On April 15th at approximately 8:11am a political protest by members of the Americans for Prosperity group was broken up by a Portland Police Officer. The group of a dozen or so protesters was stationed in NE Portland on the 12th Avenue overpass over I-84. When asked by a protester, Michael (no last name here for obvious reasons), why their small protest was being broken up, the police officer said
she couldn’t tell them but that she was sent over by her Sergeant to get it done. When asked what laws or ordinances they were breaking they were informed that they were ‘pushing it’ and if they wanted to ‘be arrested’ it would be alright by her. She never answered their question because, as it was explained by Michael on my show Thursday and Monday, she admitted she didn’t know what laws they were breaking.

I believe the individual–that’s right ONE guy–who made a phone call about the Tea Party people slowing traffic made a false report. We will be asking Portland Police to cite him for making a false report (and a non emergency one for that matter). One call cut short the rights of free assembly, free expression for a dozen or so people.  Let me state my case:

• His was the only call. No one else thought traffic slowing was out of the ordinary.
• Traffic reports from the day before and day of reveal the traffic was about the same.
• He was able to read several signs? Must be a speed reader with excellent eyesight.
• He phoned it in ten minutes later–if it were THAT big a deal, wouldn’t you phone it in at that very moment?
• Folks from AFP were checking both sides of the freeway and reported no extraordinary slowing of traffic.

Here’s the 911 call. If you use it you must credit KPAM’s Victoria Taft Show.