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Hello, it& #39;s that time again: live-tweeting from Floyd Light City Park! Or, well, nearby. Let& #39;s see what tonight& #39;s protest brings
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We have arrived at the East Portland Community Policing Center. Good crowd, maybe 250 people? A wall of yellow-shirted moms at the front leads the crowd in a chant of "Fuck the Police!" Enterprising protesters are at work disabling cameras
I think I& #39;m gonna get my riot gear on
I think I& #39;m gonna get my riot gear on
LRAD rolls up. Announces there& #39;s criminal activity in the crowd, and encourages peaceful protesters to leave now
The criminal activity: one graffiti and some camera sabotage
The criminal activity: one graffiti and some camera sabotage
Sorry, I& #39;m seeing several graffitis now. I& #39;ve mentioned it before, but paint washes off and buildings are incapable of experiencing pain
I think the LRAD pulled back after its warning. I& #39;m sure it& #39;ll be back
I think the LRAD pulled back after its warning. I& #39;m sure it& #39;ll be back
Sometimes it strikes me how grim these things have become. Few if any cute signs. Everyone in gas masks. Carrying shields and umbrellas, all black, standing with the tense looseness of people prepared to react quickly to physical violence
Chant: "we& #39;re here to fuck shit up!"
Chant: "we& #39;re here to fuck shit up!"
Protesters have begun to pry the boards off the glass front of the building. They did NOT do a good job of nailing those boards on
A couple protesters are using a 2x4 as a battering ram against the doors, which are tougher than they look
A couple protesters are using a 2x4 as a battering ram against the doors, which are tougher than they look
I don& #39;t know what& #39;s going through anyone& #39;s head. But I suspect it might be: if we know from experience that there& #39;s going to be a riot declared regardless, why not actually break something?
A couple cops spotted inside the building, just beyond the unbreaking doors
Chant of "stay together, stay tight!"
Everybody knows what& #39;s coming. From where and when is the only question
Chant of "stay together, stay tight!"
Everybody knows what& #39;s coming. From where and when is the only question
I am receiving reports that a protester has smeared a whole-ass burrito on the precinct doors
They have also barred the doors with a 2x4
Some half-hearted attempts to break the glass but I think the doors are pretty safe
They have also barred the doors with a 2x4
Some half-hearted attempts to break the glass but I think the doors are pretty safe
A protester is now throwing a large chunk of concrete at the door
"If you are filming, you are complicit in state oppression!" someone shouts.
Chant: "what did I see? Didn& #39;t see shit!"
"If you are filming, you are complicit in state oppression!" someone shouts.
Chant: "what did I see? Didn& #39;t see shit!"
A protester is now using a hammer to break the glass. The windows are not safe, I was wrong
Chant: "Every City! Every Town! Burn the precinct to the ground!"
Chant: "Every City! Every Town! Burn the precinct to the ground!"
Let it be known that the person with the hammer appears to be BIPOC
Correction: it& #39;s a wrench
LRAD commands protesters to move to the North
Riot declared. Failure to move North may subject us to use of etc
Destruction
Boards rearranged; also a contained trash fire
An older woman tries to force her way through. "Stop it!" She screams.
"It& #39;s not safe!" The protesters block her
One of the protesters tells the woman that this is how people got results in Minnesota
Another exclaims: "this is the hell world you left us!"
"It& #39;s not safe!" The protesters block her
One of the protesters tells the woman that this is how people got results in Minnesota
Another exclaims: "this is the hell world you left us!"
A protester uses a leaf blower to fan the flames
The boards are beginning to catch fire
The boards are beginning to catch fire
Riot cops rolling up. Here we go
Cops drive protesters up two blocks with you immediate tear gas and bullrush. Currently a pause at Washington and 106th
The cop line retreats
The cop line retreats
Protesters start after the cops and the cops decide not to retreat after all
This crowd is smaller than I initially thought or there& #39;s been a lot of atrition. Maybe 100 people, that might be high
This crowd is smaller than I initially thought or there& #39;s been a lot of atrition. Maybe 100 people, that might be high
Backup has arrived down Washington
Impact weapons raised
Impact weapons raised
Officers move forward and brutally arrest at least two protesters
They fire a great deal of tear gas into the road, then force protesters through it. Haven& #39;t smelled gas that strong since the feds went into the district courthouse
They fire a great deal of tear gas into the road, then force protesters through it. Haven& #39;t smelled gas that strong since the feds went into the district courthouse
Officers walk through the gas
Arrests
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Backup arrives from several directions. The line charges--mayve the fastest sprint I& #39;ve seen yet--and just full-on tackles people. Not seeing arrests, just violence
Officers order the protest off the street and onto the sidewalk
Officers order the protest off the street and onto the sidewalk
This is interesting for press, which lately has been ordered to occupy the sidewalk to avoid arrest. Now everyone is on the sidewalk. Probably not great for us
Not my best camera work, forgive me
The cops start retreating backwards. Get on the riot vans and drive away
"Let& #39;s go!!" a protester shouts. They begin to advance after the retreating cops, chanting "no good cops in a racist system!"
