Revolution not being televised after all
Police are starting to arrest Occupy Portland types in Chapman Square downtown. But after blowing hour after hour of overtime last night, with not much to show for it, none of the local television stations are broadcasting any news at this hour.
UPDATE, 10:54 a.m.: The riot cops are definitely back.
UPDATE, 11:05 a.m.: KGW has a live video stream going here at the moment. But it's not showing anything interesting.
UPDATE, 11:08 a.m.: Here's an amateur feed, after a commercial. In fact, all that seems to be working is the commercial.
UPDATE, 11:14 a.m.: Guess who's awake:
UPDATE, 11:21 a.m.: The paddy wagon has finally arrived, about nine hours later than we thought it would.
UPDATE, 11:26 a.m.: The O is apparently updating on a regular basis here.
UPDATE, 11:29 a.m.: Here's another protester video feed.
UPDATE, 11:55 a.m.: Here's a photo of the first daylight arrest. And here's a revealing shot from earlier today, on Fourth, somewhere around Main.
UPDATE, 12:05 p.m.: Lots of police, at least 150 protesters reported in Chapman Square. Also, the first sign of federal law enforcement has been reported -- Homeland Security SUVs.
| Posted at 10:53 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (15)
Thanks for the link to the live feed, which I wouldn't have thought of looking for. What are those trucks and backhoes/scoops doing? Is that stuff from the Occupiers?
Posted by Jo McIntyre | November 13, 2011 11:30 AM
Yes, I think the police have got the northern block secure and are clearing out the mess. They'll put a fence around it later today. Then they'll do the same with the block to the south, but not before they'll have to arrest a couple of dozen people. The KGW cam appears to be in front of the coffee shop on the northeast corner of Fourth and Salmon.
Posted by Jack Bog | November 13, 2011 11:33 AM
The KGW cam just moved closer to the action.
http://www.kgw.com/live-stream
Posted by Jack Bog | November 13, 2011 12:03 PM
This is what anarchy looks like.
At least it is relatively peaceful so far.
Posted by Portland Native | November 13, 2011 12:12 PM
That link at UPDATE, 11:29 a.m. above is a technical marvel.
Did any of these people ever think that the initiative process was designed specifically to address public issues that elected officials choose to ignore. Could they have gotten 26,000+ signatures on some initiative, any initiative, to force a public vote? They do seem to focus on process as if it were a religion.
They could search old Oregon court cases involving all manner of legal disputes, for free, from several Portland locations.
http://pdxzone.com/static/freesites.html
(I even created one public account, log in/pass word: onefreeshared)
They could search on "prospective petition" for a clue on how to begin the process.
Is my contribution to public debate wholly useless?
Posted by pdxnag | November 13, 2011 12:15 PM
The Feds are involved? Really? Homeland Security shows up to peaceful protests now? Who could have foreseen something like that might happen?
Posted by Jo | November 13, 2011 12:21 PM
pdxnag - good comment.
Watching the people in the live feed makes me think that perhaps the new tactic is to walk or push a bike around looking like an innocent bystander. Then, when or if the police do move in they will have plenty of victims. And they do need victims - Vermont, Oakland and Salt Lake City all have had dead people carried away. What kind of wimpy protesters do we have? Oh, right, they are peaceful.
Posted by Jo McIntyre | November 13, 2011 12:24 PM
I've been listening to the police scanner: they've spent 20 minutes trying to get access to the injured party. The EMS refused to go in until it was secure.
I've got an idea for the Peaceful Protesters: if you don't want to get thumped on, leave the area.
Posted by Mister Tee | November 13, 2011 1:27 PM
Jo -
Homeland Security shows up because Schrunk Plaza, one block south of the two parks, is a federal property. The feds don't want the folks pushed out of Lownsdale and Chapman Parks taking up residence at Schrunk Plaza.
Your paranoia is showing.
Posted by Nonny Mouse | November 13, 2011 1:35 PM
Wow! Look at that, there's dozens of them! This is almost as big as the million man march.
Posted by Eric L | November 13, 2011 2:13 PM
Excellent comment pdxnag,
I fear many in the occupy movement don't wish to work within the process but to impose their own brave new world on the public.
What I see in the protest is a virulent strain of "ME", they want their change and don't want to really work for it.
Posted by tankfixer | November 13, 2011 2:36 PM
Oh Please , don't tell us to work with the Process. It is a corrupt and broken system that serves the 1% , and screws the 99%. I went to a 'meet and greet' recently for congressman bowtie , and people were stopped and told it was a private event.
Rock On Occupiers
Keep the Faith , revolution
takes
time
and
determination
Posted by billb | November 13, 2011 2:48 PM
billb: That is true. We know this just locally.
Posted by Mr. Grumpy | November 13, 2011 3:56 PM
So Sam responds at 11:14 a.m. I guess he doesn't just believe in "sleep 'til 11": he practices it.
Posted by Texas Triffid Ranch | November 13, 2011 4:28 PM
Why were you wasting your time going to see Mr Bowtie ?
When I say work within the process I mean find people of character to put forward as alternatives.
All this spouting about "revolution" is just silly.
Do you really want that ?
A revolution ?
Posted by tankfixer | November 13, 2011 9:13 PM