Live Coverage of Portland's Election Night 2020 Demonstrations
Multnomah County Election personnel watch as a person dries up to a SE Portland ballot collection box to vote.
Image: Andrew Jankowski
It's Tuesday, and Portlanders are preparing to gather for another night of demonstration—a ritual that, for many, stretches back to early summer, when the city first exploded in protest after the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota. It's also election day, and as the results from a political season marked by significant strife pour in from around the country, many expect those demonstrations to swell tonight.
Some Portland retailers have boarded up their storefronts, joining their counterparts in major cities across the U.S. Yesterday morning, Governor Brown declared a preemptive state of emergency and put the National Guard on notice. The city is braced for impact. And we've tapped Andrew Jankowski, who's been covering the Portland protests from their inception, to report on tonight's demonstrations live for Portland Monthly.
Follow him on Twitter @AndrewJank and check back here for live updates from the ground. He'll begin the night in East Portland.
I heard music at Revolution Hall from over a block away. ~200 people are gathered for a planned All Power to the People West Coast Solidarity rally and march. I couldn't hear this musician's name, but his song is called "Head of State." pic.twitter.com/KvFbtPnlYy
— 🏳️🌈Andrew D. Jankowski🏳️🌈 (@AndrewJank) November 4, 2020
Mac Smiff, a journalist who was arrested over the weekend while reporting on demonstrations in Vancouver, Washington after 21 year-old Kevin Peterson Jr. was killed by police, takes the mic at Rev Hall.
He talks about how Black men get hypermasculinized, and how Black women are told to smile through their pain, and called negative if they express their pain.
— 🏳️🌈Andrew D. Jankowski🏳️🌈 (@AndrewJank) November 4, 2020
After additional speakers, including a member of the New Black Panther Party, discussed Peterson's vigil and historic political barriers for Black Americans, there's a break for music.
After the Shakur chant is repeated, there's a break for music and community building. A march was said online to start at 6, but that didn't happen. Lizzo's "Truth Hurts" plays as a drum line passes me, a few playing to the beat.
— 🏳️🌈Andrew D. Jankowski🏳️🌈 (@AndrewJank) November 4, 2020
After 20ish minutes of downtime, a march prepares to leave from Inner Southeast, near Rev Hall.
Instructions are given to leave the windows of small businesses alone.
— 🏳️🌈Andrew D. Jankowski🏳️🌈 (@AndrewJank) November 4, 2020
There is another remind to press, especially white journalists, to get on the sidewalk (where I am). Emotions are high. We're moving again.
— 🏳️🌈Andrew D. Jankowski🏳️🌈 (@AndrewJank) November 4, 2020
After marching past several bars and some socially distanced election parties, the crowd loops back.
As we walk back, the person on the mic talks about what comes after this election, no matter who wins the presidency. There's talk of how many millions of people lose if the ACA gets repealed, for example.
— 🏳️🌈Andrew D. Jankowski🏳️🌈 (@AndrewJank) November 4, 2020
White teens are being reprimanded by Black adults for attempting to vandalize Revolution Hall before the march returned. Their excuses are... bad, but some of them seem to be getting it.
— 🏳️🌈Andrew D. Jankowski🏳️🌈 (@AndrewJank) November 4, 2020
It looks like the march may be winding down without much fanfare. But, quick question, has anyone seen Andrew's ID?
I'm hearing cops have been seen in the area for most of the march, which seems over.
— 🏳️🌈Andrew D. Jankowski🏳️🌈 (@AndrewJank) November 4, 2020
Related, I have almost certainly lost my ID. 😐😑😐
