Thing Are Getting Dodgie In Portland (Bush Protest)

[WillyT]

Play by Play, plus Portland Indy Radio (finally got on) plus Police Scanner, Here: http://portland.indymedia.org/

Hold on to your seats folks!!!

:shrug:

[AWD]

1. Thanks!

[G_j]

2. isn't Portland

where they pepper spray babies?

[chromotone]

3. Only if they're unarmed. (n/t)

[Pastiche423]

4. One year and one day ago

Yes

[WillyT]

7. Wow, That Was Scary Pastiche, LOL !!!

:scared: :hi::scared:

[Pastiche423]

15. Willy T -

This is the 2nd time in two days we have posted the same thing at the same time.

Mind meld? A west coast kinda thing? lol

[WillyT]

16. It's All That Pot We Lefties Smoke - Call It The Tokin' Mind Meld, LOL !!!

:hi::smoke::hi:

[greekspeak]

18. How charming...pepperspraying babies

Maybe they can club some puppies and kittens. Or turn the fire hoses on a hutch full of bunnies.

[WillyT]

6. Yep, A Year Ago Tomorrow !!!

Link: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2002/08/18010.shtml

:grr::nuke::mad::puke:

[West Coast Democrat]

5. I posted this on the other Portland Protest discussion

Just plain pathetic reporting here:

http://www.katu.com/news/blogger.asp#106149385876184698

From the Minute-by-minute coverage of President's visit:

"Strong odor of marijuana observed at protest scene
12:24 PM

A KATU News photographer near the scene at Willamette Blvd. and Portsmouth where protesters are assembled reports that there is a strong odor of marijuana in the crowd. Police in riot gear have also doubled their presence outside the center where the president is addressing supporters."

[Kolesar]

8. then the crowd should be mellow and non violent

No problem!

[West Coast Democrat]

9. Can't you just see the reporting alerting the police to drug use?

I wouldn't be surprised if that happened.

[G_j]

11. we protested

at the presidential debate in NC. Some people were burning sage and "smudging" the giant puppets beforehand. A newspaper reported the "smell of marijuana" in the air. ...
They love to think we're all just a bunch of 'stoners'.

[stevedeshazer]

27. This report is total bullshit

I just got back from the UP. All I saw were peaceful protesters, young and old. I went with my uncle and my son. No one was smoking pot, at least not openly, for I didn't see any. The concrete barrier was to keep out cars, not people. Everyone just walked around or over it. This barrier was 3-4 blocks away from the Chiles Center. Ican't speak to the allegation that KATU reporters were assaulted, I didn't see anything of the kind. Cops in riot gear lined the campus boundary, but no one attempted to cross the fence, nor did the cops provoke anyone I saw, and I was right in the middle of this pic:


When the limo arrived, all we did was chant "Bush Go Home!" and a few thousand middle fingers went up. A few minutes before this, the Bush supporters were bused in, and we booed them and flipped them off.

By Portland standards, this was tame. It's hard to guess, but I'd say there were 3,000-5,000 peaceful protesters there. It was a pretty good turnout for a weekday morning, but not as large as previous events, IMO because they were on weekends.

Some people got into a shouting match with some creepy campus Young Republicans, but that was it. The cops were absolutely armed to the teeth, but nothing happened.

There were two small groups of Bush supporters waving flags and singing "God Bless Amerika", horribly off-key. I doubt there were more than 15-20 of them in all.

As for the protesters, a few guys burned a flag (that always gets reported.) The worst thing I saw was some neanderthal Bush supporter who threatened to shove his flag stick "right up your ass" to some kid who looked to be no older than ten. What a patriot.

I repeat, this story is nearly complete bullshit and disinformation.

As for the Fundraiser-in-Chief, his speech lasted 23 minutes. At two grand a plate, these priveleged fuckers paid almost $100 a minute to hear him give the same speech he always gives and hide from us, although the buses full of them had to go right past us. They and the unelected fraud zoomed by us, but they saw and heard, I guarantee ya.

When our 5pm newscasts come on, every channel will portray us as a bunch of anarchists, the crowd size will be lied about, and reporters from right-wing radio will bitch and moan that we dare to dissent. Don't believe any of it, this was about as confrontational as a state fair midway, without the corn dogs.

