A Firsthand Account of What Is Happening in Portland-One person's Opinion
Sorry for the lengthy email but I figured it would be helpful to explain more versus less of what is happening around here right now.
Okay, so... honestly we do not consume "normal" media (CNN, FOX, MSNBC, etc.) because they are all doing it wrong, in my opinion, so I'm not exactly sure what is being put out there. But here are the facts from someone who lives about ten minutes away from the Justice Center and has multiple friends out protesting and documenting what is going on every night.
The majority of the protesters are peaceful. Note: that means the BLM protesters, not the white supremecist "protesters" who come out to start stuff. The protests typically start in neighborhoods where people gather for speeches about equality and how important it is to be there for one another, to stay together, to stay vigilant. They hand out supplies to folks who need it like first aid kits, water, snacks, eye protection, bottles of milk for when the police eventually (and they do every night) attack them. There is such a sense of community right now among the protesters and those of us who may not be going out as much but who believe in the movement. We are all donating money and supplies to folks in need, especially PPE supplies since yes this is all happening during a global pandemic and our county has taken it more seriously than other places in the States. To be completely honest, individuals in our communities have stepped up where the government should have long ago. There are even working "Free Fridges" and "Free Pantries" popping up all over Portland where people are donating food items and other staples for anyone who needs it, no questions asked.
Every night the cops escalate it. They are saying protesters (or "rioters" as they like to call them) are starting it. That is a total lie. It's been captured over and over again on video that cops will start beating people, gassing them, chasing them down the street for doing nothing except what they have the right to do - protest. There are few arrests because technically they cannot arrest them - the protesters are protected by this thing called The Constitution, which I'm pretty sure 45 has never heard of. I have had friends beaten with batons resulting in lacerations and bruises. All of my friends who have been down there have been tear gassed. They are now targeting the press and purposefully going after them which, again, is unconstitutional. It's a blatant disregard for people's freedoms. It's fascism.
Oh by the way, on Saturday a bunch of proud boys went downtown with guns. Like, AK-47s and stuff. The cops sat there and did nothing. When BLM protesters show up wearing protective gear because they are trying to protect themselves, they are beaten and dragged down the street. We've had innocent bystanders just walking downtown beaten - people who had nothing to do with the movement. The cops are bullies and they are escalating things on a nightly basis because they are scared that maybe, just maybe, they will lose some of the power they do not deserve to have.
Because I am a privileged white woman who is not attending the protests at the Justice Center (I promised mom I wouldn't), I am not directly in harm's way. If I were attending though, I would feel 100% safe with those who are protesting for black lives and pushing for a change in our system. I would be terrified of the cops. I do not trust them, I would not call them for any reason right now. They have not shown that they care about the people in my city. They are hurting people I love. They are ruining our environment with the weapons they set off every night. They are definitely on the wrong side of history.
Also, our mayor is an asshole.
We are both still working from home and will be the rest of the year and possibly into the next year. We are fortunate to work for companies that believe in science and want to protect their employees (again, another way we are privileged). The city is still mostly shut down. Masks are required everywhere. We have been doing some socially distanced backyard hangs with friends because the weather won't be nice for much longer and when it turns we will pretty much be stuck inside. None of the people in my direct community have gotten COVID though, even those out protesting every night (probably because they have to wear so much protective gear because of the weapons cops are using).
If you want to see video from what the protests look like, one of my best friends is out there every night documenting things and posts them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mestizo43/?hl=en
Sorry for the lengthy email but I figured it would be helpful to explain more versus less of what is happening around here right now.
Okay, so... honestly we do not consume "normal" media (CNN, FOX, MSNBC, etc.) because they are all doing it wrong, in my opinion, so I'm not exactly sure what is being put out there. But here are the facts from someone who lives about ten minutes away from the Justice Center and has multiple friends out protesting and documenting what is going on every night.
The majority of the protesters are peaceful. Note: that means the BLM protesters, not the white supremecist "protesters" who come out to start stuff. The protests typically start in neighborhoods where people gather for speeches about equality and how important it is to be there for one another, to stay together, to stay vigilant. They hand out supplies to folks who need it like first aid kits, water, snacks, eye protection, bottles of milk for when the police eventually (and they do every night) attack them. There is such a sense of community right now among the protesters and those of us who may not be going out as much but who believe in the movement. We are all donating money and supplies to folks in need, especially PPE supplies since yes this is all happening during a global pandemic and our county has taken it more seriously than other places in the States. To be completely honest, individuals in our communities have stepped up where the government should have long ago. There are even working "Free Fridges" and "Free Pantries" popping up all over Portland where people are donating food items and other staples for anyone who needs it, no questions asked.
Every night the cops escalate it. They are saying protesters (or "rioters" as they like to call them) are starting it. That is a total lie. It's been captured over and over again on video that cops will start beating people, gassing them, chasing them down the street for doing nothing except what they have the right to do - protest. There are few arrests because technically they cannot arrest them - the protesters are protected by this thing called The Constitution, which I'm pretty sure 45 has never heard of. I have had friends beaten with batons resulting in lacerations and bruises. All of my friends who have been down there have been tear gassed. They are now targeting the press and purposefully going after them which, again, is unconstitutional. It's a blatant disregard for people's freedoms. It's fascism.
Oh by the way, on Saturday a bunch of proud boys went downtown with guns. Like, AK-47s and stuff. The cops sat there and did nothing. When BLM protesters show up wearing protective gear because they are trying to protect themselves, they are beaten and dragged down the street. We've had innocent bystanders just walking downtown beaten - people who had nothing to do with the movement. The cops are bullies and they are escalating things on a nightly basis because they are scared that maybe, just maybe, they will lose some of the power they do not deserve to have.
Because I am a privileged white woman who is not attending the protests at the Justice Center (I promised mom I wouldn't), I am not directly in harm's way. If I were attending though, I would feel 100% safe with those who are protesting for black lives and pushing for a change in our system. I would be terrified of the cops. I do not trust them, I would not call them for any reason right now. They have not shown that they care about the people in my city. They are hurting people I love. They are ruining our environment with the weapons they set off every night. They are definitely on the wrong side of history.
Also, our mayor is an asshole.
We are both still working from home and will be the rest of the year and possibly into the next year. We are fortunate to work for companies that believe in science and want to protect their employees (again, another way we are privileged). The city is still mostly shut down. Masks are required everywhere. We have been doing some socially distanced backyard hangs with friends because the weather won't be nice for much longer and when it turns we will pretty much be stuck inside. None of the people in my direct community have gotten COVID though, even those out protesting every night (probably because they have to wear so much protective gear because of the weapons cops are using).
If you want to see video from what the protests look like, one of my best friends is out there every night documenting things and posts them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mestizo43/?hl=en
