August 16th: Letha Winston Speaks

Hi there, coming at you live, once again, from the Justice Center, where about 40 people are hanging out in this oppressive heat and waiting to hear Letha Winston speak#DefendPDX #Portland #PortlandProtests #PortlandRiots #PoliceBrutality #ACAB #PDXprotests #BlackLivesMatter

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

The stage where Letha Winston will speak shortly. Just off-camera, Winston speaks with Demetria Hester pic.twitter.com/SE0TV137F6

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

"We have been maced, tear gassed, beaten up, abused, treated inhuman–just because we want to represent Black Lives Matter

"You have to never forget the innocent people who were murdered that the police are supposed to protect us. That's why we have to defund the police"

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Hester shares her vision for America. A place where equality actually exists. A place where people fight for black lives. A place where this shit doesn't happen

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

The crowd had grown to maybe 75 people. Applauding, cheering

She talks about the importance of steadfast support

"If we cannot trust you, you cannot be at our side. Because at the end of the day, we're Black 24/7. We don't get to take it off. We don't get to put it away"

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Hester talks about the importance of being present in the community, not just the streets

Ways to lift up black kids. To help black youth get a good start in life. "It's up to you to figure it out"

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

(there's some yelling at the periphery of the crowd. I'm choosing to continue to cover this speech)

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Letha Winston steps up to the microphone

"A change is going to come! We demand a change!"

If you didn't know, Letha Winston is Patrick Kimmons' mother. In 2018, two police officers shot Kimmons 9 times in the back and murdered him

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

"We black African Americans did not create this shit that is going on! We was freed in 1965 but we was not freed enough! Enough is enough!"

She talks about how King died with half his dream fulfilled. Now it's time to complete it

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

She demands that the city fire every cops without rehire. She is determined to see this goal through

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

The ship for reform has sailed, Winston declares. They had their chance

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Winston urges the crowd to attend her march on Thursday. "Put ten toes to the pavement!"

"You might not want to give [justice] to us, but we damn sure gonna take it!"

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Winston rails against Ted Wheeler's token reforms. It's not enough

"We must continue this journey, brothers and sisters! We must make this nation RISE"

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Winston emphasizes the need to fight this battle by "any means necessary. And I think you all know what that could mean"

I think that might be true, now. I think it's becoming more real by the day

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Letha Winston talks about the so-called Patriots who came out yesterday. The audacity of chanting Blue Lives Matter at this time. Urging everyone to come out next time

(Editorial comment: this journalist urges people to use extreme caution when confronting the far right)

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Winston remembers standing on the corner of MLK a year ago, virtually by herself. Never giving up. Hitting it every day

81 days is a long time but think about how long this has been a problem

Let it be for something. Let this be the time we move towards something better

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Winston says people have been distracted the last couple days. I think she's talking about the far right coming out yesterday, both during the day and at night

I think everyone's pretty worried about that. Feels like something's been let loose

Hopefully the chuds lack stamina

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

"What was my child thinking when he got shot 9 times in the back? No one can tell me he wasn't yelling for his mother"

Her voice breaks

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Winston had the crowd on their feet and chanting. "Show up and show out!"

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Winston announces a march. "Let's take it to the streets and fuck the police!"

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020

Apologies, but I am going to need to leave briefly to take care of some article edits. I hope to return later tonight–we'll see@PDocumentarians is already on the ground, and both @bogwitchenergy and @jung_sisyphus are enroute

Solidarity to everyone still out here!

— Laura Jedeed is Kind of Back I Guess (@LauraJedeed) August 17, 2020