[WillyT]

28. Thanks For Your Report Stevie D, And Thanks For Being There !!!

:bounce::kick::bounce:

[WillyT]

10. Play By Play So Far:

21-Aug-2003 12:52: 12:52 Presidential Motorcade is moving.
21-Aug-2003 12:48: 12:47 Police note that protestors angry and heading downtown. Police told to take an hour lunch break and re-convene downtown for afternoon festivities.
21-Aug-2003 12:23: 12:23 Police report that huge numbers of protestors are heading somewhere unknown.
21-Aug-2003 12:08: 11:53 KBOO: Woman arrested, around 40/50 yrs old, after climbing the 4 ft barrier
21-Aug-2003 12:07: 11:52. By the bluffs an american flag has been burned
21-Aug-2003 12:06: 11:47 Amy Pincus Merwin assaulted by Channel 8 videographer outside Chiles center after she wasn't allowed to bring her audio gear in, although another KBOO reporter did get in with video.
21-Aug-2003 12:05: 11:40 KBOO reporter inside Chiles Convention Center waiting for speech Doors are being tightly shut "to avoid getting teargas into the building." snipers on top of the Chiles building.
21-Aug-2003 11:43: KBOO reports that white house Resident has arrived at U of P, amid thousands of "boos".
21-Aug-2003 11:23: 11:18 portland IMC reporter was denied entry to the presidential luncheon, along with the reporters from Street Roots and KBOO who had gotten credentials ahead of time.
21-Aug-2003 11:22: Police report that group of "anarchists" have broken off from main march and travelling rapidly to U of P.
21-Aug-2003 11:10: 11:05 KBOO reported that presidential Plane has landed and motorcade is heading down WA State Hwy 14 is the travel route, and that hwy is closed down right now.
21-Aug-2003 10:56: 10:46 March has split at Menlow and Willamette, heading up Menlow. One person was detained. The other marchers just reached a barrier on N. Harvard St and Willamette where Pro-Bush "Love it or Leave it" protesters are.
21-Aug-2003 10:21: March has begun, and police are reporting a "critical mass" ride in progress elsewhere!
21-Aug-2003 10:04: Portland Indymedia Web Radio is now live on the air with coverage of the Bush protest.

Link: http://portland.indymedia.org/

Gonna get dicey now...

Cops went from idle chat, to sounds of concern just now on the police scaner. pResident is moving!!!

[proud patriot]

13. Thanks for posting this

I hope no babies are peppersprayed this time .

[KoKo]

14. Wow! Thanks for the play by play of this! Makes me feel I'm there!

and it sounds like it's more that the 200 or so that the media said earlier!

[Tripper11]

12. We had an interview with a KPAM reporter....

today on a Seattle station and he said that *'s speech spot had been changed from the forest where he was supposed to be due to close proximity forest fires to Portland University(I think that's the right school, Portlanders or others correct me if I am wrong please)There has been a 6ft high fence put up around the school because of this. Don't let * see the real America Karl! Shmucks!

[West Coast Democrat]

23. Bush* will also travel to Central Oregon near the fires

Bush* had to move the location of this "Healthy Forest" speech due to forest fires, which are being investigated as arson because of the suspicious timing. His appearance will be made at a fair in Deschutes County.

Local environmentalists are saying the forest fires were set for "political reasons."

[cosmicdot]

17. impeach bu$h kick

:kick:

[Pastiche423]

19. Protecting the whistle ass

[Stephanie]

26. Jeeez!

Don't tell me it's not a police state. That is extremely frightening.

[Pastiche423]

20. Latest report

Standoff on Woolsey
author: .
southbound traffic on Woolsey is still blocked, but now Lombard traffic is flowing. Demonstrators are being surrounded by cops at Columbia Annex park
1:02 Motorcade has left, donors have not. At N. Lombard and Portsmouth, protesters were in a standoff with police, blocking road, being threatened with chemical weapons. Motorcade left already, protesters were kept a block back, and nobody blocked the motorcade. Around 30 more cops have arrived. Around 40 people are in the road. Many on the sidewalk... Chief of Police woman is announcing that these folks are "interfering with Portland law and that chemical weapons will be used to get people off the streets". A group is running away from the cops back down Lombard. Now more people are dispersing with bike cops bringing up the rear going up N. Hodge Ave away from the college.

