Thread by @SethCotlar

Rabbi ends her portion of the inter-faith counter-protest with a song. Followed by speaker from the Portland NAACP.

The NAACP speaker led the crowd in a rousing freedom song.

The banana costume folks have arrived.

The banana band is warming up.

The banana people even have a hilarious flag.

Their group goes by the name “The Unpresidented Brass Band.”

Pretty sizable counter-protest here. Judging by what I see on Twitter, the right wingers are headed this direction.

PPB has issued a warning.

And the dance party begins.

There are two dance parties happening simultaneously here.

This is a pretty fantastic dance party.

I’m hanging with these women on the edges of the counter-protest.

And with the folks who made this sign.

Crowd showing their appreciation for the dancers who have just finished up.

Speaker from Jobs for Justice says “F*ck the Proud Boys, this is the kind of pride we need,” referring to the dance troupe who just performed.

Banana Band returning from serenading the right wingers.

For context, here’s the scene at the Portland Saturday market, a few hundred feet from the counter protest where I shot those other videos.

I just ate a delicious lunch of caprese salad and grilled asparagus, but you only get to see the dregs because communism.

TBH, I did not expect Portland communism to cost this much of my money.

Back at the counter protest. The right wingers have reportedly piled back into their school busses and headed elsewhere. Meanwhile, the banana band plays on.

Crowd at counter protest welcoming back the masked anti-fascists who served as the front line of protection against the right wing fight clubs.

Crowd has thinned out. The IWW has busted out some updated labor songs. This is “Union Queer.”

7 blocks from the action these folks are playing some beautiful “inspirational music” for a very small but appreciative crowd.

There are about 7 very large men in black guarding the Nike store downtown. This is not what you’d see on a normal Saturday.

Update: when the “inspirational music” ended several people said “Praise Jesus,” while the audience applauded. So if you hear conservatives say Portland is hostile to public expressions of Christian faith, you can tell them they’re full of it.

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