UPDATE 12:45 AM: Well, that was another depressing and unnecessarily violent night. As usual, the evening started with inspirational marches and speeches, and ended with riot police defending a fence, firing flash bangs into the crowd, arresting people, and attacking those trying to film it. Here's an example:
From the @KATUNews feed about 15 minutes ago. This guy gets maced and beaten for filming at the Justice Center #PortlandProtests #PortlandProtest #pdx #portland pic.twitter.com/hGSosEES0m
— TVAyyyy ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ (@TVAyyyy) June 7, 2020
Here's another example, where a reporter identifies himself as the press and is pepper sprayed in the eyes anyway (watch the last minute of this):
https://t.co/FnX9h71aX5
— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) June 7, 2020
Cory is being taken to the hospital to have doctors examine his eyes for damage. We'll update you on his condition tomorrow. [Update: We hear he is safely at home now, but his eyes still hurt.] By the way, this is the SECOND time this week that this same reporter has identified himself as press and was attacked by police anyway.
It’s been very hard to make the decision of when I should stay or leave, be close or hang back during these protests. PPB’s actions don’t make those choices any easier.
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
Here's the narrative that the police are feeding to the press tonight:
@MultCoSO says: A commercial grade firework was launched over the fence and landed at the steps of the Justice Center, injuring one deputy. The deputy was evaluated for a possible concussion.
— KGW News (@KGWNews) June 7, 2020
Apparently this was the reason that, not one person who launched a firework, but over a thousand citizens were gassed (UPDATE: with a currently unknown substance) and flashbanged while practicing their first amendment rights.
We condemn the repeated attacks by PPB against Portlanders and members of the press. In the days leading up to today, journalists were repeatedly harassed and threatened. Now things are escalating to them being harmed too. This must stop.
— CAIR-Oregon (@CAIROregon) June 7, 2020
And with that, we're signing off for the night. But rest assured we'll be back tomorrow to continue bearing witness to this truly awful time in our city's history.
UPDATE 12:20 AM: After police began indiscriminately throwing flash bangs into the crowd, our reporters smartly called it a night. But it's easier said than done getting out of town.
Circling around again pic.twitter.com/rF3Z4wtbRA
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Riot cops setting of f flash bangs near Harvey mills and 11th pic.twitter.com/KOopApZoYX
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
Things are crazy and hectic on the streets.
Multiple people are reporting that PPB is giving confusing directions on where to go. Then making arrests.
— CAIR-Oregon (@CAIROregon) June 7, 2020
Watching the police live feed, we just saw police warn a bicyclist that he had "seen him twice" and then throw him violently off his bike.https://t.co/ZAMqT6gnjG
— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) June 7, 2020
Maybe that live feed wasn't such a great idea after all?
Justice Center is deserted pic.twitter.com/rqiQBsfCdF
— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) June 7, 2020
PPB articulated nothing tonight to indicate a threat to life existed.
— CAIR-Oregon (@CAIROregon) June 7, 2020
UPDATE MIDNIGHT: Crowds are on the move downtown, running from clouds of what everyone assumes is the tear gas police aren't supposed to use unless it's a life-threatening emergency.
Weird that SUGGESTING the police not use tear gas didn’t work.
— Anna Griffin (@annargriff) June 7, 2020
Police in Portland clearing the area pic.twitter.com/J7vIquA4Kj
— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) June 7, 2020
Sounds like a goddamn war zone in downtown Portland. Booms can be heard out here 30 blocks east of the river.
— Chris O'Connor (@ChristopOConnor) June 7, 2020
Portland police swinging baton pic.twitter.com/qfGOuLR4WF
— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) June 7, 2020
Meanwhile and STRANGELY the Portland Police live feed is on a quiet street far from their baton-swinging co-workers.
I can hear the kaboom kaboom all the way up here in Old Town.
— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) June 7, 2020
Video of Chapman square and surrounding blocks getting cleared. Couldn’t get it up earlier. pic.twitter.com/GktxEFuCUw
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Crowd fully in the street on 10th, passing Harvey Milk pic.twitter.com/ciLUgYzEz9
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
The police are firing flash bangs into the crowd, so we are pulling our reporters off the street due to the dangerous circumstances.
UPDATE 11:45 PM: And the police have started firing munitions at the crowd at 11:35.
Appeared to be first tear gas of the night. pic.twitter.com/yXHWucrPZF Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
Sure looks like tear gas being fired. 5 flash bangs so far.
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Tear gas fills the air. (UPDATE: Police are claiming this was not CS gas, but aren't revealing what it was. We're investigating.)
pic.twitter.com/bxwTSI2AiO
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
And the police are on the march.
pic.twitter.com/4aYwe3fWjm
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
UPDATE 11:30 PM: A bit of confusion about which direction protesters are supposed to leave... not that most of them are leaving anyway.
