Tweet

Hannah Ray Lambert

2 Nov, 6 tweets, 2 min read

We've tracked arrests and citations by local authorities since Portland's protests began. Charges have effectively been dropped in about 90% of cases. I spoke with Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt about why that is.
koin.com/news/protests/…

Schmidt says his policy to presumptively decline to prosecute certain protest charges protects speech rights & saves resources for more serious crimes.

"Breaking windows of businesses, lighting things on fire, stealing ... that’s what we’re focusing on."

Schmidt maintains his office reviews each case & could bring charges later. When I asked if that's likely for the hundreds of dismissed/no complaint cases, he said no.

"The vast majority of those are going to fall within our policy parameters of no evidence of harm or damage."

Critic and longtime prosecutor Josh Marquis says the policy is biased in favor of one political ideology.

“I think it's virtue signaling, which is one of the last things a district attorney should do.”

He doesn’t think riots will stop until local leaders take a stronger stance.

@OJRCenter

Juan Chavez of @OJRCenter sees it differently.

“This is not a problem that the police or the mayor can gas and beat their way out of. They have to meet the protesters where they are and take their demands seriously.”

All of this comes as Portland is bracing for more unrest following tomorrow's election. Check out the full story for a breakdown of the data, including most common charges, case status, and more.
bit.ly/325HHQV

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

More from @TheHannahRay

Hannah Ray Lambert

@TheHannahRay

19 Aug

Crowd of at least 200 just marched to the Multnomah County building on SE Hawthorne and Grand chanting "No cops. No prison. Total abolition."

Buses momentarily paused on the Hawthorne Bridge, then all turned north on Grand.

Dumpster fire at 6th and Hawthorne.

Read 18 tweets

Hannah Ray Lambert

@TheHannahRay

13 Aug

Scene in downtown Portland right now. Featuring the new elk statue and a Federal Courthouse that has had a lot of the graffiti removed.

Speeches at the Justice Center. This man has harsh words for "opportunists" who want to burn things or break into the buildings.

"Take your motherf***ing punk a** home. ... We are tired of our people getting hurt behind your bullsh*t."

The same man said he tried to go to the eastside protest yesterday. Claims protesters wouldn't let him in.

"They told me I could not come up in there. Not the police. The people. I'm Black."

Read 28 tweets

Hannah Ray Lambert

@TheHannahRay

10 Aug

A crowd of 200+ left Kenton Park around 9:30 and just arrived at the PPA building on North Lombard. One speaker told the group before the march: "Tonight we will be civilly disobedient. And there's nothing peaceful about the protest."
koin.com/news/protests/…

Crowd in front of PPA. Other people are using fences, cars, dumpsters and other items to block the road.

Within moments of arriving, police issued a warning to the crowd. Now they're back and declaring an unlawful assembly. Warning of impact munitions or tear gas.

Read 16 tweets

Hannah Ray Lambert

@TheHannahRay

6 Aug

"Who's ready to raise some hell tonight?" a person with a megaphone asked, prompting cheers. The crowd of about 200 gathered at Floyd Light City Park plans to march to PPB's East Precinct any minute now.
koin.com/news/protests/…

Marching over to PPB East Precinct.

Chanting outside. There were a bunch of paper hearts expressing support for police taped on the plywood, but a couple people promptly tore most of them off. Lasers are being pointed at security cameras.

Read 20 tweets

Hannah Ray Lambert

@TheHannahRay

5 Aug

I'm at Peninsula Park in North Portland where a march is supposed to start at 8. Destination unknown at this point. A couple dozen protesters appear to be here right now (along with other people/families hanging out in the park).

"Defund police" banner flying overhead.

Getting a later-than-planned start, but the crowd voted and we are starting to march to the Portland Police Association (North Precinct was the other option). I'd guess the crowd is about 200 people strong.

Read 25 tweets

Hannah Ray Lambert

@TheHannahRay

3 Aug

About 100 people in the parks across from Justice Center and Federal Courthouse right now.

Woman standing where the elk statue used to be is saying COVID is made up. Called it a plandemic. Many people are yelling that that's not true. A few people seemed like they were trying to drown her out with chants of "Black lives matter."