August 5th: East Precinct Bullrush Mayhem, Also An Actual Nazi

Hello, it's that time again: live-tweeting from Floyd Light City Park! Or, well, nearby. Let's see what tonight's protest brings#DefendPDX #portlandprotests #pdxprotest #blacklivesmatter #police #acab #trumpsgestapo #momsarehere #portlandprotest

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

LRAD rolls up. Announces there's criminal activity in the crowd, and encourages peaceful protesters to leave now

The criminal activity: one graffiti and some camera sabotage

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

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're here to fuck shit up!"

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

I don't know what's going through anyone's head. But I suspect it might be: if we know from experience that there's going to be a riot declared regardless, why not actually break something?

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

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 2×4

Some half-hearted attempts to break the glass but I think the doors are pretty safe

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

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!"

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

Correction: it's a wrench

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

Riot declared. Failure to move North may subject us to use of etc

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

Boards rearranged; also a contained trash fire pic.twitter.com/YXSySTQjWF

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

A protester uses a leaf blower to fan the flames

The boards are beginning to catch fire

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

Cops drive protesters up two blocks with you immediate tear gas and bullrush. Currently a pause at Washington and 106th

The cop line retreats

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

Backup has arrived down Washington

Impact weapons raised

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

Officers walk through the gas pic.twitter.com/BrMnc1x85g

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

Backup arrives from several directions. The line charges–mayve the fastest sprint I'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

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

Not my best camera work, forgive me pic.twitter.com/EXogFVnad3

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

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't said anything racist!!"

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

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't see it because my phone is shitting itself. I promise I'll upload when I can

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

Another older white woman is very upset about the protest. She's speaking bad ebonics, it's quite something

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

And then we hear the LRAD and the dizzying hilarity wears off immediately

Protest moves back slowly

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

This thing where they force everyone into the sidewalk is another great way to stop press from doing their fucking jobs. It's nice to see them get creative I guess. Pair brutality with wily tactics: who needs arrests?

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

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't!" a protester yells back. "Not to them! Not anymore."

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

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

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

Nazi clip finally uploaded!https://t.co/IdvCSNAPuf

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

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've cut the group in two, I think

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

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 pic.twitter.com/Vw81jeYiiQ

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

If protesters come back here they'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

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

Protesters convening in the park. Small groups keep trickling in

"Identify yourselves! Who did you vote for?!"

"I don't vote!!"

Cheers

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

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 pic.twitter.com/yIRslt3sWD

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

A charge and an arrest pic.twitter.com/0icEoUbaez

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

The night is done. But the only way back to my car is past the precinct

Two cops ask us where we'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

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020

All right, in my car and heading out

Solidarity to everyone still out there

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020