Portland police, in a proactive messaging play, are sounding an early alarm over an anti-police-brutality event planned for tonight at Southeast’s Colonel Summers Park—tying it to Occupy Portland and warning they’ll be prepared to make “arrests as necessary.”
The unpermitted rally and march—in solidarity with the 400 protesters arrested last month in Oakland—is planned for 6 pm, and police are worried the whole thing will turn ugly. This concern is apparently based on fliers and handouts promoting the event. The note comes after an official Occupy rally in solidarity with Egypt late last month spilled from Pioneer Courthouse Square and onto downtown streets—something the police really don’t like—bringing out one of the most forceful police responses to an Occupy event in months.
Witness this selection from the cops’ statement (read the full thing after the cut):
Local flyers indicate this is a “a rally and march in Solidarity with Occupy Oakland and against corruption”. The local literature also references the Portland Police’s use of force as well.
Since the occupy movement began in Portland, Occupy Portland has emphasized the need for peaceful demonstrations. Portland Police have also worked to ensure safe and peaceful events for all. Police are concerned about tonight’s rally and march because the tone and content of available information is decidedly more hostile and escalating.
The members of the Police Bureau are sworn to protect all people rights to free speech and keep the peace. However, we must balance the competing rights of all people in the community so that everyone‚s rights are protected. There is no permit for tonight’s rally and march, but those in attendance will still be expected to follow all laws. If this does not occur, the Police Bureau will take appropriate action to include arrests as necessary.
Yes, one of the fliers that police scanned and sent out does exhort marchers to “fight back now,” which could be read as clandestine and threatening. But then there’s the official (and quite public) Facebook page for the event—which the police bureau doesn’t mention. “The purpose of this action is to show solidarity and raise awareness,” the event summary reads. “Conduct yourself in an orderly and respectful manner, but be revolutionary!”
And what about the police bureau’s assertion that this is an Occupy Portland event? That’s not quite accurate. The cops’ statement misses the nuance that although this is being planned by some of the more radical participants in Occupy, it’s been neither promoted nor endorsed through the movement’s spokescouncil or general assembly. (In fact, it isn’t even on any of the movement’s official calendars.)
“It’s a guy from Occupy doing it,” says Occupy media volunteer Alex Pio. “But it’s not an ‘Occupy event.'”
That’s not to say things won’t turn confrontational. There’s long been some tension within Occupy between black bloc types/sympathizers and some of the other mainstream Occupy organizers over messaging and tactics, and that’s undoubtedly one reason why this didn’t go through so-called proper channels.
Even still, says mayoral candidate Cameron Whitten, who isn’t planning on showing up tonight, “the police are definitely inflating and exaggerating things as usual.”
We shall see.
Here’s the full police statement:
As a result of police action in Oakland, California, Occupy Oakland’s general assembly declared Monday, February 6, 2012, a “call for action against police brutality and arrests”.
Locally, today, Monday, February 6, 2012 a “tired of police brutality march” is planned for 6:00 p.m. beginning at Colonel Summers Park, located at Southeast Belmont Street and 20th Avenue. Local flyers indicate this is a “a rally and march in Solidarity with Occupy Oakland and against corruption”. The local literature also references the Portland Police’s use of force as well.
Since the occupy movement began in Portland, Occupy Portland has emphasized the need for peaceful demonstrations. Portland Police have also worked to ensure safe and peaceful events for all. Police are concerned about tonight’s rally and march because the tone and content of available information is decidedly more hostile and escalating.
The members of the Police Bureau are sworn to protect all people rights to free speech and keep the peace. However, we must balance the competing rights of all people in the community so that everyone‚s rights are protected. There is no permit for tonight’s rally and march, but those in attendance will still be expected to follow all laws. If this does not occur, the Police Bureau will take appropriate action to include arrests as necessary.
The Police Bureau is sharing this information to let community members know that there may be disruptions as a result of the march. Since there is no permit, we cannot share what route the participants will take and what streets will be effected during the rush hour commute. Please be aware, however, if you are traveling in this area of Southeast Portland, there may be traffic delays.
Just put up a sign that says “Free Steroids at Laurelhurst Park” and you’ll be safe at Col. Sanders.
NOT ONE MOTHERFUCKER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD CARES ABOUT THE SEMANTICS OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS AN OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED “OCCUPY” PROTEST. IN THE PUBLIC’S MIND EYE IT IS. SO TAKE THAT AND RUN WITH IT. BE LIKE ANONYMOUS AND JUST SANCTION EVERYTHING. ANYONE AND EVERYONE CAN BE THE OCCUPATION.
Kinda scraping the bottom of the barrel searching for something to rally about, isn’t it? Not about a issue affecting the ‘99%’ but rather in support of themselves.
Yesterdays ‘pot luck’ didn’t seem like a win either. In fact, in light of the fact ‘occupy’ didn’t really come up with the promised funding to repair the parks, it was rather ironic – especially considering the biggest donor to fix the parks was Umpua Bank, who ‘occupy’ fucked with earlier – right?
Every time anything along these lines happens, I always love to see the PPB express their worry that it will “turn ugly.” Like they aren’t the ones who inevitably turn it that way.
@ RB: so…are the cops the ones smashing windows and tagging? Just asking.
remember when occupy wall street was about income inequality? yeah, me neither
Sid Dhale: you want an actual answer to your stupid fucking question?
Oh: just asking.
@RB: Since your response indicates you don’t actually have an answer, sure, please answer my stupid fucking question.
But not before reading the story just posted on the blog. Idiot.
@ebaq
So how about this: struggles against the police are a part of the greater struggle for economic equality. The police exist to protect the property of the wealthiest portions of society, and enforce laws disproportionately on people of color, houseless folks, queer and trans people, etc (read: the most disenfranchised sectors of society). Their mandate to abuse people also comes from a government which is corrupt at all levels, and beholden to the interests of the wealthy, who run for office, donate to campaigns, and form political action/lobbying groups.
The police actively enforce and deepen class divisions for the benefit of those on top. Any movement that seeks economic equality will have to fight them.
What a load of crap.
I would hope this isn’t the average thoughts of most ‘occupy’, or you will fail just because of stupidity.
Those broken windows last night – all of them belonged to the 1%, correct? Including the evil place to eat favored by all those 1%, Genoa.
‘occupy’ is becoming a passing fad.
@9…….short answer, no. As for the rest of you…you know as well as I do that these clowns have little in terms of agenda or a clue. Oh, I know they purport too. Evidence is to the contrary however. @3…pretty much, but I am sure there will be an attempt at justification
@11 Nice logic. I guess if you disagree with something that makes it invalid? I’m sure I won’t see you in the streets whether you agree or not, so have fun internet commenting yourself into deeper meaninglessness.
Of course they were concerned about “escalating tone”. It is escalating, and good for it… So you say the Police are paid by the People to protect them? You’re WRONG. The Pigs are paid by the government to keep Joe Citizen’s god damned (and righteously so) concerned nose out of the “elected representative’s” business. This is OUR WORLD, we should take what’s ours, and DEATH to any pig who tries to stop a hard working, honest man from revolting against a crooked mafia of a system