Occupy Portland

Occupy Portland
Occupy Portland
Part of the Occupy movement
Occupy Portland, first day.jpg
People gathered in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square to Occupy Portland on October 6, 2011
Date October 6, 2011 – present
Location Portland, Oregon
Characteristics Demonstration, occupation, protest, street protesters
Arrests, etc.
Arrests:
Injuries:
 10 (initially);[1][2] 25 (October 30)[3]
3+

Occupy Portland is a protest and demonstration that began on October 6, 2011 in downtown Portland, Oregon. It is based on the Occupy Wall Street movement that began in New York City on September 17, 2011.

Though the tent city that was the physical base of Occupy Portland and built on October 6, 2011 was dismantled forcefully on November 13, 2011, Occupy Portland itself continues.

Portland's mayor Sam Adams acknowledged Occupy Portland's plans for a peaceful protest, and asked the police to ensure a peaceful and orderly event. Demonstrators met at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Ankeny Plaza, and Portland Police estimated the attendance at more than 4,000 before the march began. News reports estimated the crowd had swelled to as many as 10,000 by mid-afternoon as the marchers assembled in Pioneer Courthouse Square.[4] Later the protesters set up an encampment in the Plaza Blocks Park near Portland City Hall. The Plaza Blocks include Lownsdale Square on the north side and Chapman Square to the south. On November 10, 2011, Mayor Sam Adams gave the Occupy Portland protestors a deadline to clear out of the park by 12:01 am on Sunday, November 13th. The order was given in response to rising crime rates and police overtime costs.[5] As of 11:40 pm on November 12th, The Oregonian was reporting that the crowd had grown to over 2000, and that Portland Police had closed the main street dividing the two parks protesters had occupied.[6]

Contents

Background

A member of the hacktivistAnonymous present at the Occupy Portland march.
A member of Anonymous present at the Occupy Portland march on October 6th, 2011.

Occupy Portland was inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement which began in New York City on September 17,[7] which in turn was inspired by the Arab Spring and popularized by the anti-commercial activist magazine Adbusters and the hacktivist group Anonymous.[8][9][10]

Preparations

Occupy Portland organizers began work on the rally two weeks prior. Before the march began, rally leaders gathered to share contact information for legal assistance should any arrests be made. Leaders wore arm bands designating roles such as medic, peacekeeper, etc. City officials urged protesters to obtain a permit and to share the intended route. Organizers did neither, but did cooperate with police throughout the day of the rally.[4]

Portland mayor Sam Adams released a statement the morning of October 6 acknowledging Occupy Portland's plans for peaceful protest and warning city residents of potential "disruptions".[8] He insisted that city representatives and the Portland Police Bureau reached out to event organizers to ensure a "peaceful, effective, and orderly event where everyone is safe".[8] The Portland Business Alliance issued a security warning and encouraged downtown businesses to use caution.[11]

Protest

Occupy Portland protesters at Pioneer Courthouse Square are observed by Portland Police (October 6, 2011).

According to the organizers, the protest is based on frustration with "corporate greed and a lack of government accountability."[12] Demonstrators met at Tom McCall Waterfront Park near the Burnside Bridge at noon and began marching along Yamhill Street to Pioneer Courthouse Square starting at 2:30 p.m.[8]

Portland Police estimated the crowd at more than 4,000 people when the march began, increasing to 10,000 by mid-day and filling Pioneer Courthouse Square and its surrounding streets.[4][8][11] The size of the crowd forced TriMet, the public agency that operates mass transit throughout the Portland metropolitan area, to temporarily halt operation of the Green and Yellow MAX Light Rail lines along the Portland Transit Mall.[4][11] Part of Broadway street was closed for nearly an hour and a half.[4] No arrests were made. With permission from Mayor Adams, hundreds of demonstrators settled in Lownsdale and Chapman squares to camp overnight.[11]

Protesters were also occupying the one-block section of SW Main Street between Lownsdale and Chapman Squares. Mayor Adams met with the protesters to ask them to clear the street to allow traffic from the Hawthorne Bridge, which exits onto Main Street, to flow freely. Most, but not all, protesters agreed; on the night of October 12, police cleared the street and made eight arrests, indicating that they would continue to keep the street open.[2][13]

