The shocking and brutal footage of George Floyd’s murder by police in Minneapolis on May 25 was a wake-up call for many Americans, and an all-too-familiar sight for others. In the days following, cities across the nation protested against police violence and systemic racism, with many calling for police defunding, reformation, and abolition. Portland, too, answered the call, and for almost two months, protesters had engaged in demonstrations across the city, and almost every night they would end in confrontations with the Portland Police Bureau, whose crowd control tactics have been called into question. It seemed to some that, after almost two months, the protests were slowing down. Not losing traction, but shifting gears. And then one day: the feds showed up.

Today on the show, we talk with Tuck Woodstock about the ongoing protests in Portland. Tuck is an independent journalist in Portland who’s been documenting the protests almost every day since they began in May. They most recently wrote a piece in Portland Monthly about the federal presence in Portland and how their tactics mirror and the Portland Police Bureau's. Tuck is also the host of Gender Reveal. 

About Footnotes

Every Friday we break down our most important stories with the writers, contributors, and editors who crafted them. Hosted by Portland Monthly’s digital editor Gabriel Granillo, Footnotes provides clarity on complex stories with intimate and informative interviews.

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