I’ve been in Chapman Square for the last 20 or so minutes. Cops ruled this an unlawful assembly, then said everyone needs to leave north. Then said south. Scent of pepper balls hanging in the air. And this is roughly the affected area of their order to leave. 11/* pic.twitter.com/SoM32x7Agf
— Eder Campuzano (@edercampuzano) June 7, 2020
a HUGE crowd about to be subject to use of force, per Portland police announcements pic.twitter.com/HkzJ9YVc0h
— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) June 7, 2020
It's time for the 11 pm stand-off—a situation we've grown used to over the last few nights. However, as I was watching the Portland Police live feed, they said, "Get ready to move!" and the camera froze. Then it came back on again. And they still haven't moved. We're in a holding pattern.
Here's someone who allegedly was shot by a police munition.
For leaning against a fucking fence. Cops are cowards #Portlandprotests pic.twitter.com/YCPOVF5g6s
— R E N T S T R I K E (@radicalrenter) June 7, 2020
UPDATE 11:05 PM: One person reportedly shot by a police pepper bullet.
Shit, the person standing next to me just got hit in the leg with a rubber bullet. Backing up a couple rows.
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Update: may have been a pepper bullet. This sounds right.https://t.co/km9SMgG0IO https://t.co/buhWsYinLu
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Pepper balls are causing some light coughing, protestors remain standing #Portlandprotest pic.twitter.com/acDzGIOidY
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) June 7, 2020
Hey @PortlandPolice , saying “leave the area to the south” is not the most helpful or clear advice.
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
At the fence. Unlawful asssembly declared. Tensions high. #Portlandprotest pic.twitter.com/oLX6OfiRO3
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) June 7, 2020
UPDATE 10:50 PM: A new addition to the nightly protests: PIE TINS!
Check out the pie tin crowd. pic.twitter.com/uURhRotcK2
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
They’re passing out pie tins to the north end now. There’s a seemingly infinite supply of pie tins.
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
A lot of water bottles are coming over the fence... but that's about it, according to the cops' own live feed. Thanks for providing that, btw!
Police just warned they will declare “unlawful assembly” because of “projectiles” being thrown.
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
“This is a civil disturbance, and we have declared an unlawful assembly”
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Unlawful assembly declared #portlandprotest pic.twitter.com/MO7DMGaBIy
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) June 7, 2020
UPDATE 10:20 PM: If you're tired of seeing this angle all the time...
At SW main and 3rd pic.twitter.com/d2grfC1jT9
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
The Portland Police are running their own LIVE STREAM of the protest from their perspective!
It's mostly boring, but when they announced "Will you please stop throwing animal feed over the fence," I lost it!
“Please do not throw items over the fence, *including animal feed*” pic.twitter.com/aDcoLOmxKV
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
PPB loudspeaker just said to not throw animal feed over the fence, which i bet contextualizes why a few folks were chanting “time to feed the pigs” a bit earlier
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Pie-tin Bloc reflecting the police lights back at them! pic.twitter.com/EavlnDfTyz
— PopMob (Popular Mobilization) (@PopMobPDX) June 7, 2020
UPDATE 10:05 PM: And this is how it starts—the clear disconnect between what is life threatening and non-life threatening behavior.
They’re already threatening crowd control munitions, though there’s certainly nothing life-threatening going on right now.
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
And here they come:
Portland police have advanced toward the fence pic.twitter.com/CnQo1ajlHE
— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) June 7, 2020
Crowd turning their back on Portland Police at Justice Center pic.twitter.com/m8HJa6Dxtr
— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) June 7, 2020
There’s a group of police in riot gear visible from the fence, but still hanging back a bit pic.twitter.com/mT0A739yx9
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
UPDATE 9:35 PM: Still no signs of the cops on THE FENCE™ at the Justice Center. (Wouldn't it be nice if they realized that people don't throw plastic water bottles at riot cops who aren't there?)
Chanting continues despite the police absence pic.twitter.com/5o6UULxT0R
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
Mary Poppins antifa confirmed pic.twitter.com/0kpSnPUGc7
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
And now a public briefing from the Portland Police (most of which you've already read here, except for the molotov cocktail propaganda stuff):
Update on demonstrations downtown by Lt. Tina Jones pic.twitter.com/zBYVw8QeL7
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 7, 2020
In more interesting news, look at this beautiful crowd at Irving Park.
A look at the crowd as the protest starts in Irving Park in Portland.#BlackLivesMatters pic.twitter.com/6TZmcYMVqg
— Kaitlin Flanigan (@KaitlinFlanigan) June 7, 2020
It's 9:35, Portland... AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!
It’s 9:35pm and we’re getting our first loudspeaker messages not to tamper with the fence.
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
UPDATE 9:20 PM: This just in... THE POLICE DO NOT OWN A HELICOPTER.
