I didn’t think Sam Adams would give the Portland Police Bureau the go ahead to arrest protesters for “Occupy Portland.”
But when it was clear that protesters had come for the sole purpose of getting arrested and those arrests were about as spontaneous as a Broadway production of RENT, what else could he do?
 |
| Sam Shows Up & Booed |
He issued a throw down and now had to come through, right?
I drove around the park about noon Saturday to see if any Occupiers were planting a flag but saw the usual crowd—including a young woman practicing dance jumps into the arms of her partner. Fifis and Fidos abounded. Nothing unusual was occuring.
 |
| Attorneys Go Over Arrest List ~ 10pm |
As part of our after dinner novelties, I invited my sister to go down to Jamison and Chapman and Lownsdale to check on the state of the Occupation.
A few dozen or so people– mostly curiosity seekers– were observing the few folks gathered from Occupy Portland. Attorneys were readying their arrest lists.
My sister was taken aback by my directness with some of the protesters–until she saw Chapman and Lownsdale–and understood the stakes.
I talked to a nice cop who informed me that arrests would be made starting at 12:01am. This I had to see.
 |
| Waiting to be Arrested |
I came back with my daughter in tow to watch the spectacle. The police were loosely surrounding the small park, mounted patrol cops were large and in charge.
 |
| Waiting to be Arrested |
Onlookers, some in costumes from Halloween parties, stood around the perimeter. Neighbors out for their nightly stroll and people meandering after dinner surrounded the square. A few folks started yelling at the protesters telling them to shove off. One man yelled at the from the SW side of the park, eventually devolving into name calling. The Occupy Portlanders, who care so much about their free speech, came over with whistles and screams to drown him out. Free speech for me, but not for thee.  |
| Attorneys Who Specialize in Rabble |
After an hour I thought this would be a stale mate. I believed the Occupiers would call and respond from their bullhorn, they’d huff and puff, and then the cops would let them stay.
They told the law abiding (including the media) to clear out of the park. That meant we were on the perimeter with a perfectly good view. I saw the nice cop I’d engaged two hours before and told him that if I was getting shoved off the park they’d darned well better be arresting people. He looked alarmed. Sorry I barked at you, Officer.
Mayor Sam Adams made an appearance after 1am or so. You heard about him before you saw him. ‘Let’s go get him, let’s talk to him!” A scrum surrounded him. I angled for a picture and shot a couple of questions at him which he would not answer. One determined woman was next to me. She asked him to please get rid of the encampment at Lownsdale and Chapman. She told him she felt unsafe. “Where do you live?” he asked her. “Along 12th Avenue,” was the reply. He disappeared. Good thing. He’s not one of the Occupiers’ faves.I figured he was there for the photo op but not any arrests and was beginning to think nothing would happen, so my daughter and I took our cameras and left. But about a block away I came upon cops donning helmets and shields –riot gear. A sniper could be seen atop the roof of one of the chi chi apartment buildings overlooking the square. Hmmm maybe something IS happening here, I thought. We hurried back for the show, er, orchestrated arrests.
Before too long the cops in riot gear lined up along N side of the park. I knew the drill. They’d just walk right through the park and clear anyone in their way. I stood on the other side to take photos.
At that point some rabble rousers, two outfitted in jackets with Occupy insignia (they’re selling merch now???), who were screaming epithets at the police came by. They called the cops names and I said, “Yay, police!” A girl turned on me and screamed,’why are you cheering on the cops, they have guns!’ I informed her that under the second amendment of the constitution she could have one too! One of the guys with the flashy Occupy Portland jacket said to me he wanted the constitution to ‘go away’ and the country to ‘go away’ because he said, “Privilege should be punished.”
Oy.
My twitter feed from Sunday am
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
Cops are walking through park in a line. Doing nothing. Protesters hurling insults. #5vtshow
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
I had a protester just tell me he wants the constitution to go away..and the country too because privilege needs to be punished. #5vtshow
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
Another cop car comes! Perhaps …? Mounted patrol. Comes back. Clearing crowd. #5vtshow
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
TWO ARRESTED? I WAS JUST CALLED A HATER. WHAT EV, HONEY#5VTSHIW
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
One guy just started. yelling at cops to arrest the protesters. Cop car just drove into park arrests imminent?
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
Hey news media: the disgusted taxpayers are on NE side of park. #5vtshow
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
More onlookers than protesters and some pretty disgusted tax payers. They won’t make the news, I’m guessing #5vtshow
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
About 20 people are planning to be arrested because they can’t move their squat here. #5vtshow
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
I just told the same cop I talked to 2 hrs ago that they’d better be making arrests if I’m getting kicked out #5vtshow
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
Cops are taking signs. Telling media to get out of park or be arrested. #5vtshow
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
I was told 2 hours ago cops would be arresting people at 12:01. What’s the holdup? #5vtshow
VictoriaTaft Victoria Taft
Mayor Sam Adams just walked through Jamison Square and got an earful from a woman who is Po’d about the occupy crap# 5vtshow
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com
