By Kelsea Valerio
PORTLAND, OR – A video surfaced just yesterday where ICE and Department of Homeland Security officers are seen using excessive force against a throng of media representatives, who were recording as the police made a violent arrest on one individual.
Portland police and ICE/DHS officers collaborated last night to make arrests (this is completely allowed, despite city council’s quasi ban on feds/PPB communicating) https://t.co/kTbLHsj6Zn
— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) August 20, 2020
Citing the video as another example of a dysfunctional police, and with a history that includes 30 years working on police accountability and reform, City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty urged the
Portland mayor to grant her authority over the Portland Police Bureau if he is unable to rein in control.
In the video, members of the press clearly identified themselves to the police, with “PRESS” in large block letters written on both sides and the back of their protective helmets.
Individuals on both sides of the conflict are wearing some form of heavy duty face masks complete with respirators. Police and protestors correctly anticipated the potential use of tear gas in this instance, as an officer deployed tear gas in an attempt to push back members of the press.
While the video is only one minute and 11 seconds, the tensions between the public and Portland law enforcement are pronounced and disconcerting.
City Commissioner Hardesty issued a statement last night in the wake of the police’s brutality that has pervaded the city as the momentum of the Black Lives Matter Movement grew.
Hardesty has previously underscored her belief that Mayor Ted Wheeler, who is also acting Police Commissioner, is not doing enough to curb the excessive police force and violence inflicted upon peaceful protestors.
Hardesty condemns Wheeler’s lack of action, asserting, “We face an uphill battle to undo centuries of racist policies and governing.”
As the first African American woman on Portland’s city council, Hardesty has promoted her philosophy of nonviolent direct action, and maintains, “We have seen too many Black people killed at the hands of police, and the nightly violence carried out by police at protesters challenging police violence only adds more pain and trauma.”
Hardesty cites examples of brutality that include a pipe thrown at protesters in Laurelhurst Park, the tearing down of Black Lives Matter signs posted by local businesses, and fires at the Multnomah County building.
Affronted by this police misconduct, Hardesty calls for a munitions ban, the dropping of all charges on reporters arrested while covering protests, for officers to practice de-escalation in all situations, and a stringent review of the Portland Police Bureau’s budget.
Since June of this year more than 40 protest-related complaints have been filed and are now under investigation by Portland’s independent police oversight body.
Maintaining optimism, Hardesty is hopeful for the future of Portland, stating the challenges that the city faces are not insurmountable, and she believes in “the power of Portlanders to bring about change and healing.”
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It’s been reported that many Portland rioters are claiming to be press by using PRESS stickers on their shirts and wearing t-shirts with PRESS labelling.
I left out the protesters/rioters were also writing PRESS on their helmets.
I’ve now posted two sources to my original comment which I feel should be allowed to remain so I’m going to repost it.
“It’s been reported that many Portland rioters are claiming to be press by using PRESS stickers on their shirts and wearing t-shirts with PRESS labelling.”
https://www.foxnews.com/us/portland-protest-press-throwing-objects-police
Keith
Perhaps it is just a few bad apples? Is it not possible that vast majority of the protesters, maybe 99% are peaceful? And the article states “individuals have thrown…objects at the police”. If we do not know who these individuals are, how do we know they are not deliberate provocateurs acting to discredit the protesters?
It is very easy to believe what we want to believe. I don’t believe either side is free from that.
You go right ahead Tia, believe whatever you want to believe.
The credibility of the “journalist” who was the source of this story is highly questionable. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/andy-ngo-right-wing-troll-antifa-877914/
Just as the Rolling Stone is highly questionable.
He’s a journalist; also, the Davis Vanguard had a journalist up there.
Journalist is as journalist does, sir.
Fake news a problem. But I was able to dig deeply enough to see that the claim is coming from the police – that doesn’t make it true, but it does raise it above fake news.
That said I hope they really crack down on people using press passes to commit crimes – it puts real journalists in danger.
“They” ? As in . . . the new Department of Public Safety and Security ?
Police were gunna, but they gots de-fun-ded, as in: no more of de fun, it’s dead.
David states:
It also doesn’t make it true that the press is being attacked when the rioters could be faking to be press.
Oh, so now you admit it happens?
KO… yeah, it probably happens @ de minimus level…
Now, can anyone (David or others) define what a “real journalist” is? Somebody who writes a ‘journal’? Heck I did that as a young adult… “a reporter”? Guess I qualified for that when I reported a crime…
Guess it gets to the inherent right of anyone to “self-identify”… and no one should question that… yeah, right…
Understand, KO, am pretty much agreeing with you, at this level, this topic…
I had to go thru experience requirements, national and State tests to call myself an engineer, and surveyor…
Not sure that applies to ‘journalist’ or ‘reporter’ claims…
Difference might be that I can claim to be a ‘Professional CE’, and a “Professional LS” … at least in the State of California… and, I’m registered, and subject to rules and regulations… my licenses can be revoked if I “screw up” and/or distort facts…
There’s a video in this link of of a guy in a PRESS helmet acting more like a protester than a reporter:
https://noqreport.com/2020/07/31/rioters-pretending-to-be-press-shows-their-contempt-for-the-constitution/
KO… you gotta’ understand that PRESS is an acronym… People Really Exploiting Social Stress… actually constitutionally protected… to a point… as it is written, “thus far, but no further…” [Job 38:11]
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/31/feds-court-order-journalists-portland-protests-389262
Bad idea. Just go after the people who are not actually journalists.
I posted it because it further shows that protesters/rioters are impersonating journalists.
Personally, I think that some (maybe even most) journalists are essentially protesters, but probably not rioters.
But, “fake” press identification is nothing new, as noted by the link to the 3 Stooges clip that was deleted.
There’s no such thing as a real press identification and in these times anyone can be “press.” When I take video and post it on a Youtube channel, I am “press.”
That’s not necessarily true by the law. For example, in California there is a media shield law which does create a definition: “The reporter’s shield law contained in the California Constitution prohibits a publisher, editor, reporter, or other person connected with or employed by a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, or by a press association or wire service–” So I don’t know if Oregon has similar definitions, but that’s where you could start
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/news/read.cfm?id=261076&ec=2&ch=twitter
Keith
“You go right ahead Tia, believe whatever you want to believe.”
So are you implying that you have no biases, and your one example proves that this is a widespread practice? I remember you making the ( unsubstantiated) claim that the vast majority of police do a good job. Purely objective I am sure.
Tia, I believe you have the right to believe whatever you want. It’s a free country.