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
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
The criminal activity: one graffiti and some camera sabotage
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
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
Chant: "we're here to fuck shit up!"
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
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
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
A protester is now using a hammer to break the glass. The windows are not safe, I was wrong
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
Chant: "Every City! Every Town! Burn the precinct to the ground!"
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
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
The boards are beginning to catch fire
Cops drive protesters up two blocks with you immediate tear gas and bullrush. Currently a pause at Washington and 106th
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
The cop line retreats
Backup has arrived down Washington
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
Impact weapons raised
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
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
Officers order the protest off the street and onto the sidewalk
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
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
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!!"
It is astounding she did not get hurt
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
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
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
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
Protest moves back slowly
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!!"
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
" No it isn't!" a protester yells back. "Not to them! Not anymore."
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
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
A truck speeds through too fast, but no one is hurt
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
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
Currently, the line has blocked the intersection of Stark and 113th. They've cut the group in two, I think
The police push no one down a residential road without sidewalks and demand protesters get on the sidewalk.
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
They push to a gravel dead end
A moment of confusion and a hasty police retreat pic.twitter.com/Vw81jeYiiQ
If protesters come back here they'll need to develop some tactics to deal with these neighborhoods
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
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
Protesters convening in the park. Small groups keep trickling in
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
"Identify yourselves! Who did you vote for?!"
"I don't vote!!"
Cheers
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
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
Currently facing off the line pic.twitter.com/yIRslt3sWD
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
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
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
All right, in my car and heading out
— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 6, 2020
Solidarity to everyone still out there