Back in court for day two. Q: Does Portland's near-daily use of force against protesters violate court order to use munitions only in life-threatening circumstances? We're focused on June 30th: when police used tear gas to protect their union building, which isn't public property
Indie journalist Katerina Haas documents protests for people who can't attend bc, like her, they're disabled (Haas has just 30% strength in her L leg). That night, police shot her R leg w rubber bullet. “For the next week, I was double-limping. It made it very hard to walk.”
Good morning from Portland, where the city is arguing that its near-daily use of force against protesters doesn't violate a court order to use less-lethal munitions only in life threatening circumstances. Hearing runs today and tomorrow. Follow this thread for highlights. Wheeee!
Portland police pepper-sprayed one protester just after ordering the dispersal of a protest outside the police union building. The court order bars police from pepper-spraying people for passive resistance.
City attorney to protester: "You could have just walked away."
An investigator for the protesters who combs through livestream coverage is now painstakingly going through video showing police use of force. City attorney repeatedly tries to get him to agree that throwing water bottles at police equals “an act of violence.”
The difference between police treatment of a Proud Boys rally yesterday vs their response to a protest last night against police brutality could not be more stark
This picture, where police trumpet their seizure of a couple of worn out weapons from antifacist protesters, is pretty ridiculous considering the advanced weaponry they ignored at the Proud Boys rally
I saw extensive friendly coordination yesterday between police and national leaders of the Proud Boys. Here’s that story: courthousenews.com/proud-boys-ral…
Good morning from Vancouver, Washington, where Proud Boys are already declaring victory ahead of today’s planned protests. The wins? @OregonGovBrown state of emergency and the decision to allow @ppb to use tear gas
In the convoy, on the way to Delta Park. Just passed a Vancouver police cruiser— cop inside flashed a peace sign to the line of trucks as he drove by
At park entrance, Oregon State Police meet convoy, guide Proud Boys into the park
Happening now: Listen in as government attorneys argue that the Ninth Circuit should lift a restraining order banning federal agents from assaulting and arresting journalists ca9.uscourts.gov/media/view_vid…
Govt lawyer says journalists are not facing harm from federal agents, but that the order harms the feds: "every time a federal officer leaves a federal building and encounters someone on the streets of Portland, this injunction is currently hanging over their head."
"Every action comes with an untenable choice, which is they have to risk their safety or risk contempt."
New: Injunction now bars fed agents from assaulting journalists in Portland
Judge says journalists aren’t asking for “extra” rights to stick around &cover action after agents disperse crowds for one simple reason: feds don’t have authority to declare a riot and clear PDX streets
And no. Federal agents never left Portland. They've just been out of sight. Court documents and testimony in this case make that clear. courthousenews.com/judge-to-rule-…