Portland protests draw thousands, intense federal response, gas Friday

[Nevilledog]

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2020/07/protesters-in-portland-prepared-friday-for-looming-confrontation-with-federal-officers-live-updates.html

Thousands of Portlanders amassed late Friday downtown and witnessed another tense face-off with federal officers, who used tear gas and shot impact munitions toward protesters.

The Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse has been the site of repeated overnight confrontations between federal officers embedded inside and demonstrators gathered outside. Many people pushed the fence and some protesters threw objects over it, and at one point early Saturday, a successive series of fireworks sent from the crowd exploded past the courthouse fence.

The tactics federal officers have used to defend government buildings — and the repeated praise of those actions from President Donald Trump — have brought national attention to Portland. The heightened federal response arrived weeks after nightly protests against police violence and systemic racism.

The looming predictability of tear gas deployed by federal officers has prompted protesters to prepare more each night, in part by bringing leaf blowers to deflect the gas toward officers and stop it from spreading.

*snip*

Protests were down to about 50 people until the feds showed up.......estimated 4000 there last night.

[Thomas Hurt]

1. Don't understand the tactics here. If they want to protest in front of the fn fed courthouse...

you are walking right into the Pig's narrative and giving it credence.

You hold protests more distant from the feds, peacefully, even march...but you make the thugs come to you and show that they aren't there to "protect fed property". Get the goons on video doing it.

[stillcool]

2. I have no idea why they chose the spot...

but the history of Portland's protests is impressive...
https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2016/04/little_beirut_legacy_20_of_the.html

I think they know what they're doing, in Portland...better than outsiders.

[dustyscamp]

4. There's more outsiders than people in the know though

If the outsiders don't understand the protestors, then they'll probably have a bad image of them.

[stillcool]

5. that has nothing to do with the organizers..

and if you worry about what outsiders think, what's the point? Shut up, and do nothing. That's how we got here.

[triron]

9. Exactly.

[triron]

8. I don't understand you. The protestors did the right thing. Should have done more.

[handmade34]

3. should fly out

and make it 4001

[stillcool]

6. 4002!...if I can stow-away

[handmade34]

7. if only...

I'd be there in no time to pick you up