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Well, this is going to make for an interesting night. I guess thereâs no better time to tell yâall Iâll be The @Oregonianâs on-the-ground reporter for tonightâs demonstrations. Iâll be joined by @markwgraves, tweeting sporadically as I feed the newsroom. Iâll post a link later. https://twitter.com/usao_or/status/1284674730826571777
If youâd like a glimpse at where in Portland tonightâs demonstrations will be and not be, I published a story earlier today to give you an idea of the geographical area youâll likely see on newscasts tonight: https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2020/07/feds-right-wing-media-paint-portland-as-city-under-siege-a-tour-of-town-shows-otherwise.html?outputType=amp#click=https://t.co/5KibwNAWmH
. @CelinaTebor has an excellent rundown of the events planned across the city today, from rallies in Lents to the waterfront to the Justice Center, many of which will likely collect in front of the courthouse. https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/07/saturday-evening-protests-planned-at-holladay-and-peninsula-parks.html
Hereâs a short list of other journos who will be out tonight covering the eveningâs demonstrations. Give âme a follow and send âem some cash â many are freelancers or independent journalists! https://twitter.com/alex_zee/status/1284689116966207489?s=21 https://twitter.com/alex_zee/status/1284689116966207489
So, someone earlier said my âjob is secure and no one tries to hurtâ me when I cover protests. Iâve had folks threaten my physical safety, stared down the barrel of a police weapon loaded with less-than-lethal rounds and ... well, this place holds some significance ...
Another demonstration is also happening at the PPB North precinct. @BlairStenvick is out there, as is @SmileItsNathan: https://twitter.com/alex_zee/status/1284702164862955520?s=21 https://twitter.com/alex_zee/status/1284702164862955520
For updates on what happens downtown throughout the night, check out this post, which will be updated with 
by @markwgraves and 
by yours truly. https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/07/saturday-evening-protests-planned-at-holladay-and-peninsula-parks.html
by @markwgraves and by yours truly. https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/07/saturday-evening-protests-planned-at-holladay-and-peninsula-parks.html
Why, hereâs another one to follow: The student paper at South Salem High. @eddybinfordross is out here for the (second?) night in a row chronicling Portlandâs demonstrations. https://twitter.com/clypian/status/1284702280462163968?s=21 https://twitter.com/clypian/status/1284702280462163968
A little bit of context to tonightâs demonstrations. The biggest point of contention is the presence of federal police in Portland. The president in early June pledged to send military to tamp down on protests against systemic injustice. https://www.oregonlive.com/nation/2020/06/trump-declares-himself-president-of-law-and-order-threatens-use-of-military-on-protesters.html
The declaration was mostly bluster, an attempt to bolster his sagging approval as dual crises threatened his re-election hopes. He ended up sending federal police to Portland, one of whom shot a protester in the head with less-lethal munitions this month. https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/07/police-shoot-portland-protester-in-head-with-impact-weapon-causing-severe-injuries.html
Protests were starting to quell on their own in part because local police were restricted in when they could deploy tear gas to disperse crowds that have gathered downtown for nearly two months. https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/07/city-of-portland-now-faces-a-3rd-class-action-lawsuit-over-police-use-of-force-at-protests.html
But the feds arenât bound by the same rules. So when one of them shot a 26-yo demonstrator in the head and @OPB reported they were grabbing protesters from unmarked vehicles, another lawsuit came, this time from state leaders. https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/07/oregon-will-sue-federal-police-agencies-open-criminal-investigation-into-use-of-force.html
Side note: @MrOlmos is also out here! https://twitter.com/mrolmos/status/1284710708710522881?s=21 https://twitter.com/mrolmos/status/1284710708710522881
Demonstrators were earlier dismantling the fence surrounding Chapman Square and stacking it against the Justice Center. Theyâre now dismantling the fence in front of the federal courthouse. https://twitter.com/oregonian/status/1284713407078232064?s=21 https://twitter.com/oregonian/status/1284713407078232064
The cool thing about wearing glasses is that wearing a mask gets them all fogged up and limits your vision so letâs see how things go as the night progresses!
