yesterday, many of the houseless folks who showed up were talking about it.
More context: In the past month and a half, Portland police have gassed and arrested journalists, sometimes confiscating their equipment.
They’ve also arrested legal observers.
And now, they’re live-streaming, filming close ups of people’s faces.
They’ve also arrested legal observers.
And now, they’re live-streaming, filming close ups of people’s faces.
Police live streaming close ups of protestor’s faces is not only a violation of rights, it’s sinister when you know PPB is proven to repeatedly collide with violent white supremacists in the OR/WA area.
The snipers on the downtown rooftops right now are Feds.
But right wing “Patriot” snipers have staged themselves on Portland buildings while antifascists marched below.
The PPB quietly told them to go home.
But right wing “Patriot” snipers have staged themselves on Portland buildings while antifascists marched below.
The PPB quietly told them to go home.
The head of DHS is now in town, in this “sanctuary city.”
Portland is being used as a testing ground, it seems. Being made an example of.
A head on a pike, to warn other cities to stay home.
To say: Don’t protest police or ICE or other government agencies.
Don’t care for one another.
A head on a pike, to warn other cities to stay home.
To say: Don’t protest police or ICE or other government agencies.
Don’t care for one another.
To which we say:
We care.
And we will always care.
We care.
And we will always care.
So please, support organizers in your home towns. Agitate in whatever ways you can. Get police out of schools. Demand release of prisoners. Demand funding of mental health, housing, schools, food programs, and other forms of community care.
Study abolition.
Enact care, not punishment.
And don’t give up.
As Mariame Kaba says: “Hope is a discipline.”
Enact care, not punishment.
And don’t give up.
As Mariame Kaba says: “Hope is a discipline.”
Addendum: I have threadreaderapp blocked, so don’t ask to unroll.
And arguing with folks in my mentions is a waste of effort, attention, and time. Please just block and move on.
Use your time in more creative and productive ways, please.
And arguing with folks in my mentions is a waste of effort, attention, and time. Please just block and move on.
Use your time in more creative and productive ways, please.
Here are a few local journalists who’ve been doing their best to cover what’s happening in Portland:
@ MrOlmos
@ alex_zee
@ tuckwoodstock
@ IwriteOK
@ TheRealCoryElia
If you look at their feeds, you’ll find other sources.
@ MrOlmos
@ alex_zee
@ tuckwoodstock
@ IwriteOK
@ TheRealCoryElia
If you look at their feeds, you’ll find other sources.
A few more articles and posts: https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/07/police-shoot-portland-protester-in-head-with-impact-weapon-causing-severe-injuries.html
https://twitter.com/nyclawgrrrl/status/1283806252078977025?s=21 https://twitter.com/nyclawgrrrl/status/1283806252078977025
One article for context on collusion between PPB and right wing: https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2019/02/14/texts-between-portland-police-and-patriot-prayer-ringleader-joey-gibson-show-warm-exchange/
