Here at the District Courthouse protesters are chanting "No Justice, No Peace! No Racist Police!" No sign of police yet, btw
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The people have spoken I have failed to find even a single void to flee into, so buckle in for more RevCom hot takes from the District Courthouse (But do let me know if you see any voids around)https://twitter.com/1misanthrophile/status/1289432890246172673?s=19 …
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The Justice Center group is now marching past the District Courthouse bound for parts unknown I imagine they intend to sweep the courthouse crowd with them and I gotta tell you it isn't working
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Never mind! Looks like they've stopped in front of he District Courthouse. The poll was a waste of time An activist speaks about the prison industrial complex and the modern enslavement of black people
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The activist is pointing out the absolute ubiquity of slave labor. How the products we buy are affordable only because of slave labor They talk about the deep corruption of the police force, the complicity of silence. "If you're still willing to keep that job, fuck you!"
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"My ancestors begged for mercy and they found none! We have been out here for two months protesting state-sanctioned killings, asking for mercy, and found none! We have to stand up and take it!" The biggest applause of the night
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The black activist talks about an incident in 1994: a 14-year old boy executed by electric chair for accused murder of two white girls He confessed He confessed under torture He had an alibi Fuck this system, honestly
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Sorry, 1944: I misheard. Blame it on the flash bang
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The activist speaks about the origin of the American police as slave patrols. "Now they work for the corporations" They talk about the fundamental threat we pose to their entire operation just by demanding that the police stop brutalizing black bodies I love this person
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The activist points out that peaceful protest depends on the target having a conscience I'm gonna repeat that Peaceful Protest Depends On the Target Having a Conscience
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Balloons on the district courthouse fence. The crowd chants the names. The drumline is fully engaged. It's a lot like it's been for the past two weeks but more relaxed. No sign of feds. A hope they're really gonepic.twitter.com/3i17cCDUZX
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A couple protesters bang on the fence with trash can lids. Gentle, harmless, makes a lot of noise Good way to test the waters
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There's a speaker but unfortunately their megaphone isn't very good and my hearing, as established earlier, has not been improved over the last two months The street in front of the District Courthouse remains packed
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I've moved closer and can now hear this Black activist talking about how officers have families too, how not all of them are bad Another Black activist with a megaphone pushes back against this. A battle of words. A chant of "black lives matter"
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The crowd in Portland is, as always, largely white. There's that familiar freeze as the audience is unsure what to do A chant of Black Lives Matter shifts into a chant of "let her talk" Cameras battle to capture these activists arguing
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These battles for the narrative aren't surprising. Black people aren't a monolith. There are a wide variety of opinions. Yet I often see tremendous pressure for a united black voice to speak back to the system It's a horrible bind
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The activist is arguing that police are necessary to keep her safe There are arguments that could address this point but I don't think anyone is making them. They're mostly sort of giving her a wide birth
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A car engine revs loudly and protesters jump to the sidewalk. It's nothing, but the instinct is ingrained at this point
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Crowd starting to thin out slightly. Still lots of people here If the police don't escalate, I predict a very mellow night. Portland is tired, y'all. We've been going all out for so long. I don't think anyone is looking to antagonize the cops tonight
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This is not exactly must-hear news but a couple of protesters are very sweetly making out and I think that's nice and I hope it makes you happy too
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A black activist talks about the inportance of continuing this fight for as long as necessary: "another 400 years if we have to!" "Are we gonna pack up and go just because the feds are gone?! Hell no!!"
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He talks about PTSD. About jumping when he hears leaf blowers. About our shared trauma and our strength
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He talks about being part of that statistics: 1 of 3 black men have been to jail and he's one of them "The systematic oppression has to stop!"
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He then goes on to say that this is supposed to be peaceful, that anything that isn't peaceful isn't about black lives, it's just a sideshow "no it isn't!" a quiet, solitary voice retorts
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Meanwhile, about 30 feet away, someone is burning what I assume is one of the free Bibles a group was giving away earlierpic.twitter.com/wnjM54IiLA
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Protesters throwing a few bottles over the fence. Somehow the cement courthouse continues to stand despite this onslaught
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A roof cop has been spotted in the District Courthouse. Protesters chant: "Jump!" This is the first cop/fed presence we've seen all night
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Small newspaper fire in the street. Can't get a picture without the firestarters in it so just...I mean it's 2020. You know what a street fire looks like Chant: "Every City! Every town! Burn that precinct to the ground!"
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Mostly I think the fire is a hit cuz it's weirdly cold out here
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Someone burns a flag against the fence An activist accuses protesters of trying to burn the building down, says it isn't about black lives matter, and tells the protesters to grow up
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