Checking in from Lownsdale Square in downtown Portland, where hundreds are gathered yet again and these community minded folks have free helmets on offer for anyone who wants head protection.

It’s early. The vibe is relaxed. The chants are centered in the road in front of the federal courthouse.

And: There’s an ersatz Elk Statue.

“The moms are here!” says one young man with evident delight. (The moms are here.)

Crowd estimates are tricky. Maybe 1,000 people here? More? Either way lots of them chanting “wake up motherfucker wake up!”

Just some signs as the chanting, drumming and ubiquitous pig-squeeze-toy squeezing echoes through the city’s civic nerve center.

Among elected officials I’ve recognized through face masks: Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran and Sen. Lew Frederick. “They need to go,” Frederick says of federal officers. Neither of them pictured below.

Interest is now shifting to the federal courthouse. The wall of moms moves up front and demonstrators begin banging on the boarded doors.

A couple folks hustle in sheets of plywood. “Feds go home!” Is again the chant

But a half block away, hundreds are still chanting in opposition to police violence and racism.

Did not take much for federal officers to emerge with munitions and smoke/gas this evening.

Officers pursue demonstrators only a ways, then back off. People immediately turn around amd head back to courthouse. More flashbangs and gas or smoke.

Lasers and spotlight from the courthouse roof. At least partly targeting people on the ground with lasers.

Rib stand folks hustle away with cases of water, many of them retching.

A line of officers cordons off the federal office building and Schrunk Plaza, generating attention and heckles.

A standoff ensues. Officers threaten pepper spray as people slowly gather around. Ultimately fall back.

Back at the courthouse, some good tomatoes have come to an untimely end.

The crowd has thinned a bit. Split into dance party vibe, messing with the courthouse and these folks.

Schrunk Plaza is surprisingly and delightfully chill.

But at the federal courthouse a bonfire has been lit in the portico.

Gas. Flashbangs.

A block away. But federal officers continue to gas people west.

Federal police once again press people back to fifth, using huge amounts of gas and pepper balls. Guy right next to me got tagged in the shoulder.

Police retreat back to initial line. A dwindling though not insubstantial crowd retakes it’s first position and the dance begins again. But i am breaking the pattern and headed home. I leave you with this recorder and these balloons.