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I’m at the Justice Center early to see Portland mayor Ted Wheeler do... whatever he’s going to do. Press is huddled at SW 3rd and Madison, waiting for the mayor to arrive. Protesters are already chanting “Fuck Ted Wheeler.”
Listen to the chant in this video of the ground lol.
Listen to the chant in this video of the ground lol.
Meanwhile, there are several hundred people roaming around in front of the Justice Center (Portland Police HQ) and federal courthouse (guarded by federal officers, obvi).
There’s food at @riotribs and booths selling shirts and literal children with protest signs. Weird vibes!
There’s food at @riotribs and booths selling shirts and literal children with protest signs. Weird vibes!
By “weird vibes” I mean “sort of like a fair but if everyone at the fair was somewhat worried about getting shot by the feds.”
The crowd sprawls behind the press scrum, spilling halfway down SW 3rd and SW Madison. Protesters hold various signs. (One says “gas me, Teddy”.) Drums are drumming and some people are chanting. We are all waiting for the mayor to arrive.
Ted Wheeler is slowly approaching, escorted by a large crowd of protesters chanting, you guessed it, “fuck Ted Wheeler.”
Ted Wheeler has arrived, pushing through a crowd of protesters and press. Protesters chant “Quit your job.” I am shoulder to shoulder with press and protesters. This is the closest I’ve been to people since March 
Someone affiliated with Mayor Wheeler is insisting that protesters let Wheeler talk.
“This is a listening session,” says Wheeler.
He thanks protesters for coming out and proceeds to talk about the feds. “Talk about PPB!” a protester shouts.
“This is a listening session,” says Wheeler.
He thanks protesters for coming out and proceeds to talk about the feds. “Talk about PPB!” a protester shouts.
“You’re all entitled to your opinion. I am not here to talk, but to listen. We will allow you to take the microphone, and I will listen.” Ted hands off the mic.
First up, a medic talks about being shot in the head with less-lethal munition while trying to help a bleeding protester.
Mic cuts out halfway through. Nobody on the mic now.
Behind us, a huge crowd chants “Black lives matter.”
Mic cuts out halfway through. Nobody on the mic now.
Behind us, a huge crowd chants “Black lives matter.”
Crowd is chanting “shame on you” so loud that I can barely hear this question by someone from @CAIROregon.
Ok, quiet now. “What are you going to commit to as far as changes in law enforcement and legislating the PPA and regulating Daryl Turner?”
Ok, quiet now. “What are you going to commit to as far as changes in law enforcement and legislating the PPA and regulating Daryl Turner?”
“There’s nothing i can do to regulate Daryl Turner, he’s a union official” said Wheeler.
Now talking about how he doesn’t like crowd control munitions because they aren’t targeted enough.
Now talking about how he doesn’t like crowd control munitions because they aren’t targeted enough.
“Resign now” is once again so loud that I can barely hear.
The person on the mic asks people to be quieter so that it’s easier to make the discussion accessible to more folks.
The person on the mic asks people to be quieter so that it’s easier to make the discussion accessible to more folks.
“Will you commit to working towards abolitioning the Portland Police Bureau? Yes or no?”
“No, i do not support—“ crowd screams so loud I can’t hear anything else.
“No, i do not support—“ crowd screams so loud I can’t hear anything else.
Crowd now chanting “abolish the police.”
Oooh, crowd is chanting “Ted shot us, too.” That’s a new one.
“I have a 9 year old son,” says the person on the mic. “What am I supposed to tell him? The police are killing us!”
I can’t hear the reply at all other than the phrase “allocating resources .... BIPOC communittees...”
I can’t hear the reply at all other than the phrase “allocating resources .... BIPOC communittees...”
Someone asks if Wheeler will reassign the police commissionership to @JoAnnPDX. He dodged the question twice but eventually gets pinned into saying, basically, “not at this time but I reserve the right to change my mind.”
This is being projected above Wheeler: Theodore, fancy seeing you here. These are our demands:
defund PPB by 50% at least and reinvest into the communities, especially the Black community
Free all protesters from jail
Feds out of Portland now
You Ted Wheeler need to resign
defund PPB by 50% at least and reinvest into the communities, especially the Black community
Free all protesters from jail
Feds out of Portland now
You Ted Wheeler need to resign
Someone is again asking everyone to back up so that people can see the sign language interpreter.
This is the scene behind and next to us: THOUSANDS of protesters jumping and chanting. Holy moly.
https://twitter.com/mrolmos/status/1286158819219783680?s=21 https://twitter.com/mrolmos/status/1286158819219783680
https://twitter.com/mrolmos/status/1286158819219783680?s=21 https://twitter.com/mrolmos/status/1286158819219783680
Whoa. The person on the mic said they paid for the interpreters themself? “Where is our access?” they ask.
Now I can’t hear because the drum line is so loud. I am only 4-5 rows back from Ted Wheeler. No idea if anyone here can actually hear other than the people watching live streams from the front.
Crowd near me is singing “nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey, fuck Ted.”
OK I’m getting out of the scrum because I can’t hear anything or breathe and there’s a pandemic.
Fresh air!!!!
The crowd is SO big. Thousands of people. It spills into Terry Shrunk Plaza and fills the majority of Chapman Square.
The bulk of the crowd is listening to Black protest leaders, who are on the steps of the Justice Center. Their PA system is MUCH louder.
The crowd is SO big. Thousands of people. It spills into Terry Shrunk Plaza and fills the majority of Chapman Square.
The bulk of the crowd is listening to Black protest leaders, who are on the steps of the Justice Center. Their PA system is MUCH louder.
Y’all, Ted followed me! He just walked to the Justice Center steps with the good PA system. (I heard he was encouraged to do that by the crowd.)
The Black person currently on the mic is encouraging Wheeler not to leave after he’s done speaking. They want him to stick around for the tear gas.
“The reason i am here tonight is to stand with you no matter what. If they launch tear gas against you, they launch the tear gas against me” says @tedwheeler
The crowd cheers! Wow, very different vibes than it was half a block away.
The crowd cheers! Wow, very different vibes than it was half a block away.
The man on the mic is now encouraging people not to boo Ted. “I know some of you want to stay mad, but this is bigger than that,” he says.
Not to start any extremely niche shit but I think all the folks up here are Protest Bureau.
Not to start any extremely niche shit but I think all the folks up here are Protest Bureau.
Teal (young Black leader) just told Ted that if he disagrees with the feds, he should make sure PPB isn’t doing the same thing.
I think Teal called him “Fed Wheeler.”
I think Teal called him “Fed Wheeler.”
Forgot to mention that at some point the guy on the mic said “Black lives matter” with the fist and then Ted Wheeler said “Black lives matter” with the fist and people cheered? Where am I.
Crowd is getting restless. Teal tells the crowd to “shut the fuck up” and Ted laughs. “We can’t hear his feelings,” Teal says. “Well, i don’t care about his feelings, but I want to hear his answers to our questions.” (That’s slightly paraphrased.)
“Why are you doing this now?” says Teal. “We’ve been out here for 57 days.”
Here’s the scene: Ted Wheeler with Black protest leaders on the Justice Center steps. Thousands and thousands of Portlanders listening. Many wearing helmets and/or yellow shirts. Some holding signs or big peace signs.
If I’m hearing correctly, a man asked Ted to commit to creating a community-led response team for 911 calls, which is essentially Portland Street Response. Ted said “not only can I commit, I’m already working on it.” And then the man said “we just made history!” Like it was new?
Some of the Protest Bureau people are really insistent that people to listen to Ted Wheeler and not argue. They point out that he is the commissioner in charge of Portland Police, and the mayor, so they want to know what he has to say.
There is now a disagreement on the Justice Center steps about how to protest and also a larger disagreement in the crowd.
Someone just yelled “all voices matter, give him the mic” and I don’t know who they’re referring to but I just reflexively said “whoa” out loud.
Someone just yelled “all voices matter, give him the mic” and I don’t know who they’re referring to but I just reflexively said “whoa” out loud.
Someone just yelled “we don’t even know him,” and again, idk who it refers to.
Ted leaves the Justice Center steps.
This man is not affiliated with the other folks who have been speaking earlier (Protest Bureau).
“I’m not here for performative shit,” he says. “Do you want to vote for police oversight in November?”
“No”
“What do we want?”
“Defund the police!”
“I’m not here for performative shit,” he says. “Do you want to vote for police oversight in November?”
“No”
“What do we want?”
“Defund the police!”
New person on the mic. “Ted Wheeler just came up here and talked a bunch of bullshit!” they say. “We want him to resign, period. We do not want police reform. History has shown us that reform does not work. We want complete abolition, period.”
The speaker is now going through the demands on the projection I mentioned earlier, which has moved to the JC steps. Quoted below
https://twitter.com/tuckwoodstock/status/1286159052108492800?s=21 https://twitter.com/tuckwoodstock/status/1286159052108492800
https://twitter.com/tuckwoodstock/status/1286159052108492800?s=21 https://twitter.com/tuckwoodstock/status/1286159052108492800
I tried to run a caption app on this but it’s not working. If someone could transcribe below, that would be great!
This person just said “fuck Ted Wheeler” so it’s definitely a tonal shift from the speaker who was on the mic earlier, urging the crowd to listen calmly. 
Next speaker is a lifelong Portlander, talking about gentrification in Portland.
Again, if someone could caption, that would be amazing! Too much is happening rn for me to be able to do it.
Again, if someone could caption, that would be amazing! Too much is happening rn for me to be able to do it.
More photos of the huge crowds. Most wearing yellow or black. Many holding peace signs or signs. Many wearing helmets.
“Remember that it was 54 days before Ted Wheeler came out here!” they say. “54 days!”
(I think it’s 55 but who is counting?)
(I think it’s 55 but who is counting?)
Someone’s setting off fireworks by the justice center and, reader, the crowd is nervous.
Ted Wheeler is having another tiny press conference / listening session by this tree, just north of the Justice Center steps. He is surrounded by people holding up phones and cameras. Fireworks go off in the background.
I just heard the feds on the LRAD at the justice center, where people are setting off fireworks. Headed through the crowd. It is PACKED. Literally not seen anything like this since the Before Times (February)
Ok. I’m at the new fence around the courthouse. LRAD is telling protesters not to tamper with the fence. Classic!
There’s a small trash fire behind the fence, somehow. It’s putting out a lot of smoke that looks too much like tear gas. People are shaking the fence.
Keep in mind that this is happening less than a block away from where Ted Wheeler was/is standing. (He was there when I wandered over here.)
Update: he’s still there, a block away:
https://twitter.com/kwadesays/status/1286178256975060992?s=21 https://twitter.com/kwadesays/status/1286178256975060992
https://twitter.com/kwadesays/status/1286178256975060992?s=21 https://twitter.com/kwadesays/status/1286178256975060992
LOTS of fence shaking. Lots of reminders that shaking the fence may result in arrest or crowd control munitions.
Do you think federal agents are going to use tear gas while Ted Wheeler is here?
Big firework goes off next to the fence, or possibly behind the fence. People flinch and then cheer.
The crowd over here is quite young. The mom-bloc and dad-bloc folks are still over by the Justice Center, I think.
Oh, I’m told that mom-bloc recently marched away.
Surprised because last night, I was told they went through several rounds of tear gas.
Surprised because last night, I was told they went through several rounds of tear gas.
But @SnackVanTM is here, if you were wondering (you were).
Dang, I missed this, but protesters tossed grills (that the federal agents gassed) over the fence at the courthouse.
No officers were/are present. They’re just laying on the pavement behind the fence. https://twitter.com/sarahmirk/status/1286173977363193857
No officers were/are present. They’re just laying on the pavement behind the fence. https://twitter.com/sarahmirk/status/1286173977363193857
Cory says there’s a door to the fence?
https://twitter.com/therealcoryelia/status/1286181244938489856?s=21 https://twitter.com/therealcoryelia/status/1286181244938489856
https://twitter.com/therealcoryelia/status/1286181244938489856?s=21 https://twitter.com/therealcoryelia/status/1286181244938489856
I heard a rumor that the city had removed all the benches from Lownsdale, the park next to the courthouse, where @riotribs lives. Lindsey just confirmed it!
https://twitter.com/lindseypsmith7/status/1286181359799529472?s=21 https://twitter.com/lindseypsmith7/status/1286181359799529472
https://twitter.com/lindseypsmith7/status/1286181359799529472?s=21 https://twitter.com/lindseypsmith7/status/1286181359799529472
I just got this DM re/ the moms leaving:
“They asked the moms to leave. Ted Wheeler said he would hold the line, so we’re letting him hold the line. The organizers and Black leaders asked us to go home and come back tomorrow.”
Anyone seen Ted? Is he holding the line?
“They asked the moms to leave. Ted Wheeler said he would hold the line, so we’re letting him hold the line. The organizers and Black leaders asked us to go home and come back tomorrow.”
Anyone seen Ted? Is he holding the line?
Meanwhile, the fire behind the fence seems to be growing.
Oh, this is why: people are behind the fence, presumably stoking the fire
A federal officer keeps saying “leave now or you’ll be subject to arrest!”
https://twitter.com/donovanfarley/status/1286182987336282113?s=21 https://twitter.com/donovanfarley/status/1286182987336282113
A federal officer keeps saying “leave now or you’ll be subject to arrest!”
https://twitter.com/donovanfarley/status/1286182987336282113?s=21 https://twitter.com/donovanfarley/status/1286182987336282113
Sorry can’t see lol
So I was trying to leave the tear gas (videos to come later) and realized that the lights are out in Lowsndale park? Wow, walking through a park filled with obstacles in the dark with your eyes 80% closed is bad!
Anyway, I guess Ted got gassed???? The “tear gas teddy” chants come to fruition.
(I can’t confirm I’m just guessing because it’s spicy as hell here)
(I can’t confirm I’m just guessing because it’s spicy as hell here)
Apparently @IwriteOK streamed the mayor getting gassed??? Incredible. What a time.
I can hear leaf blowers going back at the courthouse, trying to clear the tear gas.
The street outside the courthouse is already completely full of protesters again. Many dispersed and came back, but I think some held the line and never left.
This is the end of the line that I saw staying through the tear gas. Lots of umbrellas.
Drum line going strong back outside the courthouse.
In the middle of this mass of people is @tedwheeler, who did, in fact, hold the line. No gas mask, either.
I have a journalism student with me and I just want to say that they crushed the dispersal. Put on swim goggles and then had to stand around for 5 minutes until I could see again. A legend.
Here’s the last video I got before I got gassed out of the street, featuring a leaf blower and a big firework. The fire still burns behind the fence.
Crowd is chanting “fuck Ted Wheeler” at Ted Wheeler as he stands at the fence.
The doors to the courthouse are ominously open. Hard to see through the fence but:
There’s a white protester behind the fence, approaching the door with their hands up. Federal agents suddenly ran out of the door and pulled the person inside.
Flash grenade just went off. I got hit by shrapnel standing across the street.
(I’m 500% fine.)
There more tear gas. Wheeler is surrounded by other press so I’m sure you are watching him hold the line.
I actually didn’t feel the gas, but people around me were choking and coughing and yelling for medics and water, so I’m going to back up early for once.
I actually didn’t feel the gas, but people around me were choking and coughing and yelling for medics and water, so I’m going to back up early for once.
The journalism student with me brought their own saline solution! A genius!
“Attention attention attention! If you are on federal property, leave now or you are subject to arrest”
Half of the street outside the courthouse is federal property.
Half of the street outside the courthouse is federal property.
Ok I’m back at the steeet. Someone is wheeling a grill around. I feel more shrapnel. More gas is comingZ
Gas and the tail end of a firework
TONS of gas. Saw Ted Wheeler’s press scrum finally backing away from the fence.
A Black man next to me was coughing and throwing up so much from gas that I had to wait 30 seconds before I could even give him an eye wash. (Did you know that breaks journalistic ethics? Whatever.)
A Black man next to me was coughing and throwing up so much from gas that I had to wait 30 seconds before I could even give him an eye wash. (Did you know that breaks journalistic ethics? Whatever.)
Ted Wheeler is walking west. Protesters are following him, yelling. Press also followinG, obviously.,
We are up to SW 5th. Two blocks from the courthouse. Crowd still following Wheeler
Ted just walked into the Portland Building. Someone threw a paint balloon at the door as he departed. Crowd is regrouping now. And coughing.
Back at the fence. The air is still spicy. Here’s a view from the south: mostly empty space behind the fence. Grill pieces and plastic water bottles and a cone behind the fence. The fire in the distance.
I’m next to the door to the fence. This man is now sitting inside, drinking water and coughing and yelling “fuck your announcements!” at the LRAD
You can see/hear the fence shaking.
Someone is playing the Imperial March from Star Wars. Again.
A gas canister is blown away by a leaf blower and a fire extinguisher.
More gas! Or smoke? Either way: People sprint into action to try to fan it away.
Remember when Ted Wheeler said he would hold the line?
Just saw someone walk by with a hockey stick and a full hockey uniform
There are so many people here that there’s a bottleneck to get out of the street when the gas gets really bad. Medics offer eye flushes along the way.
Anyway, idk if you can see it, but federal officers came out of the doors.
Person on bullhorn: “We are gonna be out here every night until PPB gets defunded by at least 50% right? And we are gonna be out here until it gets invested in Black communities, right? And we’re gonna be out here until Ted Wheeler resigns, right?” Crowd cheers in agreement.
Lots of plastic water bottles thrown tonight. I saw one actually hit a riot shield. I also saw one (empty) hit a protester standing 1 foot from the person who threw it. (The thrower apologized sheepishly.)
PPB JUST DECLARED A RIOT.
PPB on the LRAD. Downtown is closed from Columbia to Harvey Milk (that’s a HUGE space, if you don’t live here. Literally all of downtown and then some) and 1st to Broadway.
PPB LRAD: this is a tear gas warning. Leave the area immediately.
Thanks for the warning, I guess?
Thanks for the warning, I guess?
I just want to emphasize that Mayor Ted Wheeler was out here talking about how he was going to bravely hold the line when federal agents tear gassed the crowd, and then he left after a couple rounds of gas, and now HIS OWN POLICE FORCE is also threatening to gas the crowd?!
We are out here staying hydrated from this glowing wagon of water bottles.
Crowd is still standing at 3rd and Main, waiting to see which police force strikes first: federal officers or Portland police. A group of protesters are still rattling the fence but most are standing around, a ways away.
A white protester is playing a Macklemore protest song(?) and frankly I prefer the tear gas.
Feds and PPB are battling on the LRAD to give their own announcements about how they might arrest protesters, use impact munitions, or gas us. I’m literally just laughing because what can you do?
They’re talking directly on top of each other. It feels like we are all trapped in a weird petty turf battle.
The PPB on the LRAD sounds mad tonight. They keep telling everyone to leave immediately but I don’t see people leaving.
I think this was federal tear gas? Protesters retreat in a cloud of smoke. Others continue to hold the line. As always, people around me are coughing and throwing up and calling for medics.
A protester just chalked “we are winning” on the sidewalk
Camo pants spotted with stool, for the folks playing bingo at home.
Dang. There’s a door to the fence on the north side, too. Why build a big tough fence and then leave two doors open?
I guess otherwise the feds couldn’t get out to bull rush people.
A portable canopy is now being used as a barricade in front of the fence.
Did I mention that there are still several hundred people here?
I’m standing on SW 3rd, and roughly half the people I see are wearing respirators or gas masks. Some have paired them with street clothes. It’s completely dystopian.
A guy just walked by with a mask over just his nose, singing Love Shack in a very good impression of Fred or whoever sings that, I can’t look it up I’m at a riot
Still no sign on the ground of the Portland Police Bureau, who have declared a riot, closed 100+ blocks of downtown Portland (the protesters are only using like 6 blocks max) and threatened to use tear gas and munitions.
Oops did I jinx it? PPB LRAD is back and sounds REALLY MAD. “This is the 9th use of force warning. This is the 9th warning that tear gas may be used.”
We see gas or smoke on 2nd and Main, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone over there. Protesters are confused.
I can’t tell if a lot of people have left or if they’re just spread out over several blocks. Still a couple hundred people, though. It’s 1am on a Thursday morning.
Another one for the bingo card: Boomer chin-mask guy has a cloth mask now and he’s been wearing it sometimes! Proud of him.
Riot Ribs has at least 10 grills by my count. They’re so powerful.
Related, there are roughly 30 people in the Riot Ribs line.
“Are you coming out of your hidey hole?” a protester yells towards the courthouse. “Because I still want to get food.”
“Are you coming out of your hidey hole?” a protester yells towards the courthouse. “Because I still want to get food.”
Video of the most recent dispersal, featuring a flash bang and feds moving around behind the fence. As you can see, many protesters have stopped leaving when the tear gas comes in.
Definitely still a few hundred people here. I think they were just spread out before.
Hard to believe that a couple weeks ago, these protests were often 100 youths sitting around the elk statue, eating chips. It just keeps growing.
Hard to believe that a couple weeks ago, these protests were often 100 youths sitting around the elk statue, eating chips. It just keeps growing.
(This is a simplification but you get it.)
Drum line is jamming while protesters sing-chant “no good cops in a racist system”
ICYMI, here’s a comparison of how @OPB and @nytimes reporters covered tonight’s events.
https://twitter.com/tuckwoodstock/status/1286221124607438849?s=21 https://twitter.com/tuckwoodstock/status/1286221124607438849
https://twitter.com/tuckwoodstock/status/1286221124607438849?s=21 https://twitter.com/tuckwoodstock/status/1286221124607438849
There is a full-on dance circle at the drums now. People are cheering for each other. These protesters are so good at finding joy and levity whenever they can get it.
Speaking of which, @SnackVanTM is in the street outside the Comrade 7/11
I’m home eating chips. Deep apologies to my cat who I just tear gassed with my body.
Also, I think they’re still in school for a while but everyone should hire @wintersquinter for everything. They were an absolute chanp tonight.
Meanwhile I can’t even spell “champ” so definitely hire Winter over me.