"Let& #39;s go!!" a protester shouts. They begin to advance after the retreating cops, chanting "no good cops in a racist system!"
So um, this just happened
A woman is standing on her porch watching this shit in an honest-to-god Nazi armband
"Take it off before we do!"
"Why?! I haven& #39;t said anything racist!!"
A woman is standing on her porch watching this shit in an honest-to-god Nazi armband
"Take it off before we do!"
"Why?! I haven& #39;t said anything racist!!"
The protesters encourage her to go inside before something bad happens. She refuses
They attempt to rip the armband off of her. She is in absolute shock. Finally she goes inside and just stands there, door open, yelling "I& #39;m inside!"
I swear she told us she had black friends
They attempt to rip the armband off of her. She is in absolute shock. Finally she goes inside and just stands there, door open, yelling "I& #39;m inside!"
I swear she told us she had black friends
It is astounding she did not get hurt
She did, however, have something thrown at her windows
Her neighbors applauded
Yes, I have most of this on video. Apparently you can& #39;t see it because my phone is shitting itself. I promise I& #39;ll upload when I can
She did, however, have something thrown at her windows
Her neighbors applauded
Yes, I have most of this on video. Apparently you can& #39;t see it because my phone is shitting itself. I promise I& #39;ll upload when I can
Meanwhile, the actual protest has gathered a little ways up from the Nazi apartment and awaits further development
Neighbors are very divided on what& #39;s happening. One of the neighbors allows a protester to pee in her yard. "Just do it downhill so it doesn& #39;t get on our porch"
Neighbors are very divided on what& #39;s happening. One of the neighbors allows a protester to pee in her yard. "Just do it downhill so it doesn& #39;t get on our porch"
Another older white woman is very upset about the protest. She& #39;s speaking bad ebonics, it& #39;s quite something
Protesters on the move now, away from this strange apartment complex
"She broke my joint!!" A protester tells me despairingly. She& #39;s talking about Ebonics Karen
"That& #39;s real fascism!!" Someone jokes
"She broke my joint!!" A protester tells me despairingly. She& #39;s talking about Ebonics Karen
"That& #39;s real fascism!!" Someone jokes
And then we hear the LRAD and the dizzying hilarity wears off immediately
Protest moves back slowly
Protest moves back slowly
If that sprint in my respirator didn& #39;t kill me, masks will never kill anyone. Several blocks.
They wheel right and effectively block 3/4ths of the press from entering the residential neighborhood. Currently trying to find a way through
They wheel right and effectively block 3/4ths of the press from entering the residential neighborhood. Currently trying to find a way through
This thing where they force everyone into the sidewalk is another great way to stop press from doing their fucking jobs. It& #39;s nice to see them get creative I guess. Pair brutality with wily tactics: who needs arrests?
I& #39;ve found the group. Serious kettling concerns expressed. Portland hasn& #39;t seen a kettle yet in all this time. Will this be the night? I kinda doubt it. Still, good to be aware
As we ran through residential streets to get here, someone yelled from inside their house: "Hey PPB! Last time I checked, this was a democracy!!"
" No it isn& #39;t!" a protester yells back. "Not to them! Not anymore."
" No it isn& #39;t!" a protester yells back. "Not to them! Not anymore."
The group is pretty scattered but seems to be making its way back down the street
@IwriteOK and @hungrybowtie tell me the police pushed a bit into the residential area, then left
I can& #39;t believe it& #39;s only 11:00
@IwriteOK and @hungrybowtie tell me the police pushed a bit into the residential area, then left
I can& #39;t believe it& #39;s only 11:00
The group has reconvened and paused. The Coup blasting. Protesters sitting, taking off masks. I do the same. The air is incredible on my skin
A truck speeds through too fast, but no one is hurt
A truck speeds through too fast, but no one is hurt
Protesters on the move, organizing to let cars through. Chanting George Floyd& #39;s name
Nazi clip finally uploaded! https://twitter.com/1misanthrophile/status/1291256467203297280?s=19">https://twitter.com/1misanthr...
