Thread by @Marissa_Jae

“Black lives matter!” the crowd is chanting in unison in front of the Justice Center in downtown #Portland. This even after Gov. Brown announced earlier today that the feds might be leaving town — and the crowd keeps coming. #PDXprotests

Back in the 1990s, #Portland earned the nickname “Little Beirut” after protests erupted in the city every time George H.W. Bush came to visit. Today, faced with a different Republican president who has called Portland “worse than Afgananistan,” this #PDX native has this to say 👇🏽

“Hell no, we won’t go!” the crowd is chanting.

The #PortlandProtests, which erupted after the police killing of George Floyd, have been ongoing nonstop for more than 60 days straight. #PDX

These flood lights on the second floor of the federal courthouse are new — they light up the street out in front of the reinforced iron fence surrounding it. This projection, put up amid cheers from the #Portland crowd out here, is also new. #PDX

Front line: Wall of Moms into the Wall of Vets, standing in the beam of the new floodlights at the top of the courthouse. #PortlandProtest

Three warnings in a row from the Federal Protective Service as the crowd explodes in boos and chants of “feds go home!” One young man waking through the crowd laughed as he went, saying, “Watch out guys, someone touched their precious fence!” #PortlandProtests

Last night, the feds held back on the gas — so much so the crowd was heckling them, saying they had run out. Today, they’re back to unleashing several rounds of gas before 11 pm. Here’s the scene as leaf blower folks clear the air. #PortlandProtest

The drummers have put their gas masks and respirators on and the beat plays on. It’s been 15 mins since the last round of gas. #PortlandProtest

Protest supplies 2020. #pdx

Federal agents firing down on the crowd from the roof unloaded tear gas, stun grenades and a steady stream of pepper balls. Very chaotic few minutes as folks scattered, looking for a place that was out of reach from the explosives, but they were flying all over. #PortlandProtests

Unlawful assembly declared. The feds are telling peaceful protesters to head east. Whatever they’re using to fire the gas is different and more powerful than what I’ve seen out here before. They are flying high and fast, shooting into the parks, across the street.

The feds have splintered the group, with police surrounding the area and protesters shouting “they’re trying to kettle!” as they ran down side streets. I’m on 2nd and Salmon where a line of protesters continue to stare down officers. #PortlandProtest

Looks like three different agencies out here in three different uniforms. #PortlandProtest

The feds make an arrest and pull the person into the federal courthouse through a back door. #PortlandProtest

They’ve pushed the remaining protesters and a gaggle of press west back toward the front of the courthouse. Firing tear gas, flash bangs and pepper balls. #PortlandProtest

This man is standing in front of the federal police, several of whom are carrying riot shields, waving an American flag. #PortlandProtest #pdx

The same man is now kneeling. His hands pressed seemingly in prayer. Behind him, protesters are shouting, “Who do you protect? Who do you serve?” #PortlandProtests #pdx