August 12th: Back to the Justice Center

It is with the strangest sense of deja vu that I come at you live from the Justice Center. Let's see what tonight's protests bring#PortlandProtest #portlandstrong #protests2020 #BlackLivesMatter #MU4BLM #pdxprotest #Police #ACAB

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

Activists have set up a good speaker system in the steps of the JC. She reminds us that the fight is not over. That Breonna Taylor's killers have not faced justice. That many of the cops who watched George Floyd's murder remain free

That mass incarceration still exists

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

I've finally gotten a chance to see the new elk. Its a challenge to capture on film. Fascinating sculpture. Unsettling, but I don't hate it pic.twitter.com/8FfToQqOZV

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

A new group is offering some wonderfully subversive yet heartwarming posters. They want to emphasize the importance of self care. We talk briefly about how much the BDSM community can offer in terms of consent, boundaries, and aftercare

Awesome pic.twitter.com/0pSFjamkyk

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

It's surreal out here. Like seeing a ghost

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

Am activist is now saying that we need law and order. "Let's be real" he says

People are clapping

Now he's chanting " fuck 12"

Y'all I'm gonna be honest, I'm not sure how much longer I can stay here

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

A crowd is gathering in front of the district courthouse

Some kind of explosion. I'm guessing firework but I'm not sure

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

Strange how quickly things can change out here. No one in front of the Justice center. The speakers are all gone. Everyone in front of the District Courthouse

This is starting to feel real familiar

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

A pig head with a cop hat has been lit on fire in the middle of the road pic.twitter.com/nZSi41apLm

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

A small fire burning behind the District Courthouse fence. Another huge fireworks thrown pic.twitter.com/ckRop2KBec

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

Aaaaand I fucked up the thread again:https://t.co/r2IgMccdSb

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

Police emerge#PortlandProtest #portlandstrong #protests2020 #BlackLivesMatter #MU4BLM #pdxprotest #Police #ACAB pic.twitter.com/lAPqu9vuD7

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

Unlawful assembly declared

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

Riot line pushes protesters to Chapman. Orders to move North or West

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

Another push. Weird thing seems to be happening. It's police and press on 4th and Yamhill, with the crowd a whole block over

Good news, police: you've lost the thread but the protesters are coming to you. They walk to the line

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

There actually aren't enough people to really push effectively. As commanded, the "riot" is on the sidewalk now. Long, arrange groups. I'm not even sure where to go to film

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

Crowd reforms and begins to march back to the Justice Center with chants of "Black Lives Matter"

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

There have been some thrown eggs and some rather powerful commercial grade fireworks this evening. But is this a riot?

They're destroying the English language is what they're doing

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

Tear gas deployed. I regret everything pic.twitter.com/eSVD3D8G0I

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

I'm a problem solver. I attempted to climb on the garden boxes next to the stairs. Not in their way, right? Good vantage point to video an arrest without being in anyone's way?

Of course not. Definitely a crime. Didn't even get a chance to start filming

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

Another bullrush one block up, followed by an immediate retreat pic.twitter.com/ZAskeZQu37

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

I regret to inform you that the cops slashed the Timbers van tires for the usual reason, by which I mean no reason pic.twitter.com/ElGxAEGKbw

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020

And I'm out

Solidarity to everyone still out there!

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 13, 2020