Despite my best efforts, my gear still reeks of tear gas as I head towards the JC for another night of Portland protest live-tweetings#FedsOutOfPortland#FedsGoHome #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #portland #oregon #blm #acab #PortlandProtest #Feds #MOMTIFA #MomsAreHere
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
It's early but I feel pretty confident that this is the sign of the night for me pic.twitter.com/nkrPFnFM2E
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Seeing the new fence design in person for the first time. Very robust, can't see a way that protesters could manage to take it down, but pic.twitter.com/YsL5LKAtRj
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
A fight in Lownsdale Square. Depressingly common. I walk to Chapman, where a large crowd has gathered to witness an indigenous ceremony
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
One of the indigenous people says that this is their land and their community. That they are proud of the people here. That they are caretakers of this land, and that beyond acknowledgement, we need to begin talking about giving that land back
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
A volunteer for CTGS Outreach approaches me and explains that they're out here raising money to bring hot food to homeless shelters around Portland. Their merch looks cool and it's for a good cause!
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
I've seen their tent here every night pic.twitter.com/6HDY3IsB84
The street in front of the District Courthouse is starting to fill up. Protesters standing on the external concrete barriers to yell at the feds hidden inside the building. Among these: press with a huge camera that just screams "mainstream media"
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
I hope they know the risks
Others in the march are chanting "this is what democracy looks like" and I've said this before but this is NOT what democracy looks like, this is what it looks like when democracy is hanging by a fucking thread
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Yes this is a rhetorical hill I've decided to die on for some reason
The march stops in front of the Justice Center, not the District Courthouse. Interesting!
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Those standing outside the DC wander over as well
#MomsAreHere #MomsOfPortland #WallofMoms pic.twitter.com/5haRNINQay
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
#WallofVets pic.twitter.com/9WwpdpwcmT
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
The speaker talks about how voting isn't enough. How voting hasn't solved these problems. How deep these problems go
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Feds emerge with a barrage of pepper balls
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Notice how there's no one fucking here? Notice how no one's assaulting their precious fence?
Make no mistake. They want a fight pic.twitter.com/nGlHVBsPT9
A terrifying mob of violent anarchists assembles. This is what these feds are afraid of tonight pic.twitter.com/V07ZGo6qNQ
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
A fight breaks out around this sign. Immediate physical conflict. Huge screaming fight about whether this is for black lives, whether this is appropriate, while pepper balls echo pic.twitter.com/tyACHVnIwi
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
The indigenous drummers are standing before the fence, singing pic.twitter.com/yGiDUgG6Jx
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
It's 2020 so obviously these balloons aren't here because they're pretty and fun. They're here to show everyone which way the wind is blowing for when the feds gas us pic.twitter.com/6B36V8l9X7
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
It's a system of white supremacy. It's a system of oppression. It's all connected. It all has to be resisted. If we don't stand up against all of it, it'll crush all of us
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
But that's just, like, my opinion man
A fire is started just within the fence pic.twitter.com/OpBB9xiwPe
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
I've wandered to the JC, where an activist is angry about people hiding in the back when they have PPE, angry because some of the moms didn't help when they were choking. Saying something about how they shouldn't need a gas mask
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
I don't understand this side of the protest at all
Activists bang on the concrete barricades with traffic cones. An LRAD announcement from the feds
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
An activist screams at people to stop. Accuses them of being alt-right and distracting people from the real protest in front of the Justice Center
Revcoms lead a chant of "fuck that flag"
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
So we have two out of town groups leading protest: RevCom at the courthouse, Black Unity at the Justice Center
I'm tired y'all
The majority of the protest remains in front of the District Courthouse. Activists lead chants
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
RevCom tries to lead a chant about "revolution nothing less," leading to another fight.
"Who are you here for? Stop talking over me! I'm not here to listen to you!"
I hate it here
#WallofMoms has taken position in front of the fence
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Immediately, the feds make an announcement. Can't hear it over the boos
Night becomes day as the feds shine a spotlight down on us from their perch pic.twitter.com/uNxnSVDdOP
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
An enormous bonfire draws protesters like moths to a flame. Where did these boards come from?
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
A giant screaming fight by the fire. No idea what that's about, but this isn't where the real violence will happen so I'm headed back to the courthouse pic.twitter.com/LN39k67TBB
With 0 warning: gas. Just one or two canisters
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
No sign of actual troops yet but I'm sure it's coming
An LRAD announcement
A barrage of pepper balls and then the feds disappear back inside. Protesters offer eye wash. No one seriously hurt
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
A protester sits atop the fence and screams the names along with the rest of the protesters pic.twitter.com/JwaUM1BsoQ
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Chanting "Fuck Ted Wheeler" at the feds as though the feds don't hate him as much as we do
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
The sound of breaking glass. A small fire on the concrete inside the fence
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
The crowd is starting to thin a bit. I too hear the siren call of bed. I'm no longer used to waiting until 1 or 2 AM to get fucked up. This is old school
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
The only thing that's happening other than fireworks is that the roof cops continue to shine the spotlight on us. Are they taking pictures? What is this nonsense?
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
A little bit of gas at the middle of the fence
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Someone throws a pillow over the fence and the feds respond with a barrage of spicy pepper balls
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Yes, a pillow
Yes, really
It's totally arbitrary around here
#DefendPDX #PortlandMoms #blacklivesmatter #portland #oregon #blm #acab #PortlandProtest #PDXprotest #Feds #MomsAreHere #WallOfMoms pic.twitter.com/yxw0JUzKGR
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Feds inside again. The crowd has thinned considerably
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
There will probably be more action tonight but there's just not enough people here for it to be anything but a rout
I think it's bedtime
Solidarity to everyone still out here!
Lines of feds advancing, driving protesters North and West pic.twitter.com/4fdVwN3m1A
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
4th and Salmon pic.twitter.com/fglHb5yCfl
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Feds retreat, but gas the press as they go pic.twitter.com/pGrYnmqDoM
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
Feds have returned to inside the fence, fire tear gas from within
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
And feds are back in the courthouse
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) July 29, 2020
I think I'm actually out this time