Straw Man logical fallacy...The Commenter from The Stranger (queerkid69) says:

"_It's shameful that anyone in the occupy 'movement' would work with police to turn people in._"

FACT CHECK! Cooperation does not equal 'turning people in' to the police. They are two completely different things.

The commenter's criticism is therefore completely invalid. If and when #OccupyPortland people start 'snitching' then his/her comment could then potentially be relevant.

I was at the meetings on the first night when they were discussing things and there was alot of debate about even communicating AT ALL with the police. At the time the consensus was to just take basic info if people get arrested and relay messages so each side is clear where the line is. That's all.

I would appreciate the fine people at Portland Mercury to correct their analysis in the article. It seems author Steven Humphrey missed the inherent contradiction in the comment he analyzed.

1)Police are the agents who on the ground actively try to stop social movements. Social movements cooperating with them shows a lack of historical understanding. What happens when we start marching, disrupting business at banks or protesting ordinances like the sit lie ordinance?
2)Police in portland have a history of violence against poor people and people of color. The fact that this camp is still allowed up when other camps by houseless folks have been met with violence and force doesn't speak to "cooperation", it speaks to unacknowledged privilege of the occupy movement. Those who don't have this privilege see it and feel alienated by the movement.
3) All social movement that have been successful have relied on a diversity of tactics. Denouncing and aiding in the arrest of others who are working to build a better world because they employ different tactics seeks to undermine the unity of purpose we have. Conversations and debates about tactics are good but using the violence of the state (helping the police arrest people) when people disagree with you really undermines the democratic process. People in the Arab spring certainly respected this, you did not see the non-violent protestors in Tarhir square helping to arrest those protestors who were engaged in street fighting with Mubarak.

This might be an inaccurate observation, but despite their (sometimes deserved) status as "oppressors", aren't the police part of the 99%? It's not like they, as people, are totally unaffected by the abuses of the 1%. Sure, they represent "the system" and all that, but I bet you plenty of them have debts, loans, mortgages and the like. And I bet that plenty of them are also angry about the way the world economy has been ruined by the pillaging of the Wall Street plutocrats.

Simply put - if the cause is just enough to win the support of the most stalwart members of "the system", then ACCEPT THAT SUPPORT FOR THE GIFT THAT IT IS, AND USE IT TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE.

This isn't the 60s. I think Herbert Marcuse is swell too, but let's not pretend this is a revolution or that any principle of tolerant resistance really matters in Portland. Stay focused and remember that the target of the demonstrations is the financial institution, not other working people (like the Portland PD). Yeesh, people. Get over your bad selves.

Having the law on the side of the protesters is the goal! We've won. Isn't that what protesters want, to get all angry and demand change and have those in power say, "ok, yes we will help you accomplish that change"? That is what's happening in Portland. Anyone looking to fight with the police because "that's the way protesting is supposed to be" isn't looking to better society, that person is just looking for a fight.
Portland wins again!!!

"Anyone looking to fight with the police because "that's the way protesting is supposed to be" isn't looking to better society, that person is just looking for a fight."

Very true! Also, anyone who says "that's how protests should be" needs to show what protests on the standard model have accomplished since 2001.

@13 Thank you for making this clear. The "spirit of cooperation" applies to the people, more so than it does law enforcement. Internal harmony & trust is vital. But what we have going with the city is pretty special. i hope that noone, on either side ( if sides must be ), breaks that trust & that peace. Everyone is doing such amazing work so far. 5-10,000 people in one day. Awesome. And yes, plates, spoons & basic camping gear are needed.

WE DID NOT GET A PERMIT FOR THE 10,000 PEOPLE MARCH THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN STREETS ON THURSDAY. WE DID NOT GET A PERMIT FOR TOMORROW'S MARCH. WE DO NOT TELL THE POLICE THE ROUTES, EVEN WHEN THEY ASK. WE REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH THEIR DEMANDS THAT WE LEAVE THE PARK AT MIDNIGHT, AND THAT WE LEAVE THE PARK AT 9AM. TO SAY THAT WE ARE WORKING 'TOO MUCH WITH THE POLICE' IS RIDICULOUS.

Anybody who remembers cop-induced riots such as Sabbath '82 or X-Ray Cafe '93, or May Day for that matter, will make note of a decidedly less confrontational PPB.

http://occupy-portland.blogspot.com/

Even in the Russian Revolution the goal was to get the local authorities on the rebel side. The protests in Portland have done nothing the police have asked, and the police have accommodated the will of the protest.

And well they should. If someone decides to go after the cops union or bennies, the people likely to side with them in a Wisconsin style stand will be appeased and stand next to the scorned worker in the same way the cops are forced to do so now.

I would have loved to have seen martyrs and everything as much as the next guy. I also understand that the movement itself loses something when not in a fight for survival. But the cops conceded. Unless there's an armed wing that's ready to go Dublin 1916 and raise the Cascadian flag over city hall and get martyred when the US military comes in to regulate - there's not much to be done.

@PDXGOOSH: I LIKE THE CUT OF YOUR GIB. NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO USE THE INTERNETS FOR THE BEST OF THE BEST. BUT YOU DO!