Cops

Scenes from Wednesday night’s march across the Morrison Bridge. Steve Humphrey UPDATE 12:08 AM: Okay folks, we’re calling it a night after listening to a few lovely birthday serenades to Breonna. This positive, non-violent demonstration may continue into the wee hours—and we’ll give you an update in the morning. Sleep easy, Portland. UPDATE 11:50 PM: […]

Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty speaking during Wednesday’s virtual City Council meeting. City of Portland Tuesday night saw a significant shift in the way the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has responded to consecutive, nightly protests against police brutality. On Wednesday, Portland saw a shift in the way its elected officials are talking about it, too. First, […]

Gov. Kate Brown watches as Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty speaks at a Monday afternoon press conference. Governor Kate Brown Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has activated 50 members of the National Guard and one hundred Oregon State Troopers to assist Portland law enforcement’s response to continuing demonstrations following the death of George Floyd by […]

We need your help. The economic fallout of the coronavirus has threatened our ability to keep producing the Mercury. If you’re able, please consider donating to the Mercury. A scene from a Friday night vigil for George Floyd at Portland’s Peninsula Park. Alex Zielinski Good morning Portland. It’s been a long weekend for our small […]

Rukaiyah Adams, chair of Albina Vision Trust, speaking at the Sunday event. Alex Zielinski Leaders in Portland’s Black community gathered this afternoon to call for unity, justice, and true commitment to equity as Portland mourns and protests the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. “This is a moment, but what we need is […]

A scene from the crowd. Alex Zielinski More than a thousand Portlanders gathered in Peninsula Park Friday evening to memorialize George Floyd, the Black Minneapolis man who died Monday after an officer kneeled on his neck, cutting off his airway. “Where was the threat of danger?” Pastor Roy Tate asked the crowd, referring to Floyd’s […]

PPB Deputy Chief Chris Davis speaking during a virtual press conference. YouTube / Portland Police Bureau Portland Deputy Chief Chris Davis addressed the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers—and the ensuing protests—during a press call Thursday afternoon. “What we see in this in this video from Minneapolis does not represent the values or […]

A woman protesting the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 26. Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Portlanders are organizing their response to the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died Monday after Officer Derek Chauvin, a white man, kneeled on his neck for more than five […]

Doug Brown The City of Portland began 2020 with an ambitious goal: Propose, negotiate, and sign a new contract with the Portland Police Association (PPA)—the union representing hundreds of rank-and-file officers—before the PPA’s current contract expired on June 30, 2020. Even before COVID-19 forced the city into shutdown, the initial, glacially-paced February meetings between the […]

Portland Police Bureau A longtime Portland police officer has signaled her intent to file a lawsuit against the City of Portland for the Portland Police Bureau’s (PPB) “ongoing pattern and practice of severe and pervasive discrimination” based on her sex, sexual orientation, race, national origin, marital status, and disability. Sgt. Liani Reyna, a 24-year veteran […]