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What’s happening in Portland (a thread):
• BLM & anti-fascists have organized to protest police brutality.
• BLM = Black Lives Matter, a statement & nation-wide coalition.
• Antifa = anti-fascist. A compound word, statement, and ideology.
1/17
• BLM & anti-fascists have organized to protest police brutality.
• BLM = Black Lives Matter, a statement & nation-wide coalition.
• Antifa = anti-fascist. A compound word, statement, and ideology.
1/17
• For over 90+ days, BLM + anti-fascists have focused protests at the Portland Police Association, as well as the Justice Center in downtown Portland.
• During this time, many MANY Portland citizens have joined this coalition in the form of “Blocs”.
2/17
• During this time, many MANY Portland citizens have joined this coalition in the form of “Blocs”.
2/17
• These Blocs are comprised of a coalition of Dads with leaf blowers, to help disperse tear gas, known as Dad Bloc. There’s also Witches (don’t question it, it’s Portland, and it’s lovely & accepted). Wall of Vets (a coalition of veterans) and Wall of Moms. All BLM allies.
3/17
3/17
• (There may be other Blocs, but it’s 5am, and I’m just getting ready for the day. So apologies to those I left out).
• During this time, this entire coalition of Portland citizens, in alliance with Black Live Matter, have been protesting police brutality.
4/17
• During this time, this entire coalition of Portland citizens, in alliance with Black Live Matter, have been protesting police brutality.
4/17
• During this time, protestors have committed themselves to remaining peaceful. However, Police, DHS, and other law enforcement agencies, have repeatedly assaulted peaceful protestors. In other words, police respond to protests of police brutality by brutalizing protestors.
5/17
5/17
• As a consequence of police assaulting peaceful protestors, protestors began insulating themselves with protective equipment, e.g. respirators to protect against tear gas, helmets & shields to protect against rubber bullets, and padded vests to protect against batons.
6/17
6/17
• Now in some instances, some individuals would light controlled fires, or graffiti the justice center. But that doesn’t constitute as violence. Because inanimate objects are not alive, and I’m not interested in arguing existentialism with a bunch of chuds.
7/17
7/17
• These lone acts of vandalism are being blown out of proportion in the national media by the likes of disinformation agent, Andy Ngô, (who, btw, seems to be an affiliate with Proud Boys & Patriot Prayer, both of which are designated hate groups). https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/proud-boys
8/17
8/17
• As @MacSmiff so eloquently stated, “who’s escalating this? It’s not us!”
• Law enforcement agencies across the spectrum have repeatedly escalated tensions between protestors, by repeatedly assaulting protestors, medics, journalists, observers... https://www.google.com/amp/s/time.com/5877631/portland-injured-medics-aclu-lawsuit/%3famp=true
9/17
• Law enforcement agencies across the spectrum have repeatedly escalated tensions between protestors, by repeatedly assaulting protestors, medics, journalists, observers... https://www.google.com/amp/s/time.com/5877631/portland-injured-medics-aclu-lawsuit/%3famp=true
9/17
• Law enforcement agencies have also repeatedly, and indiscriminately committed acts of vandalism against protestors since they began responding to these protests from the jump. Slashing tires, smashing camera equipment, stealing musical instruments & speakers, and more...
10/17
10/17
• And now, local law enforcement (Portland Police Bureau) are providing escorts to violent right-wing extremist hate groups, and Trump Supporters, to patrol Portland streets, and openly assault Portland citizens & protestors alike. https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2020/08/29/28779992/one-dead-after-shooting-during-pro-trump-rally-in-portland
11/17
11/17
• Portland Police are actively protecting & shielding these far-right extremist hate groups & disinformation trolls, allowing them free reign to terrorize the city of Portland, without consequence. https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2020/08/24/28763662/good-morning-news-proud-boys-and-antifacists-brawl-portland-police-look-other-way-and-cop-shooting-spurs-wisconsin-protests
12/17
12/17
• Portland Police have repeatedly demonstrated ineptitude, negligence, and willful coordination with these far-right extremist hate groups, which has resulted in these hate groups brandishing firearms, assaulting protestors with motor vehicles, bear macing protestors, etc
13/17
13/17
• And now, our elected local & state leaders are organizing more law enforcement resources in hopes of quelling these protests. Because instead of listening to their constituents, they’d rather IGNORE the plight of the citizens, and enact draconian law through force.
14/17
14/17
• In general, Police have regularly demonstrated that they’re completely incapable of policing themselves. Moreover, more police are not the solution to the problem, because they ARE the problem. » https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/09/26/opinion/the-police-cant-solve-the-problem-they-are-the-problem.amp.html
15/17
15/17
• @tedwheeler @OregonGovBrown @DAMikeSchmidt if you’re serious about solving this problem, then it’s time you listened to your constituents; defund the police, and reinvest those funds into community programs that actually help. » https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/upshot/unrest-police-time-violent-crime.amp.html
16/17
16/17
@tedwheeler @OregonGovBrown @DAMikeSchmidt If you can’t listen to your constituents, and the wellspring of data that supports defunding police, then you’re not actually serious about solving this problem. In which case, you ARE the problem. Who protects us? We protect us!
17/17
17/17
