Yesterday I blogged about the idiot threats to disrupt the city of Portland, Oregon with the Occupy Portland Movement. I wasn't going to go, but the revolution came to me, right outside my office. So I went down and had a look.
I'd say there were between 5,000 and 10,000 people that had marched south down Broadway street to Pioneer Square. The light rail lines on Morrison and Yamhill cross Broadway at that point. I made my way through the crowd and was pleased to see not just the usual bunch of Portland malcontents.
I also noted that special care was being taken to allow light rail trains through on either side of the square. Some of the light rail drivers were union people and I saw at least one hold up a pro-rally homemade sign as he waited for the tracks to clear. There were volunteer organizers called "peace keepers" helping the Tri-Met police keep clear of the tracks. I saw the crowd cheer once as a light rail train passed through, not sure why.
A large number of police on motor cycles blocked the traffic lane on 6th Avenue which runs down the east side of the square, this I think to keep people from spilling on to 6th Avenue which is one of the two main streets for bus traffic in the city of Portland. I saw no buses blocked.
Currently news helicopters are flying overhead, and I can hear cheers and chants from the crowd, which I think is starting to disperse. From my window about 200 feet from the square I see maybe 3,000 people, but my view is partly blocked by trees.
Someone with a bullhorn is now giving some kind of revolutionary message, which I can't make out. So far anyway a fairly successful protest.