Originally tweeted by Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) on September 7, 2020.
You can read my long-form article about this strange day here
Hi there, coming at you deep undercover from the Trump Caravan. Thread incoming
The caravan is about to move from Oregon City up IT towards Multnomah. At an undisclosed point, law enforcement will facilitate a turnaround for those going to the All Lives Matter rally in Salem
According to the announcement, Proud Boys are planning to go to Salem. Good news for Portland but it doesn't mean we're out of the woods. Most people are NOT planning to go to Salem
That said most people here are regular people with their families so: threat level unclear
High hundreds of trucks here at this point. It's about as big as the last caravan. Hard to tell because the parking lots are more spaced out here but numbers are SIGNIFICANT
A significant number of obscured plates: I will post footage shortly. Not all, but the core of the march
A lot of rhetoric about peace today but the last speech was about the God-given right to go into cities with flags and the need to stand up for what's right
Stay tuned to this thread for footage and updates
(sorry, that's I5, I hate you autocorrect. The caravan will travel north on I5 from Oregon City to an undisclosed turnaround point, facilitated by law enforcement. At that point some portion, including the Proud Boys, will turn for Salem. The rest will continue to parts unknown)
Many, many obscured license plates. Do you suppose the police turnaround point cops will care?
On a side note if you see me out and about do NOT come near me, I just stood very close to a bunch of yelling maskless people also without a mask. Come through sunlight and fresh air and strategic breath-holding
I'll get tested in a few days
A few weapons spotted: at least two handguns. I didn't see any ARs, which was a nice change of pace
Doesn't mean they aren't here, just they weren't out
Here's an interesting bus. Reminds me a bit of the American Guard bus from August 19, but it's not the same. I saw a pillow with a red rooster inside so my money is on Proud Boys
(Tragically, 'red rooster' is NOT a metaphor)
No license plates, obviously
Anyone know what this is?
Proud boys directing traffic out of the community college and onto Trail's End. This is a VERY LARGE caravan
Shout-out to the dude who did the cunnilingus tongue thing at me from his truck a little while ago, I'd rather die truly 🙃🔫
HUGE shout-out to the 7 people in jeans and t-shirts with the Black Lives Matter sign flipping off the caravan right now
Whole caravan seems to be turning on 205 S towards Salem. I'm not seeing anyone heading north towards Portland. Also haven't seen that turnaroud point though, so that might be down the road. I'll keep you posted
Caravan has bypassed the I5 north exit and is now on I5 south still heading for Salem
Caravan leaves freeway at exit 278
Belay that: looks like a pit stop. I think the main body is continuing South
Lots of people stopping here
Sounds like the plan is to continue South so that's what I'm gonna do. Saw one of the drivers get out one of those small carbine-style handguns that fires 9mms. Blanking on the name
Anyway, back on the road
FYI:
I have arrived in Salem. A lot of the Trump caravan is here, but definitely NOT all of it. Did some go home? Did some go to Portland? I don't know, but stay alert wherever you are
First AR sighting of the day
Absolute fuckton of weapons out here. Paintball guns, ARs, handguns, baseball bats
Police separating this crowd from counter-protesters, or at least that's what I'm being told
It seems like the intel about Proud Boys coming here instead of Portland was correct. This is a far more militant event than the family-friendly car caravan. Not a lot of kids here
After looking around, it seems to me the core element of the march is here. I don't think Portland needs to be worried right now. In a few hours it may be a different story
Maybe 150-200 people here, very spread out. Heavily armed, like I said. A much more concerning crowd
It will surely be on the news shortly but some press people just got surrounded by people screaming "fake press!" Then someone shot paintball rounds at them
Then someone came up and put an arm around press and said, I won't let anyone hurt you. We aren't like that!
"We aren't like that!!" the others echo, ignoring the fact that they were exactly like that 30 seconds earlier when someone fired paint ball rounds at press
A lone person in bloc is playing a guitar solo surrounded by people unsure of what to do
"Don't hit anyone with that guitar!" someone shouts
"This is as amped up as I've seen the Patriots!" the guy who said he wouldn't let anyone hurt press tells another protester excitedly. "We aren't staying on our side of the street today!"
He discusses the anger everyone feels about Jay's death with other protesters for a while
A large contingent of Proud Boys are moving out, getting into cars at Court and Capitol
People just sort of standing around. The familiar boredom of a far right event without an enemy to focus rage and create excitement sets in
There are maybe 6 black people here and they're all clustered in the middle to be interviewed by press
A period of extreme boredom. Then, suddenly, the armed men take off running and so do I
I am told someone saw three Antifa cars. Apparently what tipped them off was that one of them was an Escalade, "and no one drives that shit in Salem!"
George Soros really coming through
No Antifas found. Crowd returns dejectedly to the park, where they will likely resume earlier conversations re: where Antifa are and when the crowd can fight them
I earlier overheard a conversation with some Proud Boys who got hit with some kind of liquid in a scuffle that happened before I got there. One of them was convinced it was battery acid. Another thought a concrete mixture
They believe these things to be true, it's not an act
Things seem to be winding down. Mostly Proud Boys at this point, who keep talking hopefully/worriedly about another Antifa attack. A steady stream of trucks leaving
I may leave soon too
About 50 people left. I'd say maybe 2/3 are armed
I feel like I'm sticking out here and I think I just saw someone else get firmly told to leave so I'm gonna leave before that happens to me
Usually I sign off with "solidarity to everyone still out here" but um…nope
Byeeee!!
I have arrived home safe, although I see things have gotten very smoky and windy in my absence
Feels about right. Nice overtone of apocalypse to go along with the *gestures vaguely at everything*
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