Occupy Portland poster

A protest in the Pearl District began the afternoon of October 29, following a march that ended in Jamison Square.[3] Mayor Sam Adams had prohibited the expansion of the protest into city parks beyond Chapman and Lownsdale squares; when protesters defied him, 25 of them were arrested.[3] Protestors said that the residents of the Pearl District were members of the wealthy demographic they were protesting.[14]

Crime

On October 21, Portland Police released crime statistics that "showed an 81 percent spike in crime compared to the two weeks before the protest started ... Police said between Oct. 6 and 20, there were 11 arrests for vandalism and 16 for disorderly conduct." [15]

Financial irregularities

The organizers of Occupy Portland have reported $20,000 donated to the group through a PayPal account as having disappeared.[16] The decision of a member of the finance committee, Reid Jackson, to file for incorporation as a non-profit with the state of Oregon has also resulted in death threats at him. Reid has claimed to have done it to 'protect the people' and that 'someone who has infiltrated the group and is trying to capitalize on the money.'[16]

Cooperation with city officials

Video of the protest

Portland's protesters have sought amicable relations with police, city officials and others in the community.[17] Although the protesters failed to obtain a permit for their October 6 march, or for their subsequent rally in Pioneer Courthouse Square, they avoided confrontation with police by stressing a willingness to keep the march and rally peaceful and under control. They succeeded and no arrests were made.[18]

On October 7, the protesters entered negotiations with city officials and Portland police to remain in Lownsdale and Chapman squares. At issue was the fact that the city had granted a permit to Portland Marathon to assemble in Lownsdale Square on October 9. Protesters agreed to consolidate into Chapman Square, and began negotiating with city, police and marathon officials over security requirements.[19] On October 8, protesters reached an agreement with the marathon, city and police, and several hundred protesters marched behind marathon runners on October 9.[20][21] Portland Marathon officials declared the day a success, and event director Les Smith asserted that "the Occupy Portland people have been a godsend for us."[22]


Supporters

Pink Martini entertains Occupy Portland protesters in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square.

With "hundreds of people" attending the "organizing meetings, many of them younger people", the Occupy Portland protest attracted widespread support from the community, even while the protest was still in its planning stages.[23] Members of Portland's chapter of Veterans for Peace as well as members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union, the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Laborers' International Union of North America, and of other local labor organizations participated in the march.[8][24][25][26] The Executive Board of Laborer's Local 483 (LIUNA) released a statement in support of the protest, which said "Laborers' Local 483 unites with Occupy Portland. You are the hope for the future."[27] Mayoral candidate Eileen Brady has also expressed her support for the demonstration, though she echoed Mayor Sam Adams' contention that protesters should abide by city ordinances and not block streets without a permit.[28]

State Representative Jefferson Smith is the only one of the three major contenders for Portland mayor, Brady notwithstanding, to go on the record as opposing any attempt to remove the protest camp from downtown Portland for as long as the protesters remain peaceful. "If things are getting out of hand criminally, we've got to be willing to use force. But we shouldn't be willing to use force merely for the expression of speech," said Smith on October 25.[29]


Shutdown by riot police

At 12:01 AM, November 13, 2011, mayor Sam Adams gave the order for the Portland Police to clear out and dismantle the park. About 70% of the campers left promptly; though the remaining 30% stayed. In the following hours thousands of Portlanders came to defend the camp, and the police were pushed back twice. Violence was mild; a horse of one of the mounties of the Portland Police stepped on a person's foot, and one policeman was hit by a firework, with non-life threatening injuries, and another with a water bottle.

Soon after dawn, the police came in and swept away and dismantled most of the tents. [30] Originally the protesters acquiesced, but a group later took the northwest part of Chapman Square until riot police physically took over the area around noon. [30]

Riot police eventually shut down the protest. Dozens of people were arrested. Protesters said police used excessive force against them as they talked among themselves about what they would do once they had left, with one saying. "We were talking about what we were going to do and then they just started hitting people".[31] The BBC and others reported that police threatened to use "chemical agents and impact weapons" if the protesters did not cease with their activities.[31][32][33][34] In response, those who demonstrated were heard to exclaim, "We are a peaceful protest", "I don't see no riot here, take off your riot gear" and "The whole world is watching".[32] Riot police began to dismantle the protest with demonstrators putting up little resistance as many were led off in handcuffs.[35] The scene was streamed live online to an international audience and received global press coverage.[31][32][35]

On November 13, 2011, members of Occupy Portland were forced to leave Lownsdale and Chapman Squares, and their intentional community was dismantled. [36] [37]

Though the camp was destroyed, the showdown was seen as a victory because the police were pushed back twice and the deadline was not met, and aside from the actions of two people, the event was nonviolent on the part of the protesters and until the crackdown, on the part of the police as well aside from the unleashing of the mounties. [38]


Later that day at noon, while the protesters were participating in a march, the city built a chain-link fence around the parks, preventing the protestors from returning to the camp site. The few protestors who had remained behind were removed by police without incident.

