UPDATE 6 PM: Meanwhile back at King Elementary Park, Suzette has returned from rightly scolding someone for leaving their dog in a hot car (SERIOUSLY DUDE???) and is listening to speakers there.
He encourages Black youth, especially women, to go into politics. “Until you have representation that looks like this crowd you can’t change things. There’s a new DA coming in. You need to be in the DA’s office to put pressure on him.”
— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) June 20, 2020
Meanwhile back on I-5:
Crowd now turning around, plans to march back to a Vancouver, WA park pic.twitter.com/1ASz2D4Fjh
— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) June 20, 2020
And here's an update on that Joey Gibson sighting: Apparently he's just marching around with an American flag, ranting about how his friend's dog grooming business can't reopen, and everyone's totally ignoring him. Sounds like a plan!
So this seems like a good time for the Mercury crew to take a dinner break/cat nap, BUT WE SHALL RETURN TONIGHT STARTING AT 8:30 PM for continued coverage of the Juneteenth celebrations and protests. STAY WITH US!
Oh, but before we leave, let's wave so long to the toppled slave-owner. BYE BOI!
And away it goes. George Washington statue is going to be taken to some sort of city facility for storage, per PBOT’s Chris Warner who’s here monitoring. RACC, which maintains the statue, is still figuring out what they’re going to do with it. pic.twitter.com/Uc3O5Z683v
— Rebecca Ellis (@Rjaellis) June 19, 2020
UPDATE 5:30 PM: The I-5 march is still going strong.
Taking a knee on the bridge pic.twitter.com/SDb5kYtziJ
— jonathan house (@jonhouse_) June 20, 2020
Ezekiel Hunt shares how he’s feeling as he marches across the I5 bridge from Vancouver to Portland. #vanwa #vancouverwa #JuneteenthDay #JUNETEENTH2020 pic.twitter.com/EO6wp7OLKv
— William Campbell (@wtcampbell) June 20, 2020
So far the mood of the march has been uplifting, jubilant, and... oh, oh. Look out... SHIT HEAD ALERT!
Joey Gibson is here pic.twitter.com/WJSXesAOz0
— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) June 20, 2020
UPDATE 5:15 PM: At Terry Schrunk, people continue to speak uncomfortable truths.
A 17-year-old boy says, in North Portland, “Black people are being replaced by Black Lives Matter signs.”
— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) June 19, 2020
The Terry Schrunk rally is over, the group recommends headed down to @RoseCityJustice tonight for the nightly rally and march. I’ll likely be back down here for tonight’s expected JC protest.
— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) June 20, 2020
And at King School Park:
Elmore is on the board of Directors for Word is Bond, an organization whose mission is to build positivite relationships between Black men and law enforcement. “Young men, if you’ve had a problem with police, come to Word Is Bond,” he says. “Learn your rights.”
— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) June 19, 2020
Meanwhile the march from Vancouver has kicked off, and YEP... THEY'RE ON INTERSTATE 5.
pic.twitter.com/L0U13GIhMC
— William Campbell (@wtcampbell) June 20, 2020
UPDATE- Protesters are marching onto I-5 S. Avoid area and take 205 if possible. pic.twitter.com/pTB1P2xxAj
— Katherine Cook (@KCookKGW) June 20, 2020
Nothing like a counter-protest to a march celebrating the end of slavery. https://t.co/w4jqmfaLgN
— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) June 20, 2020
UPDATE 4:45 PM: A Juneteenth dance party at Terry Schrunk.
There is now a dance party happening in the middle of Terry Schrunk Plaza. #Juneteenth @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/HuSONRdx8T
— Drew Reeves (@DrewReevesTV) June 19, 2020
Meanwhile, speakers take the stage at King School Park.
“Today is a day to celebrate Black lives”
Speakers are taking the stage near King School Park. #Juneteenth #Portland @KOINNews pic.twitter.com/1Jjl6ZLS5T
— Jacquelyn Abad (@JacquelynAbadTV) June 19, 2020
Keeping an eye on this!
