Today’s news summary: Crowd control workgroup meeting, grand jury indictment for use of laser during protest, breakdown of Portland police arrests since May 2020
KOIN: Grand jury indicts man for laser use during protest (during demonstrations on August 25, 2020)
Today’s news summary: Call for input on police use of force, report released on BLM protest violence, panel discussion later this month with Portland protest journalists
Oregonian: Black Lives Matter protests undercut by ‘disinformation;’ violence risk is high in run-up to election: U.S. Crisis Monitor report (Portland mentioned in report and this article)
Portland Mercury: Eyes on the Ground: A Conversation with Portland’s Protest Journalists (Sept 22)
Today’s news summary: Protest at Portland Juvenile Justice Center, reports on Donald Trump approving of extrajudicial killings of suspects, podcast interviews with photographer Justin Yau and Oregonian video producer Brooke Herbert.
KOIN: Protest at juvenile detention center in Portland ends peacefully, smoke from wildfires puts damper on Black Lives Matter protests in recent days
Oregonian: President Trump on fatal police shooting of Portland homicide suspect Michael Reinoehl: ‘That’s the way it has to be. There has to be retribution’
Rolling Stone: Trump Calls for ‘Retribution,’ Not Justice, in Portland Shooting
KBOO: TRIPP-P podcast interview with Independent Journalist Justin Yau. Yau is a photographer and journalist, has covered protests in Hong Kong and has been documenting the Portland Protests which began after the death of George Floyd in late May.
Oregonian: Beat Check podcast on putting together the 100 days of Portland protest video (interview with producer Brooke Herbert)
Today’s news summary: First person undercover account of Trump rally in Salem, Oregon, followup on Portland shooting suspect, comments on effect of Oregon wildfires on protest efforts.
Medium: Highway to Inferno: On the Road with the Oregon Proud Boys
Oregonian: Michael Reinoehl died from gunshot wounds to head and upper torso, autopsy found
Today’s news summary: Response to new poll on protests, info on review of videos of federal law enforcement actions in Portland, Portland police bureau objects to recent action by Mayor Ted Wheeler to ban use of CS gas by Portland police
Oregon Public Broadcasting: Oregon voters say Portland protests now do more harm than good, new poll says
Portland Mercury: Portland Police Decry Mayor Wheeler’s Decision to Ban Tear Gas
Portland Police Bureau: Press release objecting to Wheeler’s decision on banning use of CS gas
This is the first of a series of explainers which will provide background on the protest situation in Portland, Oregon. Addition explainers will cover information on the people/organizations involved in the protests, and a history of racism in Oregon.
Protests have been occurring in the United States since the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in late May 2020. These protests focused on police brutality in Minneapolis and other parts of the United States, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Portland has had protests for over 100 days since the killing of George Floyd. From Wikipedia:
Some of the protests in Portland have been peaceful, but some have involved injury, vandalism, arson, looting, and heated confrontations with police and counter-protesters, sometimes involving injury to protesters and police, declaration of riot, and use of tear gas and other less-lethal weapons. One person was shot and killed in a clash between protesters and counter-protesters.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Floyd_protests_in_Portland,_Oregon
Portland has had a history of police brutality, and the state of Oregon has had a racist history These past events have spurred organizers to pressure the City of Portland to divert funding from the Portland Police Bureau to programs to address needs of the Black community ($15 million diverted in June 2020).
While the evening protests focusing on Black Lives Matter have had considerable police resources used against them, events like the Proud Boys rally in Portland on August 22nd and in Salem on September 7th had little to no police involvement.
This website (Portland Protest News) is publishing a daily summary of protest-related news. A news river site (Andy Sylvester’s Portland Protests Reading List) collects news and information from Portland-area news media, reporters, groups involved in protests, and government officials. This news river site provides the raw material for the daily posts on Portland Protest News.
Today’s news summary: Protest at Portland ICE building, Mayor Ted Wheeler bans use of CS gas at protests by Portland police, legislative director for Oregon House speaker arrested in protest, survey/letters on reaction to protests, August protest statistics
Oregonian: Portland protests return to ICE building Wednesday after top DHS official criticizes city
City of Portland: Statement from Mayor Ted Wheeler banning use of CS gas by Portland police
Oregonian: Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler orders police to immediately stop using type of tear gas on protest crowds
Portland Mercury: After Months of Protests, Mayor Wheeler Bans CS Gas
Oregonian: Arrest of Oregon political figure for ‘interfering’ with Portland police calls new attention to the nebulous nature of that crime
Willamette Week: Most Oregonians Think Portland Protests Are Violent and Counterproductive (survey) – What’s more surprising is that support isn’t much greater in the Portland metro area, where 61% of voters disapprove.
The Skanner: Both the suspect and victim in Portland killing had gun (AP story)
The Skanner: A Reflection on the Police and Nighttime Protestors (letter from Portland resident)
KOIN: Record arrests, repeat offenders, dropped charges: August protest stats
Today’s news summary: Kid friendly march in afternoon, downtown protest at night with arrests (no coverage by mainstream media – ?), profile of photographers covering the Portland protests, 3 Portland police put on administrative duty by mayor Ted Wheeler due to actions taken during protests.
Willamette Week: A Cadre of Helmeted Guerrilla Filmmakers Is Coming to You Live From Portland’s Flaming Streets – Amid a heated atmosphere, two different storylines compete for Portlanders’ acceptance. Both are driven by video footage.
Oregon Public Broadcasting: Portland police officers placed on administrative duty under new protest direction from Mayor Ted Wheeler
Today’s news summary: Peaceful protest in North Portland, Proud Boys rally in Clackmas/Salem turns violent, several arrests, thoughts from JoAnn Hardesty on Labor Day, interviews with Oregonians outside Portland, response to effects of tear gas on neighborhood, response to recent editorials
KOIN: BLM supporter on Night 102: ‘Timing is ripe’ for real change
KOIN: Pro-Trump protesters and counter-protesters clash in Salem
New York Times: 100 Days of Protest: A Chasm Grows Between Portland And The Rest Of Oregon
Oregon Public Broadcasting: When Portland police use tear gas, protesters aren’t the only ones breathing it
Portland Mercury: Good Morning, News: Smokey Skies, Police Overtime Costs, and 100 Days of Portland Protests
We Out Here Magazine: Editorial in response to Oregonian editorial from last week, suggesting that Oregonian editorial board resign
We Out Here Magazine: Stay for the revolution (first hand account of protests)
Today’s news summary: Protest at NE Portland police precinct, 15 arrested, more calls for Ted Wheeler to resign, city council not able to meet due to vacations, families of police shootings talk about grief, community and next steps
Oregonian: Protest at NE Portland police precinct stays mostly calm Sunday as officers strike conciliatory tone: Key takeaways
KATU: Portland Police arrest 15 at Portland’s North Precinct where several fires started
KOIN: Night 101: Protests persist at North Precinct, 15 arrested
Street Roots: Editorial | Portland needs clear leadership on police reform – The mayor’s response to the protests is underwhelming. It’s time for city leaders to unite for meaningful change
Don’t Shoot PDX: 100 Days of Protest: We Thank You All
Oregonian: Portland City Council fractured and on vacation
Willamette Week: After Four Years of Attempting to Engage With Ted Wheeler About Police Accountability, Bobbin Singh Has Come to a Hard Conclusion: He Must Go – The executive director of the Oregon Justice Resource Center explains why he wants the mayor to resign, and what he and others mean when they say Portland is under the thumb of a “rogue police force.”
Oregon Public Broadcasting: Family members of Oregonians killed by police discuss grief, community and next steps (episode of the show “Think Out Loud”)