There are posts that helicopters raise anxiety of the crowds. FYI PPB does not own or operate a helicopter.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 7, 2020
Maybe if they didn't buy so much riot gear, they could afford one. #SweetBurn #DidNotTakeEdibleDuringBreak
And in case you wonder why Irving Park was chosen as a landing spot for one of the night's largest protest groups...
Irving Park has an important place in Portland history. https://t.co/8nn10NZipq
— Chris O'Connor (@ChristopOConnor) June 7, 2020
Back at the Justice Center, the crowd has grown larger, but there's a visible lack of cops on THE FENCE™.
Back at the fence at justice center. The crowd has grown a lot in the last hour pic.twitter.com/4m5vXzj1ya
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
At the Justice Center! As usual, there are protesters actively handing out earplugs, goggles, masks, hand sanitizer, pizza, water, and snacks. There’s also this big free pile. pic.twitter.com/OGZr68iGBl
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Meanwhile the Lownsdale Square gang is circling back around and heading back east (most likely to the Justice Center).
Portland’s #BlackLivesMattter protest marches past Powells and, I can report, there’s not a scratch or tag on the whole building. pic.twitter.com/pumctRtysz
— Sarah Mirk (@sarahmirk) June 7, 2020
UPDATE 8:50 PM: We're back from our break, and—OH SHIT. It's my first sighting of a La Piñata Takos burrito since we were forced out of our office by COVID! Ohhhhhh how I miss you.
(I’m taking a burrito break while things are relatively calm, this is my first time getting Piñata Takos since the pandemic 😭) pic.twitter.com/DFhQPbCS4h
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
Meanwhile, the Rev Hall faction has completed their long march to Irving Park!
Here is the crowd heading into Irving Park (via @edercampuzano) pic.twitter.com/0dXULsJIIL
— The Oregonian (@Oregonian) June 7, 2020
I entered Irving Park, people are streaming in still, not a guess how many, but thousands? We heard modern queer rap icons @tylerthecreator (ended before I recorded) and Frank Ocean. pic.twitter.com/5xuFz5uom3
— 🐞🏳️🌈Andrew D. Jankowski🏳️🌈🐞 (@AndrewJank) June 7, 2020
And the Lownsdale Square gang have moved on from Pioneer Square to... well, we're not sure yet. We'll update you on that later.
Per @sarahmirk: marching through the pearl pic.twitter.com/oLrWDKzosQ
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
UPDATE 8:20 PM: We're all gonna take a quick snack and pee break (and I've been told to hold off on the edibles even though my employees are not the boss of me), and we'll be back in about 20 minutes! Until then, here's a public service announcement from our ace reporter/helper tonight, Tuck Woodstock.
Donate to the Mercury, y’all! They’ve got a staff of FOUR people doing great coverage of the protests every single day and every single night!
Help them pay themselves... and also more freelancers like me 👀 https://t.co/rjgm199kNF
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
DONATE HERE IF YOU'RE ABLE! (Mwah!)
UPDATE 8:10 PM: Meanwhile in SEATTLE... jeez! These guys get an early start!
Dispersing the entire area and threatening arrest if people do not disperse pic.twitter.com/I5yX05O8dI
— Chase Burns (@chaseburnsy) June 7, 2020
Oh, and that mysterious group of demonstrators that were crossing the Burnside? Looks like the cops confused them with the Revolution Hall gang heading north to Irving Park. HEY THESE LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE PRACTICING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS ALL LOOK ALIKE.
Correction: Non-violent marchers are heading Northbound on Grand Avenue.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 7, 2020
Meanwhile, back in Pioneer Courthouse Square... THIS guy sure walked into the wrong open mic!
A white guy in pajamas just stepped up to the megaphone to say all lives matter. The crowd starts a “black lives matter” chant and the man literally runs away. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
And at the Justice Center—where we always end up eventually—our Blair Stenvick is checking up on the emotional stability of THE FENCE.
Made my way back to justice center and The Fence. People—maybe 100, mostly wearing black—are milling around, probably waiting for the protest to move back here eventually. There’s a full-on snack tent getting set up, I’m having flash backs to being on swim team as a kid. pic.twitter.com/3zjoCEDufW
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
Another protestor: I don’t understand how you can leave your house dressed up like Darth Vader and be afraid of people with ponchos and masks.”
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
UPDATE 7:45 PM: As the Rev Hall faction continues their march northward to Irving Park, the ever-growing Lownsdale Square marchers have landed in another familiar spot: Pioneer Courthouse Square.
The crowd from lownsdale square has arrived at pioneer square pic.twitter.com/lirT9WLNt8
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
One of the leaders of this march is speaking now. They identify themselves as Eli, from the Radical Justice Party, which they say is a group dedicated to liberating all people of color. I believe Eli said this is the group’s first time organizing a march.
