Mayor Sam Adams is meeting in his office with Marva Campbell-Davis right now, after over a hundred protesters led by the Albina Ministerial Alliance marched into city hall.
- Mayor Adams Faces Marva Campbell Outside His Office
The mayor’s office was locked when the protesters arrived, but Adams came out and met with them.
He assured the protesters that the grand jury transcripts would be released tomorrow. But that wasn’t enough for them. “Why is he coming back on duty today?” they asked. “What meessage does that send?”
“Fire him! Fire him!” yelled the crowd.
“You wouldn’t want me to pass judgment without a full…” began the mayor.
“Can you face the victim?” asked one protester.
Adams asked Campbell-Davis if he wanted to step in to his office. She did. The atmosphere outside the mayor’s office is tense. Reverend Doctor Leroy Haynes from the Albina Ministerial Alliance said he wanted the protesters to step away from city hall and continue their nonviolent protest outside.
“We need everybody, we need you, to dismiss at this time,” said Haynes. “But this is not our next step. Our next step is coming. We would personally ask that you would dismiss at this time.”
“I’m not sure who is determined to stay at this time, and tell us what’s on your mind,” said Wells.
One gentleman, Sanford Webb, talked for about five minutes about his problem with police. He grew shrill and even shouted at one point. “I do feel that what happened was bad, I believe that Oregonians need to have a wakeup call,” he said. “And I’m the vehicle right now.”
The church leaders are trying to talk down a group of about ten protesters, right now. Update, 1:03: the protesters have left the area outside the mayor’s office and have gone downstairs to the lobby. More photos after the jump.
- PASTOR HAYNES DELIVERS A LETTER TO THE MAYOR
So the answer is, “Yes, Mayor Adams can face the victim.” That kind of killed their photo-op.
All the people yelling “fire him” were old white hippies. The people who actually organized and were running the protest knew better than to bring it up in City Hall (though Ms. Gordly did bring back the recall effort in front of the Justice Center–but she is at least actually putting her money where her mouth is). The Albina Ministerial Alliance did a great job of organizing, motivating and keeping the message on nonviolence and demanding justice.
Nice picture, whoever took that. Like the lighting and composition.
Thanks.