Timeline

  • On October 31, 2011, filmmaker Michael Moore visited Occupy Portland protesters and delivered a speech at Terry Schrunk Plaza.[39] Shrunk Plaza is federally-owned property located next to Chapman and Lownsdale squares, Occupy Portland's main campsite that is currently allowed by the City of Portland.[40] Ten protesters have been arrested for camping on this plot next to the main campsite, due to city orders prohibiting protesters from expanding their campsites to other city parks in Portland.[40]

See also

References

  1. ^ Suarez, Paul (October 7, 2011). "Police arrest two overnight in connection with Occupy Portland". The Columbian. http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/07/police-arrest-two-overnight-connection-occupy-port/. Retrieved October 13, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b Redden, Jim (October 12, 2011). "Police reopen Main Street between protest camps". Portland Tribune (Portland, Oregon: Pamplin Media Group). http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=131846952573390500. Retrieved October 13, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b c UPDATED: Pearl District Occupation Ends with 27 Arrests. an October 30, 2011 blog post at Willamette Week
  4. ^ a b c d e Haberman, Margaret (October 6, 2011). "Occupy Portland hits town with cast of thousands for massive, peaceful demonstration". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon: Advance Publications). ISSN 8750-1317. http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/10/occupy_portland_holds_massive.html. Retrieved October 6, 2011. 
  5. ^ "Occupy Portland given deadline to leave downtown parks". November 10, 2011. http://www.kptv.com/story/16008794/occupy-portland-given-deadline. Retrieved November 10, 2011. 
  6. ^ "Occupy Portland: Eviction deadline approaches at downtown parks". November 12, 2011. http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/11/occupy_portland_eviction_deadl.html. 
  7. ^ Moore, Shasta Kearns (October 5, 2011). "How Occupy Wall Street (and maybe Occupy Portland) will fail". Portland Tribune. http://portlandtribune.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=131782541996194000. Retrieved October 6, 2011. 
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Occupy Portland: Protesters march, begin to fill Pioneer Courthouse Square". The Oregonian. October 6, 2011. http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/10/occupy_portland_mayor_sam_adam.html. Retrieved October 6, 2011. 
  9. ^ Winick, TJ (October 2, 2011). "Occupy Wall Street Protesters: We Are Americans". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/US/occupy-wall-street-protesters-americans/story?id=14652698. Retrieved October 6, 2011. 
  10. ^ Blanchard, Dave (October 4, 2011). "Occupy Portland". Oregon Public Broadcasting. http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/shows/occupy-portland/. Retrieved October 6, 2011. 
  11. ^ a b c d "Tentative plan allows demonstrators, marathoners to share parks". Portland, Oregon: KPTV. October 5, 2011. http://www.kptv.com/story/15628915/tentative-plan-allows-demonstrators-marathoners-to-share-parks?. Retrieved October 6, 2011. 
  12. ^ Giedwoyn, Antonia (October 6, 2011). "Downtown Portland Protest Expected To Disrupt Traffic". Oregon Public Broadcasting. http://news.opb.org/article/downtown-portland-protest-expected-disrupt-traffic/. Retrieved October 6, 2011. 
  13. ^ Baer, April (October 13, 2011). "Arrests Don't Derail 'Occupy Portland' Protests". Oregon Public Broadcasting. http://news.opb.org/article/arrests_don't_derail_occupy_portland_protests/. 
  14. ^ Police Arrest Dozens of Occupy Portland Protesters, CBS News, October 30, 2011
  15. ^ "Occupy Portland responds to unfavorable crime statistics". Fox 12 Oregon. October 21, 2011. http://www.kptv.com/story/15771751/occupy-portland-responds-to-unfavorable-crime-statistics. Retrieved October 21, 2011. 
  16. ^ a b "Occupy Portland fears it has lost up to $20,000 in donations". The Oregonian. October 26, 2011. http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/10/in_downtown_portland_fears_tha.html. Retrieved October 26, 2011. 
  17. ^ Humphrey, Wm. Steven (October 8, 2011). "Occupy Portland: Is There Such a Thing as "Too Much" Cooperation?". The Portland Mercury. http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2011/10/08/occupy-portland-is-there-such-a-thing-as-too-much-cooperation. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
