Comments

1

"the perseverance of the status quo" is a disturbingly apt description of portland's condition

Well put.

2

Alex,

It's clear you have been deeply affected by the some of the horrors inflicted on Portland during the protests. It's also clear that you chose to associate with many who share your views and openly endorse/encourage provocateur behaviors of violence and vandalism that the police bureau requires as a pro-forma excuse to inflict their violence on peaceful protests as well as journalists. That's to your work and others the Portland Police Bureau's abusive and illegal behaviors are thoroughly and clearly documented for both the present and posterity.

I think it's also important to be mindful that in the absence of more information, we do not know the thought processes or motivations behind the acts of violence and vandalism used by the police as an excuse to take action. And without a full accountability of who took those actions and why, we do not know if their goals are truly in line with the peaceful protestors and the side of democracy, or if their criminally violent and destructive behavior is part of another set of goals independent from Portland's social justice values and goals.

As an editor in a position of power and privilege, who's personal income is maintained by coverage of police issues, politics, and social justice topics, it may be helpful to contextualize for any new readers the fact that a former collaborator and colleague of the Portland Mercury was arrested for arson and vandalism of religious institutions. Does the Mercury have a different view of this behavior from the other behaviors it condones in the face of police violence?

No one is asking you to be objective, you have your own style that serves you well, but it would benefit everyone if you could be a bit more honest with yourselves and others about the real challenges and difficulties imposed by the violent and destructive behavior at protests that effectively sabotaged the protests' messages and seemly only aided the goals of Police Brutality and its allies like Trump and the Alt-right.

How would you feel if it was your home or your business or your place of worship that was attacked and vandalized? How would you feel if it were your children crying after your window was smashed in? How would you feel if your body was threatened or subjected to violence?

Are those things you want others to experience? Or do you think it would be more productive for Portland to actively take steps towards peace through a process of truth and reconciliation?

I look forward to reading more of your takes. You are an incredibly gifted writer and I hope you find a way to provide more opportunities for Portland (and the country really) to identify with your important voice on these critical issues to democracy.

3

"and indiscriminately inflict physical and psychological damage on citizens who were legally protesting in their city’s streets." You forgot the little detail that the VAST majority of people affected by the use of crowd control tactics were loitering around AFTER an unlawful assembly was declared (for reasons ranging from heavy objects, mortar fireworks, etc. being thrown at officers, to attempted arsons) and they were given multiple lawful orders to disperse or be subject to crowd control measures. What a joke of an article.

4

Wheeler's brash warning “Bringing the statue back is more than aesthetics. It's a statement that people who break the law and break things do not get the last word in our city. We do,” is the height of conceit. In Nov 2016 marches, it seemed to me Portland police staged a new level of antagonist actions much like a strategic escalation of public protest altercation. Their golden boy won the White House. Shut up and suck it, young Americans. We should've recalled Wheeler when we had the chance.
Another RECALL WHEELER campaign is not a bad idea.


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