Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile)

"What do you need to do? Help me get rid of this fucking police system!"

@MacSmiff steps to the mic He leads the crowd in a chant; "Rest in Peace, Pat-Pat!" He talks about the unimaginable horror of losing a child. He thinks about his own four kids. One just began studies at OSU "If these pigs shot one of my children, I don't know what I would do"

He talks about the fear he feels when a police car pulls up behind him, or a chud truck with "flags that don't make sense to me" About not knowing what to do. Ignore them? Flee? Or just pray for the best? No good answers. That's why we need to make one

"This is America. This is supposed to be the land of the free and the home of the brave" And yet, he points out, here we are every night in helpers and shields standing against cops "armed to the fucking teeth"

He talks about the absolute bullshit offered as a substitute for defunding the police. We've been asking for defunding for months now, and defunding is what we want He talks about the unbelievable shit we've all been through, these last four months

He talks about the strangers who dragged him out of harms way when be was shot in the head and helpless How he doesn't know who they are but he loves them. "What is the word for that? Why isn't there a word for that?"

@MacSmiff calls for unity. For coming together as a community and figuring out a way to resolve disputes that isn't just cancelling and ostracism and schism and fury "Yes, we need to talk about it! But we cannot just send each other home when we have a mission to accomplish!"

He reminds everyone of the stakes. That every single prominent activist during the Ferguson riots is dead He wants to be there for his kids. The community had to protect itself" Deafening applause

A Black activist talks about Audre Lorde's famous words: "the master's tools will not dismantle the masters house" The master's tools, he says, are ostracism and cancellation and punishment The tools of the people are deep listening and resolution "All power to the people!"

A Black activist named Ya-Ya steps forward to speak He tells us the police injured him in June when they rammed his car That the feds in July blew our his windshield with flash bang and sent shards of glass into his passenger's eye

He gives thanks to God and speaks an invocation

Letha Winston takes the mic! Letha is Patrick Kimmons' mother and a tireless advocate for racial justice The crowd is on its feet, cheering

A man who is clearly having a bad time runs through the crowd and screams, "I am your savior!" He is rapidly and peacefully walked out by two strong gentlemen

Letha tells us that she's been fighting this fight for two long years, ever since she got the news that the police has executed her son

"I am an angry mother who is looking for and demanding justice!! He got shot down NINE TIMES in the back!!" She talks about the horror of watching the video of her son getting murdered in the DA's office

I've heard Letha relate the trauma, the unfathomable grief of finding out her son was dead before I will never understand how she has the strength to talk about it day after day, month after month, year after year

She talks about how her son's death radicalized her. Made her understand that the police aren't here to protect or serve the people. Or at least, not all the people

"This is a revolution! This is what a democracy looks like! We have over a thousand people out here. This is a beautiful sight to see! Stay encouraged!"

Letha talks about Patrick Kimmons the man. A good man, despite all the shit they talk How he was a good father, a good provider. How he took classes at PCC. She raised him right, and he raised his kids right too Patrick Kimmons' young child stands next to his grandmother

Yes, she says, he was gang affiliated. It doesn't mean he was a bad man This is really important, I think. We throw people's souls away, dismiss them as valueless, for all kinds of bullshit reasons We are all human

Letha talks about her terror that something will happen to her other child. This, not the cops, is what she fears

"you don't know what I've been going through. There's so many times I've wanted to give up. Two years, I've wanted to give up." She is crying. Her pain is unfathomable "Well I'm not going anywhere and I'm not giving up!!" The crowd roars

"retraining is no longer the issue! Reform is not the issue! Fire these motherfuckers one by one and don't rehire them!"

"I'm gonna keep marching! I'm gonna keep chanting! I'm gonna keep fighting!" The crowd chants it with her. Fired up

Letha Winston urges the crowd to come out and march with her down MLK every Thursday, 10AM to 2PM For more info: https://instagram.com/justiceforpatrickkimmons?igshid=t5i64i65r1yv …

"God has a mission for me. He has a purpose for me. I will serve that mission by any means necessary. I will fight for justice in the streets of Portland!"

Letha is wrapping up. She salutes the people here, the organization that went into making this day possible, the safety precautions. It's a good event! But she cautions against people taking the meaning out of Black Lives Matter and about the demonization of the movement

Patrick Kimmons' son steps to the mic He says, my dad didn't deserve to be killed He talks about how his dad got him ready for school every day, bought him new shoes, took care of him Kimmons' tiny daughter steps forward and leads the crowd in a chant of "Black Lives Matter!"

Letha talks about how hard it is to see Patrick Kimmons Jr, who reminds her so much of her son She thanks everyone for coming If you want to donate to Letha, her Cashapp is $lethaloc

As this last bit unfolded, some asshole kept revving their car engine. It's a bit worrisome