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Walking up to the JC. The crowd looks pretty massive. Few hundred at least.
I'm supposed to speak at the Hip Hop event later. No clue what time.
Joann Hardesty's candlelight vigil has merged. Not fully sure what to expect.
I'm supposed to speak at the Hip Hop event later. No clue what time.
Joann Hardesty's candlelight vigil has merged. Not fully sure what to expect.
@JoAnnPDX is talking about wanting the feds to leave so that Portlanders can get back to our internal discussion.
She points to this joining of forces with the already scheduled Hip Hop event as proof that protesters can work together.
Also asked for the crowd to stay PG13.
She points to this joining of forces with the already scheduled Hip Hop event as proof that protesters can work together.
Also asked for the crowd to stay PG13.
Ashanti, one of the Hip Hop Stands Up crew, addresses the crowd.
With the parks closed and the crowd swelling to over 300, 3rd is effectively closed from Salmon to Madison.
Meanwhile, some rabbi is singing "We Shall Not Be Moved".
It's very Disney.
Meanwhile, some rabbi is singing "We Shall Not Be Moved".
It's very Disney.
White male named Will Lang just hopped on the mic with a guitar. He says we're singing "This Little Light of Mine in D". He's requesting lighters out but it's broad daylight.
These openers suck lolllllll
These openers suck lolllllll
A few people in the crowd are vocally irritated with the "white people kumbaya shit".
Competing speakers pull up.
Oh boy.
Competing speakers pull up.
Oh boy.
Competing speaker is saying on repeat, "Fuck the Portland Police. There is no peace till we get Justice."
Joann is trying to talk over it. Young people in the crowd are asking her where she's been.
Joann announces she's working on oversight.
Joann is trying to talk over it. Young people in the crowd are asking her where she's been.
Joann announces she's working on oversight.
Joann chants "No Peace!" Then says we're here for peaceful protest.
The crowd got really loud with boo sounds but Joann was able to finish and introduce an elderly man she says was a Black Panther.
He got on the mic and said the names of popularly murdered Black people.
The crowd got really loud with boo sounds but Joann was able to finish and introduce an elderly man she says was a Black Panther.
He got on the mic and said the names of popularly murdered Black people.
Free food; a staple at any decent Portland protest.
@RandalWyatt speaks about his new charity venture "Taking Ownership" where he is raising money to help the less fortunate with home repairs. An amazing effort.
He is about to rap too but the music is not working, so now he's telling jokes.
He is about to rap too but the music is not working, so now he's telling jokes.
Randal is rapping. Women are shrieking. Things feel almost normal.
Joann seems to have left with her fans after her set, breaking Hip Hop show rules but whatevs.
The group that was chastising Joann has migrated to the outskirts to dance to music out of a portable speaker.
Joann seems to have left with her fans after her set, breaking Hip Hop show rules but whatevs.
The group that was chastising Joann has migrated to the outskirts to dance to music out of a portable speaker.
Ashanti back on the mic, introduces @candaceforpdx.
Says the feds need to go. Man with megaphone asks her how we do that. Candace says maybe somebody in office can answer that. Goes on to denounce local police violence, and insists that direct democracy is what brings change.
Says the feds need to go. Man with megaphone asks her how we do that. Candace says maybe somebody in office can answer that. Goes on to denounce local police violence, and insists that direct democracy is what brings change.
Rabbi Kalodny returned to the mic. She demands that the police follow the law.
Megaphone Guy asks her how we get them to do that, and she responded by reading off a list of specific demands for police reform.
Megaphone Guy asks her how we get them to do that, and she responded by reading off a list of specific demands for police reform.
Rapper named "Xaii Kuu" on the mic. Joanne had reappeared on the stairs and is bobbing her head.
A pair of ads just interrupted the set. Xaii apologizes and says his beats are streaming on SoundCloud and all the young Black people start laughing.
Lakayana Drury is giving a rousing speech.
Lots of fists up.
Lots of fists up.
Oh shit. I just spoke. That came up faster than I thought. Gave the crowd a little acapella.
You guys missed it.
Oh and the fence is coming down. Also there seems to be an altercation between people with megaphones.
You guys missed it.
Oh and the fence is coming down. Also there seems to be an altercation between people with megaphones.
Casey Jama (sp?) gave a great speech about defunding the police and reclaiming these streets.
@SeemabHussaini, vice chair of CAIR, is the closing speaker. Discusses the atrocities committed by cops he has witnessed & investigated over the last 50 days of protest.
FIFTY DAYS???
@SeemabHussaini, vice chair of CAIR, is the closing speaker. Discusses the atrocities committed by cops he has witnessed & investigated over the last 50 days of protest.
FIFTY DAYS???
@SeemabHussaini gives @JoAnnPDX credit for her work on getting rid of the JTTF, a campaign promise fulfilled.
Discusses the callousness of Federal troops in our city, laughing as they toss tear gas canisters.
A white man in the audience keeps yelling JoAnn for mayor.
Discusses the callousness of Federal troops in our city, laughing as they toss tear gas canisters.
A white man in the audience keeps yelling JoAnn for mayor.
@JoAnnPDX is shouting out elected officials present, mentioned @tedwheeler is doing a cable interview, and the crowd booed.
JoAnn insists she needs us to work with her to fix the broken system while she works to defund and abolish police. Crowd ate it up.
JoAnn insists she needs us to work with her to fix the broken system while she works to defund and abolish police. Crowd ate it up.
JoAnn passed the mic to the rappers to get the show started. Timmy Turnup, Zane, C3 and @CoolNutz on the docket.
Crowd has swelled to what seems like 1000 ppl... the parks have been fully re-occupied.
Crowd has swelled to what seems like 1000 ppl... the parks have been fully re-occupied.
Drunk Black older rapper took exception to Timmy rapping about lean at a protest.
Fight diffused. @CoolNutz and @DJFatboy get on the stairs and start rocking.
Police show up and announce something near the park but I can't hear them.
Fight diffused. @CoolNutz and @DJFatboy get on the stairs and start rocking.
Police show up and announce something near the park but I can't hear them.
Cops have stated that they are putting the fence back. Warning people not to interfere.
They would be crazy to challenge this giant crowd with a concert going in.
The chanting had begun across the park as Zane raps.
They would be crazy to challenge this giant crowd with a concert going in.
The chanting had begun across the park as Zane raps.
