This has not been a good week — two black men were gunned down by police officers. First, on Tuesday, bystanders recorded police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, shooting a 37-year-old man named Alton Sterling to death as he was pinned to the ground. Less than 48 hours later, police in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota, shot to death a 32-year-old man named Philando Castile after a traffic stop in front of his girlfriend and a small child.
Tonight, a protest and a "gathering" are taking place in Portland in response to the killings.
At 6 pm. at Laurelhurst Park (3499 Southeast Oak St) there's an event labeled on Facebook as "In Honor Of: A Gathering & March." Here's the description:
Almost exactly two years ago, we held a gathering, not a rally, a gathering, in reponse to Michael Brown, and so many other deaths. We needed a space to gather together, to be upset together, to mourn together.WE NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN. I don't know about you, but I'm angry, and broken, and scared, and I do not want to be alone in this. There is a war on black people, and we have to continue to stand up and shout about this. We have to continue to gather together. To talk about it. To march together.
So please, meet with me, and march with me. This is an event that is FOR POC, but allies are more than welcome to come and support and march alongside. If you as an ally do want to come, please share that you will be supporting this.
*Please bring sign making material if possible, I will have some on hand as well
At 7 pm, Don't Shoot Portland is organizing a protest at Pioneer Courthouse Square (701 SW 6th Ave):
Tonight come to Pioneer Square for a Solidarity Protest against Police Brutality and In Custody DEATH!! "A Man Was Lynched Yesterday by a Police Officer"The mass killings of black Americans must end now! Bring Candles, Banners, Music and Bullhorns!! This is a Protest!
Prophetic #MalcolmX spoke on police brutality 55 years ago, but did we listen?
Here's what President Obama has to say about the killings:
