Read on Twitter
I revisited Red House today after news broke of a deal negotiated between the city and the Kinney family. By noon, 100+ people were taking down barricades that had blocked North Mississippi Avenue for six days. Here's a before/after view of Skidmore Street:
(For more context around the Red House eviction blockade, you can check out this thread from Wednesday: https://twitter.com/catalinagaitan_/status/1336825090164453377.)
Sounds of power tools rang out as people dismantled the barricades, some using shears to cut zip ties attaching chain link fences. Folks were busy scrubbing graffiti off of walls of nearby businesses, sweeping the street and sidewalks, and carrying away pieces of the barricades.
One of these volunteers was Christine Peterson, 40, who was busy scrubbing graffiti off the walls of a children's dentistry clinic.
"People were really brandishing the people here as violent, out of control people when really this was a big act of solidarity," she said.
"People were really brandishing the people here as violent, out of control people when really this was a big act of solidarity," she said.
"Everyone was shocked at first at how quickly they put this eviction defense together and how organized it was, with people finding roles," Peterson added. "But we can also put it back, rather than what people were expecting — like bulldozers or something."
David Ambrose, 45, lives in the neighborhood and biked down to survey the scene.
"I have a little hope things can work out — that there’s a pathway to something that all parties can agree on without it escalating further."
"I have a little hope things can work out — that there’s a pathway to something that all parties can agree on without it escalating further."
"I think there was a real risk that it could’ve turned into something where the governor had to get involved and create some kind of autonomous zone, so I’m just happy to see a quick resolution that hadn’t escalated," Ambrose said.
By the time I left the area several hours later, the barricades had been completely dismantled and people were organizing the debris and materials left behind.
An employee from a nearby coffee shop, Albina Press, walked through the area offering people free coffee and pastries.
An employee from a nearby coffee shop, Albina Press, walked through the area offering people free coffee and pastries.
"This is great and unexpected for Ted Wheeler to issue an apology and make a real commitment," said Mac Smiff ( @MacSmiff), a Portland journalist and activist. "It’s a huge win for the side of right."
"We’ve been trying to come up with ways to solve this without the police. It took a little bit if pressure, but we got there. This is a whole new level of progress and the impacts are going to reverberate around the nation," Smiff said.
"This isn’t like what we’ve seen before. It’s a negotiation and a win, and that’s something we’re just not used to."