The police round the corner. LRAD reminds us that "this event is still a riot" and tells us to disperse. Riot line incoming, see you on the other side
The riot line drives us back. Same old shit, less brutality. The crowd did well at keeping their distance and the bullrush sprint was far more tired than last time
Currently, the line has blocked the intersection of Stark and 113th. They& #39;ve cut the group in two, I think
Currently, the line has blocked the intersection of Stark and 113th. They& #39;ve cut the group in two, I think
Police chase us down 113th: a residential street without sidewalks. Press ordered to trample grass and plants to avoid the street and arrest.
They keep screaming to get out of the street, but there& #39;s nowhere to go
Police and protesters screaming at each other
They keep screaming to get out of the street, but there& #39;s nowhere to go
Police and protesters screaming at each other
A medic begs to be let through the line. Report of a mom run over by the police car
"What do you have in there, paint balloons?" One of the officers demands
"It& #39;s medical supplies!"
One of the police yells something about arson. Then: "OK, move, it& #39;s a riot. Party& #39;s over!"
"What do you have in there, paint balloons?" One of the officers demands
"It& #39;s medical supplies!"
One of the police yells something about arson. Then: "OK, move, it& #39;s a riot. Party& #39;s over!"
The police push no one down a residential road without sidewalks and demand protesters get on the sidewalk.
They push to a gravel dead end
A moment of confusion and a hasty police retreat
They push to a gravel dead end
A moment of confusion and a hasty police retreat
I& #39;m hearing that a group got hit really hard. It& #39;s unclear if anyone got footage, since they were making reporters run through lawns and between parked cars
I& #39;m with a group of maybe 20 protesters. We got scattered pretty good
I& #39;m with a group of maybe 20 protesters. We got scattered pretty good
If protesters come back here they& #39;ll need to develop some tactics to deal with these neighborhoods
Press will also have to develop some tactics if we want to hold our boys in blue accountable. They essentially made it impossible for us to work tonight
Press will also have to develop some tactics if we want to hold our boys in blue accountable. They essentially made it impossible for us to work tonight
Tiny groups gather on friendly lawns. Starting to move. Trying to find other groups. Drops of water trying to becoming a river again
Protesters convening in the park. Small groups keep trickling in
"Identify yourselves! Who did you vote for?!"
"I don& #39;t vote!!"
Cheers
"Identify yourselves! Who did you vote for?!"
"I don& #39;t vote!!"
Cheers
The crowd is on the move
Whole we go I need to tell you that while I was moving down Washington and filming the police line someone offered me a drink from an open vodka bottle, and then "some rocks"
I politely declined
Whole we go I need to tell you that while I was moving down Washington and filming the police line someone offered me a drink from an open vodka bottle, and then "some rocks"
I politely declined
We were met by a riot van about a block from the precinct building. They formed into a line and rushed. One person arrested that I could see
Currently facing off the line
Currently facing off the line
A protester offers to pay for groceries for three weeks for any cop who quits their job
"We all have college educations," a cop yells back. "That& #39;s not good enough! "
They& #39;ve been very vocal this evening
"We all have college educations," a cop yells back. "That& #39;s not good enough! "
They& #39;ve been very vocal this evening
A charge and an arrest
A cop tells us we& #39;re all under arrest
Then the line loads up on their riot van and leaves
I live in a Tom and Jerry cartoon
Then the line loads up on their riot van and leaves
I live in a Tom and Jerry cartoon
The night is done. But the only way back to my car is past the precinct
Two cops ask us where we& #39;re going. I tell them. They let us through
"Have a nice night!" One of them yells
"See you tomorrow?" Another asks
I decline to answer
Two cops ask us where we& #39;re going. I tell them. They let us through
"Have a nice night!" One of them yells
"See you tomorrow?" Another asks
I decline to answer
Enlisted men always have some level of camaraderie with each other I suppose. And that& #39;s what we are. Two armies warring every night. Bizarre rules of engagement
Shit& #39;s weird
Shit& #39;s weird
All right, in my car and heading out
Solidarity to everyone still out there
Solidarity to everyone still out there
