After covering No Kings - LA on 6/14, I decided to change things up a bit. I traveled to Portland, Oregon, in order to cover the No Kings & ICE facility protests there. I’d never been there before, so I didn’t really know what to expect, despite living in a leftist hub for most of my life. My experience in Portland was…interesting & enlightening, to say the least.
10/17
I arrived on Friday, & got settled in. As night fell, I made my way to the ICE facility on 4310 S Macadam Ave. Along the way, I saw a smattering of political messaging. Anti-cop, anti-Trump, anti-ICE, & even anti-tech sentiments were on open display in the city streets.
“War zone? Whore zone”
“Kill Kops 😊”
“FIRST THEY CAME FOR...”
“TRUMP FUCKS KIDS”
“TRUMP’S GESTAPO NOT WELCOME”
“FUCK ICE”
“FIRE TO THE CYBERNETIC PRISON”
“IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO RESIST”
…
“FOR FREE AND FULL LIVES, OPEN TO THE UNKNOWN”
“BE THE OUTAGE IN THEIR NETWORK!”
10/17 - Portland ICE facility
Upon arrival at the ICE facility, one of the first things I documented was a dance party with protesters in inflatable costumes. Garfield, the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, & other notable characters danced along to Green Day, The Beach Boys, Mark Governor, & more.
Now & then, federal agents would walk out of the facility to help government vehicles exit or enter the area. Agents armed with pepper-ball guns stood watch on the building’s roof. Protesters taunted the federal agents often.
Protesters lined up at the blue line separating the sidewalk from the ICE facility, with some taking a knee in front of it. Any protester that crossed that line would be shot with pepper-balls &/or apprehended by federal agents. Near the line, I found political messages & a box of books nearby—all copies of One Little Pig by Laura Lee Scott, illustrated by Cheryl Crouthamel.
“FUCK ICE”
“OH BOY...NAZIS
THE OPPOSIT[E] OF A NAZI IS...ANTIFA”
A protester with a megaphone accused conservative podcast host Matt Tardio of assaulting a woman near the ICE facility. She played an audio recording about that on her megaphone. I haven’t been able to substantiate her accusation.
Across the street from the ICE facility, I found more political messages. Anti-Trump, anti-GOP, & anti-DHS stuff, as expected.
Trump wins
A Nobel Prize For Buggery
Speaker Johnson
Protecting a pedophile
is job number one
Shutting down the government a perfect
Distraction
“I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING NAZIS”
“FUCK ICE + DHS”
Later on, a crowd began forming around the corner, just outside the Antifa encampment. A protester known as Richard was threatening physical violence against independent journalist & conservative influencer Nick Sortor. Portland Police were standing a mere inches away from Richard.
As this was happening, Antifa & pro-Trump gonzo journalists like DannyRebel33 & Chris Sims were arguing nearby. A mixture of taunts & debates could be heard.
There was a notice board in the Antifa encampment with a bevy of information. Moreover, there was an illegal campsite notice next to the Antifa encampment, issued on 10/16 by the city.
WELCOME
REMEMBER:
* WALK, DON’T RUN
* MAKE SURE SOMEONE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE
* DON’T CROSS THE BLUE LINE -
YOU WILL BE ARRESTED
* DON’T TALK TO COPS
TONIGHT’S LIVESTREAMS
*blank*
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- RESPIRATORS (3M)
- FILTERS - 60926 (PINK & OLIVE)
- ANTI-FOG SAFETY GOGGLES
- HANDWARMERS
- WATERPROOF BACKPACK/COVERS
- HAND WARMERS
DONATIONS
VENMO:
WAXKNUCKLES
medic➡️mercurybee
CASHAPP:
💲AMANDASiebe
GO FUND ME
*blank*
UPCOMING EVENTS
SAT 10/18 - No Kings
SUN 10/19 - *unintelligible* PJ Party
NLG [National Lawyers Guild] #: 971-247-1072
That NLG jail line has been active since 2020.
Across the street, another crowd was forming. 3 men in matching khakis & skull masks were arguing with protesters. According to documentarian Ford Fischer, these men were there to support ICE, & didn’t claim to be part of any specific group.
Pro-Trump influencer & livestreamer Tommyboi4209 made his way into the middle of the crowd. Tommy & the protesters taunted one another, with Tommy being accused of being a Nazi for his pro-ICE beliefs.
A few feet away, a protester in a hoodie berated & chastised the Portland Police. A protester with a megaphone continued to taunt & chastise Tommy for his beliefs. Portland Police were standing nearby in wait, just in case things escalated.
On this side of the street, I noticed a window sign by Reach Community Development, a Portland non-profit that “creates opportunities for all people to thrive by developing and promoting access to quality, affordable homes, supportive services, and community.” The non-profit “envisions a world where there is a universal right to housing with all people living in safe, vibrant, and healthy communities.” REACH may have been mistakenly targeted by protesters & Antifa.
