Three accounts from a march in Portland. Mainstream media, with videos (1) (2).
from PSA:
This meant as a short overview of the events that transpired during the Oct. 11th solidarity march with grand jury resisters and is not meant to be some in-depth analysis. This is written from my individual perspective and in no way does this represent the totality of what went down.
On Oct. 11 a group of around 75 people gathered in a small park in S.E. Portland in response to a call of solidarity with Leah, Matt, and KateeO who were all swept up by the state in the most recent wave of repression targeting anarchists in the Pacific N.W. The crowd was made up of many folks who I had not seen in a long time as well as new faces of folks whom I had never met. The sight of so many new faces and old friends was refreshing.
A banner was unfurled that read: “BURN THE PRISONS, HUG CATS. YOLO (A) ACAB” and as a voice rang out from the crowd “the state kidnapped Leah, KateeO, and Matt, let’s show the state what happens when they imprison our friends!” The crowd cheered and began to pour into the street.
As the march got underway construction signs were pulled into the street and the chant “OUR PASSION FOR FREEDOM IS STRONGER THEN THEIR PRISONS!” could be heard echoing though the quiet SE neighborhood. As the crowd made it on to Hawthorne Blvd newspaper boxes were pulled out into the street as well as more construction signs. As the crowd passed an Umpqua Bank several large windows were bashed out. This was met by cheers from the crowd. More newspaper boxes were pulled into the streets as the crowd yelled “GIVE NO FUCKS TAKE NO ORDERS, SMASH THE PRISONS AND THE BORDER!” As the march passed a Wells Fargo Bank, a chair, which had been expropriated from a nearby posh cafe, made its way through one of the banks windows and another march participant began kicking the banks glass door in an unsuccessful attempt to break it, this was also met with cheers of approval. Nearby bar patrons began to yell in support and confusion and a group of youth at the bus stop joined the march albeit temporarily. As the crowd began to turn north on Cesar Chavez Blvd a rock was thrown through the window of a Chase Bank. As the march continued forward a US Bank had several windows smashed-out and a Walgreens had a brick slab thrown through a glass door. At this point the march began to dissipate.
In the end there were no arrests and at no point did the march encounter police, however the corporate media reported that several people were temporarily detained after the march, but I cannot confirm that. The corporate media also claimed in their coverage of this event that the march attacked pedestrians with bottles. This like most corporate media claims is completely false and borders on the ridiculous. In fact at no time did I witness any “citizen heroes” from within or outside the march attempt to disrupt militant tactics, nor were there any negative exchanges with bystanders that I saw. Since the initial FBI raids on the homes of anarchists in Portland back in July and the subsequent grand jury subpoenas and imprisonments this was the first public militant response in Portland to state repression. While I think we need to aware of the limitations of our actions and always strive to broaden and deepen the struggle against capital and the state, it’s reassuring to see militant activity in response to repression as opposed to making the mistake hiding away in fear and isolation.
I urge people to continue to support the grand jury resisters in whatever capacity they can. Write a letter and throw some money their way cause that shits important too.
For updates on the Grand Jury and the resistance to it check out
http://saynothing.noblogs.org/
In complicity and solidarity,
-a RIP City anarchist
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