Happening now- Protesters are gathering in Esther Short Park in Vancouver. Rally oganizers said they planned to march to the I-5 bridge. Police say bridge and freeway traffic could be impacted by the event. https://t.co/fOi0xcgWvA pic.twitter.com/okVCLQp8LA
— Katherine Cook (@KCookKGW) June 19, 2020
A few Vancouver Police officers are coordinating safety measures for the protesters. pic.twitter.com/cgkbvyfFef
— William Campbell (@wtcampbell) June 19, 2020
UPDATE 4:15 PM: The Celebration of Black Lives march has kicked off and our Suzette Smith reports that it's so large she can't see the end.
Was in a signal dead zone for blocks and blocks, but the march has left Penninsula Park, walked east on N Rosa Parks and niw heading south in NE MLK Blvd. pic.twitter.com/85Oson36RL
— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) June 19, 2020
A look at the front of the march.
They are now heading down Martin Luther King Blvd Jr Blvd. @KOINNews pic.twitter.com/GU2n3RlhZb
— Jacquelyn Abad (@JacquelynAbadTV) June 19, 2020
And they have arrived at their destination:
Now turning south on NE 7th, arriving at King Elementary. pic.twitter.com/NVfgJGvjG4
— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) June 19, 2020
Meanwhile at Terry Schrunk:
Vibe check: Group is probably 1,500, seeing a lot of families, kids with adorably tiny masks, dogs, etc. everyone is wearing a mask! I honestly haven’t seen a single unmasked human. pic.twitter.com/eTmsrf7k6y
— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) June 19, 2020
And regardless of whether Portland's George Washington statue "tripped" or was pushed, this is one slave-owner who is officially GONE.
Just spoke with the Regional Arts & Culture Council.
George Washington statue in Portland will be removed by crane TODAY and put in storage. No long term decisions made regarding reinstallation.
Spokeswoman for RACC says statue caused “harm” pic.twitter.com/7S0wQUY68y
— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) June 19, 2020
UPDATE 3:45 PM: Our Suzette Smith is in chill mode already at the Celebration of Black Lives march, kicking off soon from Peninsula Park.
Suuuuper beautiful day for the Celebration of Black Lives march from Peninsula Park in N Portland to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in NE. Attendees stream into the park and the shady spots fill up quick! pic.twitter.com/gszcrrEm8g
— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) June 19, 2020
Meanwhile our Alex Zee is at Terry Schrunk Plaza listening to the crowd getting righteously schooled by Black youth about Portland's racist past and present.
A recent HS grad who grew up in Portland’s Alberta neighborhood explains how redlining and eminient domain destroyed the historically Black neighborhood. “Even before coronavirus, people would cross the street when I was walking towards them.”
— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) June 19, 2020
“We all know we are living in a city, in a state that wasn’t made for us.” https://t.co/VCPkuFRfRz
— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) June 19, 2020
Oh, and re: that statue of slave-owner George Washington on Sandy that was toppled last night by protesters? Apparently we've been reporting that all wrong!
George Washington just tripped and fell we all saw it
— PNW Youth Liberation Front (@PNWYLF) June 19, 2020
ORIGINAL POST 3:15 PM: Hello and welcome back to the Mercury's obsessive coverage of Portland's protests against police brutality. After 17 straight days of nightly coverage, we took a short break to recharge our batteries, and now we're back on the ground, reporting to you and holding the police accountable.
Today you'll be enjoying reporting from our own Alex Zielinski who is starting the day at Terry Schrunk Plaza for a youth-led Juneteenth rally, and Suzette Smith who's currently holding it down at the Celebration of Black Lives march from Peninsula Park to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. Follow them both on Twitter for minute-to-minute updates, and this rolling live blog for the big picture on happenings all over the city today and tonight.
Thanks for joining us, and stay tuned for more!
