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Nathan Howard / Getty Images

- The Proud Boys came to town Saturday for a small rally (attracting a sliver of the promised 20,000 attendees), which concluded without the anticipated levels of violence that's usually associated with gatherings of far-right dudes in our leftie metropolis. Three miles away, thousands of antifascist Portlanders gathered to support mutual aid groups, celebrate local civil rights organizations, and joyfully ignore the right-wing visitors.

- I wash brainwashed by plantbloc:

Plant bloc is here: They hand out free fruits/veggies/etc. and also do guerrilla gardening (seed bombs!) in food deserts in town. pic.twitter.com/SEtXGrZYuH

— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) September 26, 2020

- The anticipated Proud Boy violence that had lawmakers wringing their hands instead came from law enforcement officers Saturday night. Officers appeared to take pleasure in trampling and shoving hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Portland to decry police brutality and listen to speeches by Black activists.

- Despite deeming the response a victory, Gov. Kate Brown has asked the police to please investigate themselves to make sure they didn't do a bad thing. Seems foolproof!

Peninsula Park. Alex Zielinski

Update, 5:00 pm:

The afternoon is coming to a close with live music, speakers, and dancing at Irving Park. But, while the Proud Boys are off chugging brewskis in Vancouver, there's still nervous energy in the air around what the night may bring.

Activists haven't announced a planned protest for this evening, but judging by the past four months (!!!) of nightly demonstrations, it wouldn't come as a surprise. And it could draw a response from the right-wing reactionaries still putzing around town. We're ending our live coverage of the daytime activities, but our reporters will continue to keep an eye on the streets this evening.

Stay safe, Portland.

Update, 4:30 pm:
Portland Police have confirmed that officers pulled over a vehicle without plates carrying weapons that had been at the Proud Boy rally. No reports yet of any police response to the Proud Boy members who were openly carrying AR-15 rifles in a public park (which is illegal unless you have a concealed gun permit).

We can confirm that officers have conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle leaving Delta Park. The officers took possession of firearms, paintball guns, baseball bats, and shields. At least one criminal citation was issued. pic.twitter.com/rtJhzeCcv1
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) September 26, 2020

Meanwhile at Irving Park, more speeches and music—and not a whiff of insecure Proud Boy testosterone.

The crowd at Irving Park has grown to ~200 people. Letha Winston is on the microphone and speaking to the crowd about her son, Patrick Kimmons, who was fatally shot by two Portland police officers in 2018. pic.twitter.com/vVjOlu14xJ
— Cata Gaitán (@catalinagaitan_) September 26, 2020

Rap group Dablock Bizznezz performs: pic.twitter.com/aDYtNEfpwf
— Cata Gaitán (@catalinagaitan_) September 26, 2020

This Llama tho 🥰 pic.twitter.com/DSK4PLE8Nh
— Mathieu Lewis-Rolland (@MathieuLRolland) September 26, 2020

Update, 3:30 pm:

Our Alex Zielinski filed this report from Peninsula Park:

The sun came out this afternoon just in time for speakers to take the stage, drawing a crowd of more than 1,000 to the lawn. The scene is familiar: several thousand Portlanders gathered at this same park on May 29 before marching downtown just days after George Floyd’s murder. Today's crowd heard from Demetria Hester, Albert Lee, Mic Crenshaw, Juan Chavez, Olivia Katbi Smith, and others. The park erupted in cheers after learning that the Proud Boy rally had wrapped—but leaders advised the group to be on the lookout for roving fascists tonight. By 3:15 pm, the group had begun to disperse—some lingering to pet a llama and others snacking on leftover pizza.

An update about the Proud Boys: “They’re done and they’re now leaving. We outlasted them, as we always do.”
— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) September 26, 2020

A Proud Boy wrestles a protester during a Portland clash in 2017. Doug Brown

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• In response to the far-right, white nationalist-aligned Proud Boys coming to Portland on Saturday, Gov. Kate Brown has declared a state emergency, assigning Oregon State Police and the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office to have jurisdiction over the rally. The Portland Police Bureau will work under OSP and MSCO—and all three law enforcement agencies will have the power to use CS gas (or tear gas), despite a recent ban from Mayor Ted Wheeler. (Note: All three agencies include officers who have been chummy and more than accommodating with those in far-right organizations—which is a baaaaaad sign for peaceful protesters showing up to demonstrate against hate. Be careful out there.)