  18. ^ "Occupy Portland march peaceful, arrest-free". Portland Business Journal. October 7, 2011. http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2011/10/occupy-portland-march-peaceful.html. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
  19. ^ "Occupy Portland Collaborative talks". City of Portland. October 7, 2011. http://www.portlandonline.com/police/pbnotify.cfm?action=ViewContent&content_id=2491. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
  20. ^ Bailey Jr., Everton (October 8, 2011). "Occupy Portland march planned for Sunday; protesters agree not to disrupt marathon". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/10/occupy_portland_march_planned.html. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
  21. ^ The Associated Press (October 8, 2011). "Occupy Portland march to follow marathoners". The Columbian. http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/08/occupy-portland-demonstrators-set-psu/. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
  22. ^ Njus, Elliot (October 9, 2011). "Portland Marathon compromise brings biggest Occupy Portland demonstration since Thursday's debut march". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/10/portland_marathon_compromise_b.html. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
  23. ^ Cooke, Shamus (October 7, 2011). "Occupy Portland Is Born with Ten Thousand Strong". GlobalResearch.ca. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26969. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
  24. ^ "Occupy Portland: 10,000 march to protest Wall Street misrule". NWLaborPress.org. October 7, 2011. http://nwlaborpress.org/2011/10/occupyportlandoct6/. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
  25. ^ "Members of Laborers' Local 483, ILWU, IBEW, Roofers, Carpenters, Painters, IATSE, SEIU, Teamsters and many other unions joined in the Occupy Portland rally and march on Thursday, October 6". Facebook. October 7, 2011. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=243003619084351&set=a.133690653348982.33907.100463786671669. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
  26. ^ "AFSCME members join in the 'Occupy Portland' event". OregonAFSCME.com. October 7, 2011. http://www.oregonafscme.com/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&homeID=220462. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
  27. ^ "Dear Protesters of Occupy Portland". PortlandWiki.org. http://www.portlandwiki.org/images/1/1a/LIUNA_Unity_OP.jpg. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
  28. ^ "Arrests made as Portland police clear Main Street in downtown". KOIN 6 News. October 13, 2011. http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Arrests-made-as-Portland-police-clear-Main-Street/g71cjoMlzESf3_HNfhF7Rw.cspx. Retrieved October 16, 2011. 
  29. ^ "Some want to expand protest; mayoral candidates weigh in". KATU. October 25, 2011. http://www.katu.com/news/local/132595213.html. Retrieved October 26, 2011. 
  30. ^ a b Occupy Portland: Police raze camps, drive protesters from 2 squares | OregonLive.com
  31. ^ a b c "Occupy Portland: Dozens arrested as camps torn apart (VIDEO)". RT. November 14, 2011. http://rt.com/news/occupy-portland-moved-prison-257/. Retrieved November 14, 2011. 
  32. ^ a b c "Police close down Occupy Portland protest camp". BBC News. November 14, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15715256. Retrieved November 14, 2011. 
  33. ^ "Occupy Portland, riot police face off". PressTV. November 14, 2011. http://www.presstv.ir/detail/209959.html. Retrieved November 14, 2011. 
  34. ^ "Police surround Occupy protesters in Oregon". NZHerald. November 14, 2011. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10765993. Retrieved November 14, 2011. 
  35. ^ a b "Police move to clear out Oakland protest camp". Aljazeera. November 14, 2011. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2011/11/2011111445038175195.html. Retrieved November 14, 2011. 
  36. ^ Oakland raid is latest in Occupy camp crackdowns - seattlepi.com
  37. ^ Occupy Portland Protesters Face Showdown With Police Over Eviction Order - The Huffington Post
  38. ^ Occupy Portland declare victory, but clear out of city parks - NY Daily News
  39. ^ (November 01, 2011.) "Michael Moore visits Occupy Portland protesters." The Oregonian. Accessed November 2011.
  40. ^ a b Saker, Anne (November 01, 2011). "Occupy Portland considers returning to Schrunk Plaza, plans Wednesday rally in support of Oakland general strike." The Oregonian. Accessed November 2011.

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