|
|
Site NavigationHomeAbout us People's Police Report Shootings & deaths Cool links Other Information Contact info Donate
|
Anti-War Protests Marred by Police Violence When a war rages overseas, it is common for police to step up their tactics back home. Rodney King was beaten by Los Angeles Police just days after the end of the "Gulf War" in 1991. Here in Portland, the police reacted with mixed responses to anti-war demonstrations beginning before the first major assault on Iraq on March 19. At a march on February 15 (which did not have a permit), police attacked a line of protestors who were blocking traffic in front of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA) downtown. Rather than attempting to extricate the demonstrators one at a time, police stepped up with pepper spray and pushed people out of the street.
One month later, a "splinter march" headed up the Morrison Bridge after walking past a massive 30,000+ person peace rally in Waterfront Park. The police headed off this group, knocking one man down with a vehicle and spraying others with pepper spray. On March 20, the night after the U.S. began its attack on Iraq, police clashed with demonstrators a number of times. Some reports showed a few demonstrators throwing objects at police and damaging property, but compared to the size of the original crowd (over 7000 people) these were isolated incidents. The media also noted that some demonstrators blocked traffic, but such actions were non-violent. Although some business representatives and people in the community criticized the police for being too relaxed on this evening, there were also numerous complaints of misconduct. The final showdown occurred with a group of nearly 100 protestors at a sit-in near the Burnside Bridge where police removed people from the crowd with little violence and no chemical weapons. Individuals who chose to leave voluntarily were generally allowed to go until one transgendered woman was taken into custody. Her story is posted on indymedia ([noted 2022, link no longer active] www.portland.indymedia.org). She describes harassment and humiliation at the hands of the police in front of numerous witnesses, in apparent violation of Portland's non-discrimination laws which protect transgendered individuals. Her accusations include police making demeaning comments and touching her crotch area.
The following day, after pressure from the Portland Business Alliance (a downtown business consortium) to squelch demonstrations, the Police Bureau came out ready to fight. Although the weekly Portland Peaceful Response Coalition march was unharmed, riot police lined up in front of numerous buildings, including the PCPA. After that event, a small group attempted to march in the streets and were immediately met with police pepper spray and arrests. Over the next week, police began throwing people to the ground merely for stepping off the sidewalk. (Nordstrom's shoppers were, of course, spared.) A Unitarian minister was arrested for "interfering with a police officer" when he refused to identify himself. The same man had, one day earlier, been pushed back by an officer's baton while he was wearing his ministerial robe. Many people who might not formerly have known about such police conduct may have been shocked by such activity directed at people expressing their political views. People will need to speak out as local and national legislation moves forward to suppress dissent. On April 17, National Lawyers Guild attorney Alan Graf filed suit about the recent actions- including an attack on a KATU (Channel 2) engineer- in addition to his ongoing lawsuit regarding the August 22, 2002 anti-George Bush protest (see PPR #28).
For lawsuit info or if you have evidence of misconduct at a rally, call [503-452-2375-- old number]. The Police Accountability Campaign (www.police accountabilitycampaign.org) has also been collecting information on incidents at the demonstrations including verbal abuse, use of pepper spray, property confiscation and excessive force. To get a "Protestors' Police Conduct Documentation Form" contact PAC at [503-287-2255-- 2022 note: PAC no longer active]. In other news, Detective Peter Simpson, editor of the Portland Police Association newsletter the Rap Sheet, has now been transferred to the Tactical Operations Division, meaning he is likely involved in planning of responses to peace demonstrations. This is worrisome as his attitude toward those who were hit with rubber pellet projectiles and chemical agents was reflected in the February issue: "Being pepper sprayed, shot with less lethal munitions or arrested is simply the cost of doing business and they should go quietly into that good night."
|
May, 2003
|
|
Portland Copwatch Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.
People's Police Report
#29 Table of Contents
|