About 200 people are hollering and cheering under the big canopy outside Ankeny Plaza, starting to march toward downtown banks, the next phase in today’s N17 day of action. According to the Oregonian‘s Twitter feed, the Chase branch on SW Yamhill has already done the protesters a favor, and locked itself down.
“That’s great. They’re shaking,” one facilitator told a group of occupiers who plan to support anyone who wants to be arrested today.
The plan for the march isn’t clear, but occupiers are trying to get one point across: “Do not condone property damage.” Tactics instead will include congesting bank lines by flooding them with presumably happy customers, and also a good-old-fashioned sit-in. Occupiers also appear willing to sit in front of closed bank branches to keep them from reopening as long as possible.
Sarah Mirk just tweeted:
Big crowd at #n17pdx getting ready to march. Small teams deploying ahead to banks. 43 bike cops waiting. Ready to roll! #opdx
Meanwhile, it seems 25 people were arrested on the Steel Bridge, with the Salem Statesman Journal reporting that one of those arrested is the executive director of the influential Service Employees International Union.
The police presence so far has been light at Ankeny, dozens of bike officers and nary a tactical helmet to be seen. Yet. Police are warning protesters to stay on the sidewalk and obey traffic lights. Keep up to date on the latest by following myself and Sarah on Twitter. And don’t forget to check Blogtown, too!
March going by outside my window now. it’s really long. I guess with the addition of union people. Passed right by a BofA branch as best I can tell. Headed towards Pioneer I would guess. Maybe back to Chapman and Lownsdale. That would be kind of funny.
Blabby, why are you indoors and not out there shaking your fist at them?! GET OFF MY…AREA BY MY OFFICE.
Get off my general environs you damned dirty kids!!
Actually, I was just thinking about how much easier it is for me to support actions like this rather than the camp. Can’t even put my finger on just why that is. Need to think it over.
I’m all about it as long as it stays on message. The camp just devolved into a hissy fit about cops and wanting the mayor to resign. That does nothing to illuminate the institutional economic disparity in this country and is only detrimental to real informed debate.
Also, my father in law was very worried about the trees in the park. That many people on the ground compacts the soil and damages the root systems. C’mon, guys. I shouldn’t have to tell you this. For real.
Definitely nice to see this movement with a purpose – agree with Marq.