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Eli is now opening the mic/megaphone for any person of color who wishes to speak. “I just want to tell all of you guys that I love you,” says the first speaker. “All I wanted to do was come and tell you I love you.” pic.twitter.com/cPaUB6Ot1d
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Meanwhile... looks like another large group of marchers are descending on downtown via the Burnside Bridge.
A non-violent march is occurring. Marchers heading westbound on Burnside Bridge.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 7, 2020
UPDATE 7:20 PM: The march from Lownsdale Square has kicked off, and armed cops are already on the scene. "Just because I'm dressed like I'm ready to kill people, why do they assume I'm ready to kill people??"
Some are visibly armed, I think with rubber bullet weapons? pic.twitter.com/5Q6PQMtIzW
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
Chapman Square crowd is leaving the park headed west. It’s a couple hundred folks right now, most dressed in rain jackets. Energy levels do not seem super high — maybe it’s the weather, or maybe nobody has slept in 8 days.
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Hold on... looks like that small crowd of 200 is really starting to grow!
We just merged with another group that had been heading south on 5th. Crowd just got a lot louder. pic.twitter.com/vU7NggaDUt
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 7, 2020
Portland's art game is ON POINT.
UPDATE 7:05 PM: The march from Revolution Hall to Irving Park in Northeast Portland has kicked off, and we'll check back in with them later.
Meanwhile, our Blair Stenvick and Tuck Woodstock are downtown with the Lownsdale Square gang:
At lownsdale square in portland, where a group of a couple hundred has gathered. We’ll begin marching soon, though where I’m not sure. Speaker reminds crowd that “the police are not our friends,” and advocates for police abolition, not reform. pic.twitter.com/z3WZg7hN2D
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) June 7, 2020
In other news, Mayor Ted Wheeler's decision NOT to ban tear gas in Portland as he hinted he might last night is... ummm... not going well.
UPDATE 6:45 PM: Defying the occasional cloudbursts, a very large crowd is gathering at Revolution Hall in SE Portland—the spot of the nightly kickoff. Breaking from tradition, tonight's march is scheduled to head to Irving Park (707 NE Fremont) where we'll be hearing from various inspirational speakers.
By the way, if you suspect you may have a run-in with the cops, keep these tips in mind:
If you're protesting this weekend, know these tips:
✖️Write important phone numbers, like legal aid, on your body
✖️Identify an emergency contact and protest buddy
✖️Turn your phone on airplane mode when not in use
✖️Disable your phone's Face or Touch IDhttps://t.co/f8V0ahQQw5
— ACLU (@ACLU) June 6, 2020
At Revolution Hall, speakers are thanking people for coming out and continuing to support the movement. "We don't have an end date" for stopping these protests, they say. "No justice, no peace. We're here until that happens. Bring more people with you... text 50 people you know, because we're going to be out here every day at 6 pm."
ORIGINAL POST 6 PM: Hello, and welcome to the NINTH night of the Mercury's protest liveblog coverage! (Time off? Who needs it?) For those just joining us, Portland has been turning out in the thousands practically every night for the last week to support Black lives, and to protest against systemic racism and the police brutality that ended the lives of Black Americans like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The nights have roughly started off the same, with thousands marching into downtown, followed by inspirational speeches, loud protests in front of the Multnomah County Justice Center, and ending with riot cops chasing protesters around town and firing tear gas and various munitions.
Last night was a little different: Mayor Ted Wheeler (to his credit) came out to talk in person to protesters and took a lot of guff for his trouble. However, he also bemoaned the police's use of tear gas, saying we should follow in the footsteps of Seattle who banned tear gas in their city for 30 days, and that his office would have "an announcement" about that today. Well, that "announcement" wasn't much to write home about—in fact, Mayor Wheeler's suggestion wasn't much different than what is already being enforced, that the police should only use tear gas under life-threatening emergencies. Unfortunately, the Portland Police feel like their lives are being threatened a LOT these days. Mostly by plastic water bottles.
We are sharing this video taken by our criminalists from last night’s demonstration when a civil disturbance and unlawful assembly occurred. It provides a perspective not usually seen or broadcast. pic.twitter.com/1sHPfPJrBp
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 7, 2020
(Frankly, way back in time when I performed in punk bands, I had much worse thrown at me... mostly because our band was terrible. BUT I WASN'T WEARING RIOT GEAR.)
Anyway! Let's see what happens tonight. Did Mayor Wheeler's wishy-washy announcement give the green light for even more tear gas? Or will the rain dampen everyone's spirits? Stick with us to find out! Tonight the Mercury will be represented on the ground by the reporting smarts of our Blair Stenvick and the esteemed Tuck Woodstock. Follow them on Twitter for minute-to-minute updates, and this liveblog for the overview. Good luck to all out there, and I hope you all brought your running galoshes.