The revolution was, in fact, televised (Jack Bog's Blog)

We're a half step off today. We stayed up too late last night watching the Portland police arrest protesters in Jamison Square Park in the Pearl District. One of the Occupy crowd had a video camera on the scene, and it was streaming live on the internet over something called, appropriately enough, livestream. And then we noticed that KATU was carrying a live feed, with a reporter present, on local television. The best combination was the professional TV video -- its camera gave a far superior picture -- and the livestream audio. The KATU reporter had nothing meaningful to add to the images, and she deliberately kept her distance from the shouting members of the crowd, some of whom were using filthy language. In contrast, the livestream guy, although his camera was weak, was right in the thick of things, and he provided his own reasonable commentary over the cacophany behind him.

Although the park officially closed at midnight, it wasn't until about an hour later that the police actually started hauling people out. They used a couple of paddy wagons, a half dozen horses, and a few patrol cars. Several dozen officers donned riot gear, wearing helmets with clear face shields, and carrying clubs. It was about 3:30 in the morning when the last of the 27 or so arrestees were wheeled away.

The people who hunkered down in the park were remarkably quiet, but the hundreds of people who paraded around on the adjoining sidewalk were loud and obnoxious, and they kept it up for several hours. Chanting, screaming, shouting through bullhorns, surely they kept many a resident of the toney Pearl awake most of the night. There was still a noisy gathering of several dozen people when the last of the cops left and they retook the park at 3:30.

Perhaps the most startling sight on the screen was how up in the police officers' faces many of the folks on the sidewalk got. They taunted them mercilessly, lectured them at high decibel levels and uncomfortably close distance, and did everything but spit in their faces as they cussed them out. The police officers showed incredible restraint. A particularly nasty group of men showed up later in the proceedings, around bar closing time, and the relentless epithets and threats they hurled at the police were highly provocative, to put it mildly.

If the Occupiers proved anything last night, it was that they attract far too rowdy a crowd to be allowed to spend the night together in a residential district. Indeed, the racket they made last night would have caused a disturbance even across from City Hall. People live not too far from there, and last night's din could surely be heard blocks away.

The other thing that many of the demonstrators did in the Pearl District was make a large deposit in the police bureau's notorious storehouse of pent-up rage. When the cops finally get the green light to use force against Occupy, a lot of the countless unkind things that were said last night are going to be repaid with interest.

Comments (14)

Sounds like a Milwaukie Light Rail amount of overtime will be put on the books.

Posted by pdxjim | October 30, 2011 7:37 PM

It will be a small fortune. I don't have a problem with that expense, though -- democracy is messy and sometimes expensive.

Posted by Jack Bog | October 30, 2011 7:42 PM

Civil disobedience does not have to be obnoxious behavior. (Uncivil?)

I recall a protest at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant site where the protesters walked through the open gate and waited calmly to be arrested and taken away.

Bruises and blood add to the pathos, but probably not the progress.

Posted by Old Zeb | October 30, 2011 9:42 PM

African-Americans protesting in the 60s and probably that before that often wore dress clothes; the men in white shirts, coats and ties and the women in their best Sunday dresses.

Strange how things have changed, but maybe not.

Posted by Evergreen Libertarian | October 30, 2011 9:45 PM

The arrestees in the Pearl did not resist at all. A few went limp and were rewarded by having their arms wrenched behind their backs -- other than that, it was almost mellow. The screamers on the sidewalk were a much different story.

Posted by Jack Bog | October 30, 2011 9:46 PM

The Story of Your Enslavement

Posted by AL M | October 30, 2011 10:38 PM

Who were the screamers on the sidewalk?
Doesn't sound like the ones sitting quietly in the park and who were arrested were from the same group.

Posted by clinamen | October 30, 2011 10:44 PM

With Occupy, the concept of one or more distinct "groups" may not apply. You start drifting into "outside agitator" territory, reminiscent of the '60s.

Posted by Jack Bog | October 30, 2011 10:55 PM

I stayed up late watching the theater too. I thought of each role the actors played.
The chief and administration of the Police, under the eyes of the federalizes, had to make sure the Non lethal weapons were in fact loaded with non lethal projectiles. The watch commanders had to make sure the officers assigned were not juiced or withdrawing from steroids. Officers well know to dispense street justice had to be assign elsewhere. With so many street people and mentally ill in the crowd, the PoPo's history of fatal beat-downs could be a perfect storm.
The lemmings of the media ignored the Shootings and other Domestics happening around town at the same time. Truly playing a bit part they tried to pretend this non story might have actual significance.
The sheep on the ground hoped desperately they could play a part, be victimized by “The Man” and get a picture of fame.
The theater was certainly of the absurd, the other actors being only the simpering local politicians, the hapless Police and the desperate Media. This show has no effect on national politics, the rich, any percent of people and only makes fools of us all. The cost is a pittance for freedom of speech, The Nanny laws that were broken only give the police thugs to look even worse. The mayor and council look even more like pandering idiots. National media all posted the 30 protesters arrested. Portland should be so proud. What a diversion to reality.

Posted by dman | October 30, 2011 11:09 PM

This all falls on Randy Leonard's doorstep. It would not have been a noisy demonstration if he had simply respected OP's right to stay overnight in this park, which was no less valid a right than at their downtown locations. Instead, he chose to escalate it with his threats, and then, because of who he is, couldn't back down.

In the end, he'll have to back down anyway, presuming the protestors and police can hold it together that long.

Posted by John Rettig | October 31, 2011 12:03 AM

I agree that it was a lot noisier than it would have had they just acted as if they were ignoring it. But the developer overlords would have gone nuts, and that's who the Sam Rand Twins really answer to.

I love how the Twins keep repeating that not everyone who lives in the Pearl is rich. It's as if they're now telling the Occupiers how to conduct their protest. "You can camp as long as you let us micromanage it." It's ludicrous. Many more arrests lie ahead.

Posted by Jack Bog | October 31, 2011 12:12 AM

This isn't the revolution but it could be the pre-game show.
Especially if the dollar craters and a much larger part of the population is out there. Stay tuned 'til the set goes dark.

Posted by Bill McDonald | October 31, 2011 1:20 AM

Sounds like I missed a good show. Democracy is messy for sure. I am always interested in how the 1st Amendment is only respected as long as you apply for the right permits, do what your are told and don't annoy anyone.

I know the laws. But the bigger question is what interests me. Like what use is the right to assemble if you are arrested for merely being annoying. What use if there are no truly public spaces in which to scream and yell and carry on?

Posted by JO | October 31, 2011 6:36 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_speech_zone

Wonder what our founding fathers would have thought of the "free speech zone?"

Posted by clinamen | October 31, 2011 10:31 AM

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Sunday, October 30, 2011

The revolution was, in fact, televised

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