Here's what we know about the Proud Boys rally planned for Portland this Saturday, Sept. 26: https://t.co/6tlXqpxwml
— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) September 25, 2020

• To learn more about the Proud Boys, their past visits, and the questionable deference they've received from the Portland Police, check out this very informative story by our Alex Zielinski.

• In this fascinating investigative piece from OPB, it's noted that Oregon has an unlawful paramilitary activity law that would stop weapons-carrying groups like the Proud Boys from causing civil unrest. This was pointed out to Mayor Wheeler as a possible legal response to violent right-wing groups like the Proud Boys... and was promptly ignored.

Gov. Kate Brown and OSP Superintendent Travis Hampton. State of Oregon screenshot

“I am incredibly concerned about the increased risk of violence this weekend," Brown said at a press conference Friday morning. “I need to do everything I can as governor to assure the safety of Oregonians.”

The Proud Boys, a far-right extremist organization with white supremacist ties that has staged violent rallies in Portland before, plans to hold a demonstration in Delta Park on Saturday. Left-wing and antifascist organizers are planning several counter-demonstrations, including one across the street from Delta Park. OSP Superintendent Travis Hampton and Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese will have jurisdiction over Portland for a 48-hour period on Saturday and Sunday, serving as joint incident commanders.

"You will see a massive influx of Oregon State Police troopers beginning tomorrow morning," Hampton said. "They will be saturating North Portland, Interstate 5, between the venues of Delta Park and Peninsula Park, with our colleagues, the Portland Police Bureau and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.”

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at the Supreme Court. Getty images / pool

Here are the headlines.

• Even after being publicly contradicted by Sen. Mitch McConnell and other Republican leaders, Donald Trump is doubling down on his refusal to promise a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the November election. I know Trump lies as often as he breathes, but this feels like a situation where we should believe what he's saying and prepare accordingly?

• Meanwhile, another transition in Washington, D.C.:

The casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried up the steps of the U.S. Capitol, past House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, where she will be the first woman to lie in state. https://t.co/FZh8qHi8MG pic.twitter.com/ESeiEsmSbb
— ABC News (@ABC) September 25, 2020

Louisville cops point weapons at protesters during last night's Breonna Taylor demonstration. Jon Cherry / Getty Images

Here's your daily roundup of all the latest local and national news. (Like our coverage? Please consider making a recurring contribution to the Mercury to keep it comin'!)

• Thirteen Portland protesters were arrested last night during a demonstration in response to the Kentucky grand jury that exonerated the officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor. Federal officers joined Portland Police in using munitions and physical violence to disperse the demonstration.

• Teri Jacobs, an independent photojournalist, is suing the city of Portland and a group of Portland Police officers for injuries sustained while covering a protest last month, including being hit in the face by a police baton. Blair Stenvick has more on this infuriating story.

*Cities with the most reported incidents*

Portland (238)
Minneapolis/St. Paul (106)
Washington, D.C. (48)
New York (45)
Los Angeles (41)
Seattle (22)
Denver (18)
Louisville (18)
Richmond (18)
Detroit (16)
Omaha (16)
— U.S. Press Freedom Tracker (@uspresstracker) September 24, 2020

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Louisville police arrest 100 protesters following grand jury's refusal to indict the officers who killed Breonna Taylor. Jon Cherry / Getty Images

• In response to a Kentucky grand jury who refused to charge the officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor, protests erupted across the country last night, including Portland. Protesters gathered at the downtown Justice Center where speeches were made, and later a smaller crowd began throwing rocks at the Central Precinct. Police report that three Molotov cocktails were thrown at which point they declared the gathering a "riot" and with the help of federal officers fired munitions and air-borne irritants, while using physical force to push the demonstrators out of the area. Several people were arrested.

Officers firing munitions up the street at protesters . Feels like the old times. pic.twitter.com/1Wq5t64qXW
— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) September 24, 2020

• The Portland Parks Bureau has denied a permit for violent, right-wing, white nationalist group Proud Boys to hold a rally this Saturday at Delta Park. The city says their estimated number of participants exceeds safety mandates during the COVID crisis.

• Reminder: The far-right agitators who planned to commit violence before the Trump caravan debacle in Portland, are doing it again in advance of this weekend's Proud Boy rally. Read this story and then watch the cops, who also have this information, to see who they end up defending.