1:35 SW corner of Woolsey and Lombard where people had been pushed off the street to allow a bus to go through. one person arrested, people chanting let him go, putting him in the van right now, maybe two of them, Police with bikes making barricades, a few cars coming through with riot gear inside them. Report is that People have had their masks pulled off, one person had her glasses broken, although there has been no pepper spray yet. around 100 people on one side, 50 on the other side. Riot cops are lining up in middle of street and blocking off east bound lane of Lobard. People had dispersed. Police are wielding batons and tear gas guns. There is no active resistance. Riot cops are replacing the line of bike cops are blocking Lombard, tear gas cannister-wielding cop walking around telling people what to do.

1:45 KBOO report A bus full of people at the Bush Luncheon were stopped for around 15 minutes by a group of protesters. In the meantime an ambulance had been allowed to pass. Then the bus was allowed to pass after that. Then around 200 people were lined up along the sidewalk, shouting at the police, and there are also bike police and several cars.

1:49 KBOO report --Andrew at SW corner of Columbia Annex park and around 200 people collected and were trying to block a bus full of donors, and there are around 150 protesters now, and around 60 police. At least 2 arrests, about 10 minutes ago. People are on public property or in the park, seems to be a standoff, being threatened with chemical agents and non-lethal weapons if they don't get into the park. People are mostly already in the park. People are moving off the sidewalk into the park. Screams in response to the threat that chemical weapons will be used in the name of the people of oregon are that "we ARE the people of Oregon!"

1:54 The lines of riot police are moving up to the edge of the sidewalk onto the street. Chants of "We're non-violent how bout YOU?" Police are videotaping everybody.

[ewagner]

22. <sigh>

Just like the 'good 'ole days'

But you know what?

There is much more at stake here and now than there was in the '60s

[WillyT]

21. Cops Just Surrounded Park And Pepper Sprayed Protesters...

Sitting around in the park. People thrown off their bicycles.

The cops were leaving the park as it was peaceful, but then came back and are attempting to surround the people in the park, while at the same time giving an order to disperse!!! Lots of yelling and police announcements!

This is coming from PDX Radio from Portland's Indymedia, if you can get on!

Shit, I got lightning right over my house, so this may be might last update!!!

:scared: for Protesters, :scared: for ME, LOL!!!

Bye.

[G_j]

25. Isn't this similar to what

happened last year? (also similar stories have been told in other cities)

"attempting to surround the people in the park, while at the same time giving an order to disperse."

btw. thanks Willy T. good luck with the storm!

[Arugula Latte]

24. I couldn't attend

as I was camping amongst splendid, towering, Oregon trees. Gotta let the kids see them before the Repubs mow 'em down.

[WillyT]

29. Latest Updates:

21-Aug-2003 15:03: people have mostly dispersed from Chataqua and Lombard.
21-Aug-2003 14:49: Columbia Park is now closed, pepperspray was fired, people being herded down Lombard and surrounded and around 300 folks are stopped at Chataqua and Lombard. some unconfirmed arrests.
21-Aug-2003 14:02: Standoff at Woolsey and Lombard after protesters tried to stop a Donor Bus and now protesters are being surrounded at Columbia Annex Park. 14:14 report that cops are dispersing
21-Aug-2003 12:52: 12:52 Presidential Motorcade is moving. 1:10 footage of him at airport. He's supposed to arrive in Redmond at 2 pm

From: http://portland.indymedia.org/

More eyewitness reports in the right-hand column!!!

:kick:

[Room101]

30. Yahoo reported 2000 protesters

.

[Pastiche423]

31. URGENT - Call for video of Columbia Park police attack

NLG call for video of police attack at N. Lombard at Woolsey and in Columbia Park.

On behalf of the National Lawyers Guild, I am calling for anyone who has video of the police attack on protesters in Columbia Park this afternoon to contact Alan Graf at his office - [phone].

In addition, if anyone has video of the arrests of the persons who sat in front of the Bribe Bus or of the woman dragged into the street on Lombard, or any other arrests, please contact Alan Graf.

These videos will be used to defend against any criminal charges and may be used for litigation against the City of Portland, Cities of Tualatin, Tigard and Sherwood, City of Salem, and all officers involved in the attack.

[WillyT]

32. Check Portland's IndyMedia, They Post Any video's Submitted !!!

Link: http://portland.indymedia.org/

:kick: