Twice on July Fourth, police declare riot in downtown Portland
Source: The Oregonian
For the second time in less than 24 hours, Portland Police declared a downtown demonstration a riot during Fourth of July protests. At least a dozen were arrested, and police used tear gas to drive the crowd away.
Mayor Ted Wheeler expressed concerns about Portland being on edge, heading into Fourth of July weekend. A riot was declared around 4 a.m. Saturday in downtown Portland after overnight demonstrations, but events through the day remained generally peaceful until late Saturday, when police again declared a riot.
Saturday marked the 38th consecutive day of protests in Portland since the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who pleaded for air while a white officer knelt on his neck. Since then, thousands of people in Portland and across the state have met en masse to decry police violence and broader racism.
[...]
At 10:35 p.m., a police announced orders for protesters to stop directing fireworks at the Justice Center. A short time later, police appeared to set off devices that deployed smoke. Around 11 p.m., police again warned protesters not to engage with the federal courthouse and warned them they would be subject to arrest and use of force if they continued.
Read more: https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/07/black-lives-matter-protests-taking-place-in-portland-salem-on-the-fourth-of-july.html
Fiendish Thingy
(15,369 posts)Including beating reporters from local press.
Thunderbeast
(3,383 posts)Come on!
The narrative about being Proud Boy allies is a huge overstatement. Portland police have, in the past, had communications with right wing fringe groups in an effort to help prevent violence. These contacts had the goal of clearly communicating intent...and consequences in order to establish boundaries for their behavior. I would rather have them talk than meet in the streets with no understanding of motives. The First Ammendment protects vile and unpopular speech too.
It seems that anybody with a cell phone camera and an Instagram account is now claiming press privileges.
I do not defend many of the actions of our police department. There have been atrocities that must come to account. I have also had experience within my own family where restraint and compassion ruled in a situation that could have ended horribly.
I have marched with the peaceful BLM protests. I am convinced that a small group of bad actors is using George Floyd's murder as an excuse destroy public property. Their frustration with our oppressive economic unfairness is likely at the core of their anger. We can no longer, however, let these "bad actors" destroy the city than we can allow bad cops to terrorize our citizens.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,369 posts)Theres an independent, credentialed journalist named Cory Elia who has documented the police abuse on himself and others.
My son lives in Portland and has witnessed first hand the police brutalizing peaceful protestors.
OxQQme
(2,550 posts)in every PD in this country.
You might have started your statement with, "A few Portland Police may be allies..."
Fiendish Thingy
(15,369 posts)The alliance between Portland police and the Proud Boys/Patriot Prayer has been well documented in both the independent and MSM:
https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2019/02/14/25885836/texts-show-protective-relationship-between-portland-cops-and-patriot-prayer
https://www.insider.com/police-salem-oregon-protesters-stay-inside-curfew-proud-boys-white-2020-6
https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2020/06/judge-allows-protesters-excessive-force-suit-to-proceed-against-portland-police-stemming-from-august-2018-demonstration.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/17/us/portland-police-patriot-prayer-texts.html
https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2019/apr/24/pbb-patriot-prayer-logs/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/antifa-portland-police-protect-white-supremacy-by-passing-intel-to-patriot-prayer