PORTLAND, OR – For over 100 days, violent “protests” have raged in the city of Portland, with participants damaging property, committing arson, and viciously attacking police and civilians alike.
The protestors are not confining their activities to downtown Portland and government buildings, however, having also moved into local residential areas.
BLM-antifa in Portland are marching & chanting loudly through the Laurelhurst residential area in southeast Portland right now. They are heading to the Penumbra Kelly police building, a place they attack regularly. Road is shut down. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/tJnqEJpOYG
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 22, 2020
Such targeted areas are “mostly white,” according to the New York Times.
A recent march through Kenton, a residential neighborhood in the northern part of Portland, reportedly came to an abrupt halt when the participants noticed a home that was flying the American flag.
Neighbor Terrance Moses witnessed the sudden turn of events and observed the protestors focusing on the home.
He told the New York Times:
“It went from a peaceful march, calling out the names, to all of a sudden, bang, ‘How dare you fly the American flag?’”
He continued:
“They said take it down. They wouldn’t leave. They said they’re going to come back and burn the house down.”
Black Portland resident: “They wouldn’t leave. They said they’re going to come back and burn the house down.”
An important new report by @NellieBowles on the Portland BLM-antifa protests & riots that are occuring mostly in residential areas now: https://t.co/fsnCEkuILc
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 21, 2020
Fortunately for the homeowners, Moses and other neighbors stood up for them and told the protestors to leave.
Moses asserted:
“We don’t go around terrorizing folks to try and force them to do something they don’t want to do.”
The homeowners themselves, who chose to remain anonymous, then told the Times that they did not plan to take the flag down.
Weeks later, they reported to the Times that they were “fearful of retaliation” from protestors, who they said had their phone number.
The same night that the homeowners were threatened, protestors continued into Kenton’s commercial district, with participants setting fires and using restaurant picnic tables as kindling. Once again, neighbors like Mr. Moses stood up for their area and utilized their own fire extinguishers.
Not all those living in residential neighborhoods have looked with disfavor on the incursion of the protestors into their neighborhoods, however.
Portland entrepreneur Stephen Green described to the Times the “smell of tear gas and the wail of sirens” that kept his young daughter awake as protests came through his neighborhood.
Yet, despite the fact that these events “inconvenienced” his family, the Times reports:
“Mr. Green said that he opposed the destruction of property, but that he also understood it.
“And he believes, generally, that the more direct protest tactics in residential areas are working because they make the movement more personal, and reveal who truly supports change.”
“If someone is against the movement, they keep their lights off or refuse to raise their fist, he said, adding that taking the debate into homes and to families is essential.”
Green went on to add:
“We need people willing to say, ‘I’m down to lose this friend because stuff needs to change. I’m down to make my neighbor uncomfortable.’
“Being nice wasn’t changing anything.”
Another neighborhood that was recently targeted by protestors was the affluent Alberta area.
The Times reports that a different residential neighborhood was the initial target for “an autonomously organized direct action march.” Approximately 200 black-clad BLM protestors gathered in the dark, offering supplies such as paint balloons.
A small free literature selection was set up on the grass …
Titles included “Why Break Windows”; “I Want To Kill Cops Until I’m Dead”; “Piece Now, Peace Later: An Anarchist Introduction to Firearms”; “In Defense of Smashing Cameras”https://t.co/yjxpgjfjss
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) September 22, 2020
Pamphlets encouraging violence were also offered, with titles such as:
“Why Break Windows”
or,
“I Want To Kill Cops Until I’m Dead,”
and,
“Piece Now, Peace Later: An Anarchist Introduction to Firearms”
as well as,
“In Defense of Smashing Cameras.”
During their gathering, the participants reportedly decided that the original target neighborhood was “too racially diverse” and “[t]hey needed to go somewhere whiter.”
Thus, they caravanned to Alberta, where they marched, chanting,
“You’ll never sleep tight, we do this every night.”
The Times reported that many residents shut off their lights and pulled shades down in response. One woman “quickly retreated” indoors upon seeing the crowd.
The protestors also mocked a man who raised his fist in support but did not join them, calling him “spineless.”
There is no mention from the Times as to whether or not the advice in the pamphlets was taken or whether the paint balloons were used in the Alberta neighborhood.
Recently, protestors also targeted the residence of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who shortly thereafter banned the use of CS gas by police. Here is our report on that:
PORTLAND, OR – They say timing is everything, which means that the timing of any effort can wield good results or catastrophic ones.
So it will be interesting to see what comes of Portland now that the mayor has banned the use of CS gas by police at protests and riots after over three months of these going on nightly.
Absolutely agree. We had to experience being tear-gassed in boot camp. It stinks, and burns your eyes, but you recover quickly once the air is clear … i.e. when you move away from the gas, which is the INTENT of the gas.
— 6% Fiery but Mostly Peaceful ~ ❤️ President Trump! (@KTmommaUT) September 10, 2020
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has ordered Portland Police to cease the use of CS gas, effective immediately.
While there were orders delivered back in June that heavily regulated when said CS gas could be deployed, now the crowd control asset has been completely removed from the proverbial table.
