Update: Apparently, things are getting ugly out there.
3:26PM PDT: 10 arrests, Pepper spray, rubber bullets and pepper spray have been used on the protesters. PLDN requests that witnesses contact them.
3:24PM PDT: Around 12th to 14th street and Jefferson major road block by peaceful protesters Now police have area sealed in a 2 block radius. Report of 3 girls trampled by the police horses on sidewalk at 3:00 on 13 & jefferson.
3:15PM PDT: Reports that police are using rubber bullets. A call has been made for Black Cross support. There have been at least 10 arrests so far.
2:55PM PDT: Reports of people being pepper sprayed, horses stampeding into the group of protesters on the sidewalk.. Reports of an arrest on 12th and Jefferson..
2:37PM PDT: Riot cops, horses, police vans out.. group is stopped north of columbia. Police are saying "sidewalks are closed."
2:14PM PDT: 20 to 30 people sitting down in intersection of Washington and Broadway..
2:03PM PDT: Report that the police are blocking protesters. Horse cops are out. Report that a photographer was struck by a horse at 4th and main. Police baricade set up, not let protesters across max tracks.
1:54PM PDT: Group is marching. Group is heading east on salmon street. About 40 cops and 300 marches. 30 of the 40 cops are on bikes.
original post:
I got an early start on this national day of action here in Portland, Oregon. At 7:00 a.m., I stood, coffee in hand, at a busy bridge crossing with my big-ass sign, "RESCUE AMERICA: IMPEACH." This is an activity I usually do once weekly after work with a small group, but today I was all alone. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous. I should have known I had nothing to fear.
I got the usual honks, waves and peace signs as well as the occasional flip off or "thumbs down." Portland has a huge bicyclist contingent and they are always supportive - smiling and ringing their bike bell. Some folks who don't have a bike bell will ride by with a smile, push their imaginary bell and say, "brring, brring!" I was feeling great this morning not just in spite of the fact that I was by myself, but because of it. I felt proud and unafraid to be taking a solitary stand. Could it be that a lone woman, dressed in business attire, standing in the misty morning traffic, is more effective than my usual group of smiling, waving, after-work impeachment enthusiasts?
As usual, several pedestrians stopped by and said, "Thank you. Just... thank you for doing this." That is the best feeling ever. I loved it when a fat man in a business suit driving Lexus gave me a smile, honk and wave. A middle-aged man walked up holding a cell phone. In a heavy, Hispanic accent, he said, "Give to me your phone number, I want to join you." I neglected to give him my number, but I took his instead. He readily gave me his full name and phone number. I wrote down a website address where he could check to see where our group will be every Monday, but he said, "I no have that, I can no go to there." I asked him where he was from and he said, "Mexico. I come here 40 years ago." I didn't get a chance to ask why he wanted to join me, as he had to catch the bus, but rest assured, I will call him and help him get involved.
Shortly thereafter, an older gentleman with broken, yellow teeth said to me, "You are right." This man had a very heavy Russian accent. I thanked him. He introduced himself as Mikhail. He said, "The pipple here in this kontray, they are asleep." "I know, I know" I nodded. "What can the pipple do now? " He asked. "They can change Congress in November," I began. "They can vote the Democrats in, and...." "Iss too late." He said, shaking his head sadly. "I tink iss too late." I told him where to find the WCW protest this afternoon and asked him to join us.
I thought it was very, very interesting that the two people who stopped to actually converse with me were immigrants. As another diarist has pointed out, many immigrants have seen the results of the very road we in this country are traveling down today and came here to escape it.
Just as I was leaving, a woman drove by and said, in a somewhat hysterical tone, "And what's YOUR plan? You don't even HAVE a plan!" Although there was no opportunity to respond, I thought hard about this and decided my plan is to RESTORE INTEGRITY to my government. Without restoring our integrity first, all else is lost.
I will leave work at lunchtime to join the local WCW protest. I will again stand at the bridge with my signs, tonight and every Monday night, with my group. I find it uplifting for myself as well as the drivers and pedestrians who see me. Just to know we are not alone in our dismay at this government and our wish to enact change is very powerful. Best of luck to all participating cities and everyone please - be careful out there.
PS: I apologize that the conversations above were not as deeply informative and entertaining as those posted recently by the guy who talks to cab drivers. I wish they were, and perhaps they soon will be. I also apologize for the phonetic spelling of the vocabulary of the people I spoke to. Just trying to get the "flavor" of the conversations across. Thanks for reading.