I crossed the street & conducted a walk-through of the Antifa encampment, located halfway down the block from the ICE facility, as music blared. Food, anti-ICE signs, tents, & more lined the public sidewalk. As I walked, I could hear protesters chiding MAGA influencer Rhein Amacher. One protester accused him of battery.
After I turned around & walked back, Rhein tried to conduct a walk-through of his own. He was blocked from walking on the sidewalk by multiple Antifa members. The confrontation quickly became violent.
As I tried to get footage of the event, Antifa with umbrellas blocked my shot, & the music was turned back on. It didn’t take long before the crowd grew & more Antifa moved in to mock Rhein. He was once again accused of committing assault.
Portland Police stepped in & Rhein walked across the street with them. He wanted to press charges against someone in a wheelchair. Portland PD took photos of Rhein’s leg injuries. At least one protester mocked him as they walked by.
Back near the Antifa encampment, DannyRebel33 was arguing with protesters. One was using a megaphone & another was holding a “Fuck ICE” flag. It didn’t take long before they resorted to mocking one another.
10/18 - “No Kings”
Saturday, the day of the “No Kings” protests across the nation. There were at least 3 planned in Portland. I attended what I assume was the largest one: Waterfront Park. On the way over, I noticed “ACAB” written on a “No Trespassing” sign.
I first made contact with the march on the intersection of SW Madison St & SW 1st Ave. It was heading toward Hawthorne Bridge. The crowd was packed with protesters holding signs to promote many different messages, not just anti-monarchism sentiments.
We’re talking anti-Trump, anti-ICE, anti-GOP, anti-fascism, pro-socialism, pro-Epstein Files, & more. Many protesters were wearing funny costumes. At least one boat on the Willamette River was pro-No Kings.
The march passed below Interstate 5 & continued down SE Hawthorne Blvd. A multi-kazoo rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In” was being played in front of me. I decided to travel down SE Madison St instead for more breathing room.
I reconvened with the march on SE Grand & Hawthorne. The protesters headed down SE Grand Ave & turned left onto SE Morrison Brg before crossing the Morrison Bridge.
Eventually, the march ended up back at Waterfront Park & finished with a rally.
10/18 - Portland ICE facility
After recharging for a few hours, I returned to the ICE facility. By nightfall, it was pouring rain. Anti-MAGA & pro-MAGA people alike sought shelter from the pouring rain. If it hadn’t been raining that night, I imagine that there would have been a lot more people there.
Despite the rain, a sizeable crowd had formed in front of the ICE facility. At times, federal agents would step out in front of the building. Anti-MAGA & pro-MAGA protesters debated & taunted one another directly outside the ICE facility, as federal agents were posted up on the roof with pepper-ball guns.
Across the street from the Antifa encampment, an anti-MAGA protester with face tattoos nicknamed “Criptifa” insulted, threatened, & debated with Tommy4Trump420. DannyRebel33, & others joined in as Portland Police watched from across the street.
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The highlight of the night (for me, at least) was the moment when federal agents chased after protesters. One moment, the feds were just standing there out in the middle of the street. The next, some weird fart-esque sound goes off, & federal agents rush past me. It kind of sounded like the “BRRRT” of a mini-version of the GAU-8 Avenger cannon from an A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog”.
The federal agents deployed flash bangs (I think) & fired their pepper-ball guns. I think they were trying to arrest someone, perhaps several people. Protesters were freaking the fuck out.
I ran down S Bancroft St & turned the corner onto S Bond Ave. Soon thereafter, federal agents & protesters followed behind. One protester mocked a federal agent for being fat & slow. That agent confronted him before turning around to continue walking down the street.
I crossed the street & was stopped by a protester that wanted to know what happened. Further down the street, I spotted a group of federal agents walking back toward the ICE facility.
As the feds walked back to the ICE facility, protesters followed behind to taunt them. An agent deployed tear gas grenades down the street next to the Antifa encampment, much to the protesters’ chagrin. Tear gas filled the air.
By the time I got back to the ICE facility, the federal agents were backing up into the building. Antifa walked up to the facility line to mock them.
Not long thereafter, federal agents re-emerged from the facility to make way for government vehicles.
10/19
Federal agents stayed outside to let a CBP vehicle enter the building as Antifa taunted them. “Don’t be a speed bump. You heard me. Don’t be a speed bump,” said a DHS officer. As federal agents walked back, Antifa taunted them.
Some of the last things I documented before heading out were protest signs left on the ground. Moreover, a protester blasted El Azhar’s “El Djihad” The song is “an ode to jihad and armed Islamic struggle”, according to Colombia One.
“NO GODS”
“NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE”
I had my fill for the night & left. In the morning, I had a mediocre continental breakfeast before checking out of my room & heading back home.