Mayor @tedwheeler announced that as police commissioner, he is banning @PortlandPolice from using tear gas under all circumstances. They were previously restricted to using it only on life safety emergencies, such as when rioters do arson attacks. pic.twitter.com/fgTzszDI6U
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 10, 2020
For the sake of clarity, this ban doesn’t have anything to do with barring OC spray (commonly referred to as pepper spray by most folks).
The delineation between CS gas versus OC spray, outside of the chemical compositions, is that CS deployment can be indiscriminate with how it spreads whereas OC spray is something that can have the mist of stream directed.
However, there is also the fact that OC is something that has to be deployed in close proximity, while CS could afford authorities a safe distance when trying to break up large riotous crowds.
In an emailed statement from Mayor Wheeler noting the ban of CS gas, he mentioned the following:
“During the last hundred days Portland, Multnomah County and State Police have all relied on CS gas where there is a threat to life safety. We need something different. We need it now.”
Yeah, everyone can’t afford to just up and move like this idiot. People aren’t going to sit around while their property is destroyed or stolen.
— U NO I’M RITE (@UNOIMRITE1) September 10, 2020
It’s unclear what exactly the mayor could imagine when it pertains to something in the less-lethal range that is also as effective or more than CS gas to break up riotous crowds. It’s not as though police can set up some large, netted booby traps to scoop up rioters like they were villains in a Scooby-Doo episode.
The mayor is attempting to frame this as some kind of quid-pro-quo for the rioters it seems, in that he’s noting that he’s taken a step toward reducing force and that he hopes the rioters will take a step back as well:
“I call on everyone to step up and tamp down the violence. I’m acting. It’s time for others to join me.”
But those among the peanut gallery are extremely skeptical that this will turn out the way that the mayor hopes.
One Twitter user opined on the issue, in a rather sarcastic manner but also potential outcome of this measure, with the following:
“Cool. Now the Portland PD will have to club these clowns like baby seals. The optics is going to be soooooo much better now. Ted Wheeler has got to be the worst mayor in America, and he has a lot of competition too.”
I had my money on @NYCMayor being the worst mayor, but I am now thinking @tedwheeler is in the lead…Come on DiBlassio, you can pull this out for the win.
— Jon Oak (@oakjon) September 10, 2020
Others online are saying that for all the restrictions that Mayor Wheeler is trying to impose upon officers, then perhaps the mayor should stand on the frontlines with said officers to ascertain just how bad things can be when stripped of non-lethal resources:
“As police commissioner putting all these restrictions on his officers. He should go out there with them. Let’s see how long those restrictions last.”
I’ve been saying the same thing. He should be required to stand with those police officers every night.
— Moist (@x_Moist_x) September 10, 2020
Now keep in mind, this order by the mayor comes just under two weeks from when rioters targeted the very home of Mayor Wheeler.
Portland protest day 95 pic.twitter.com/PqUuUPdddi
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 1, 2020
On the evening of August 31st, a crowd of roughly 200 people had gathered outside Mayor Wheeler’s condominium tower, with malefactors shattering windows and breaking into a local dental office to steal items to light ablaze. Among the items stolen were a chair and various office supplies.
During the display, those among the riot were said to have been wearing party hats, as this evening happened to fall on Mayor Wheeler’s birthday.
Police use smoke and impact munitions pic.twitter.com/6E3oAs7P1S
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 1, 2020
Just after 11:00 p.m. that evening, a stack of newspapers was set on fire and thrown into the ground level portion of the condominium tower which holds 114 residences within it. While the flames didn’t spread and were quickly extinguished, police announced at that time that the “protest” had become an unlawful assembly and eventually elevated to a riot.
Police make two arrests on the bridge, one perosn is thrown against the fence pic.twitter.com/jgUyR9Ilw6
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 1, 2020
Police were said to have arrested 19 people during the riot for various charges, with eight of the arrestees being charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with a peace officer.
It is unclear with will become of those charges, considering that the Portland DA announced recently that he wouldn’t be pursuing a myriad of charges akin to what officers arrested people for on August 31st.
Another arrest pic.twitter.com/gaeZBAawrU
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) September 1, 2020
However, two of those arrested were alleged to have been carrying concealed weapons during the riot, with one of them being charged with assaulting an officer.
Also, Portland has had an issue as of late with rioters and miscreants trying to proclaim they’re “members of the press” in order to continue contributing to the anarchy.
Fake press person is arrested at the #antifa riot in Portland tonight. Rioters trashed the upscale neighborhood where @tedwheeler’s condo is. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/3kjCBE8S3K
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 1, 2020
Video captured from the riots show police taking one alleged “press member” in custody, considering that police did warn that there wouldn’t be any exceptions afforded to legal observers if they engaged in criminal conduct.
Legal Observers and Members of the Press shall not interfere with officers as they perform their lawful duties and must follow lawful orders.
Interfering with officers may subject you to arrest or citation.— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) September 1, 2020
With all things considered, is the banning of CS gas the best idea – especially after things managed to hit so close to home (literally) for the mayor? That remains to be seen, but hindering police’s access to less lethal means of crowd control can only have so may outcomes.
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