Three weeks ago, the police arrested a young mom who was picnicking on the lawn of city hall with her friend and toddler. Apparently she was violating the sit-lie ordinance. A couple of protesters from a nearby demonstration stepped forward to help the woman and to complain to the police. They too were arrested. For […]
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Beat the Band
Marching Band Protesters vs. Obsessive D.A.
by J.B. Rabin On July 8, 2002, Jenna Barrett, Denell Fahy, and Karl Johnson, along with the other members of the radical marching band Infernal Noise Brigade, showed up in full regalia at a downtown Umpqua bank. Acting as a good-natured thorn in the side of Umpqua’s board chairman, who has holdings with firms directly […]
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Water Over the Damned
Council Kisses Up to Business, Pisses Off Residents
Once again shrugging off public dissent, last week city council plunged forward with their plan to cover the water reservoirs at Mt Tabor. A year ago, without public input, city council suddenly approved a plan to cover the water tanks with large landscaped lids. Last Wednesday, in front of packed chambers, city council unanimously voted […]
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Me For Mayor!
Another Rant From Mayoral Candidate Phil Busse
Last week, the Police Assessment Resource Center, a LA-based non-profit, released a 222-page report looking at 32 deadly police shootings by Portland police over a three year period from 1997 to 2000. Ultimately, the report lambastes police policies that have let these officers go largely unpunished. Last week, seemingly using that report as a springboard, […]
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Exit Stage Left
Kroeker Gets Cut, Katz Stays Quiet
The Rose Room on the third floor of City Hall was packed on Tuesday morning, even though the press conference had been hastily announced. At the end of business on Friday, Police Chief Mark Kroeker announced his sudden resignation. He gave no explanation. Late on Labor Day, Vera Katz’s office announced the mayor would host […]
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It’s Good to Be King
Protesters Make Pretty Signs, Bush Ignores Them
Last March, when President Bush dismissed anti-war marches with a simple shrug of his shoulders, he gave us perhaps the most clear-eyed look into his mind and administration. At the time, the White House was bullying the United Nations into storming Iraq and deposing Saddam Hussein. In response, from Paris to Portland, more than 5 […]
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A New Sheriff in Town!
Local Attorney Spanks City Hall and Police
By Erin Ergenbright Last Wednesday, the brand-spanking-new Northwest Constitutional Rights Center (NWCRC) filed the first of many forthcoming lawsuits against the City of Portland and the Portland Police Bureau. Addressing a crowd of 40 people in front of City Hall, attorney Alan Graf, NWCRC’s spokesperson, said the police have “systematically acted to intimidate both protesters […]
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The Groom May Kiss the Groom!
Gay Couples Try to Force U.S. Government’s Hand on Gay Rights
by Anna Simon They wore khakis, not white. They had to ask a waitress to be their second witness, and since the Canadian legal forms weren’t yet updated, they had to decide who would sign his name on the “bride” line. On a recent July afternoon amidst the rose gardens of the British Columbia Legislature, […]
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We Won’t Stand For It!
Mayor Katz Toughens Up Sit-Lie Rules–Again
For seven months, a ragtag group of activists have camped out across the street from City Hall. Calling themselves the Portland Peaceful Encampment (PPE), they originally threw down their stakes to bring attention to the war in Iraq and the plight of thousands of its civilians. However, as public attention waned from military maneuvers in […]
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A (Late) Call to Arms
Will Local Activists Wake Up in Time to Protest Bush?
by Anna Simon It’s been one full year since thousands of people gathered in downtown Portland to boo and hiss President Bush’s appearance at a Senator Gordon Smith fundraiser. Images of hundreds of police behind a barricade–many in full riot gear–were emblazoned onto the public consciousness when officers shot rubber bullets and pepper spray into […]
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Seeing Pink
Local Ladies Lay In Wait For Bush!
By Anna Simon First inspired by Medea Benjamin (see feature, page 9) and anti-war protests, a loose-knit group of feisty and mostly middle-aged women have emerged as perhaps the most prolific group of activists in town. (On Tuesday, Benjamin will speak at PSU.) Code Pink is a national organization that began in opposition to the […]
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Wha’choo Lookin’ At?
The ACLU Salutes the Patriot Act With a Lawsuit
by J.B. Rabin Maybe you checked out a book about Middle Eastern politics from the downtown library. Or perhaps you contributed to an aid organization bringing food to Afghani kids. Or maybe you just have a funny-sounding name. Under section 215 of the US Patriot Act, the FBI can start spying on you for any […]