Occupy Portland protesters allowed to camp at downtown park

[me b zola]

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) - Portland Mayor Sam Adams has granted Occupy Portland demonstrators permission to camp overnight at Chapman Square.

The crowd, estimated by officers to be 4,000 to 5,000 strong, ended their march through downtown at the park this evening.

The protest, held in concert with nationwide Occupy Wall Street gatherings, started this morning at north Waterfront Park. The crowd marched to Pioneer Courthouse Square and then continued on to Chapman Square.

~more at link~

http://www.kptv.com/story/15628915/occupy-portland-protest-set-for-noon-thursday


http://photos.oregonlive.com/oregonian/2011/10/occupy_portland_26.html

Occupy Portland: Protesters march, begin to fill Pioneer Courthouse Square

Demonstrators, many unified by feelings of social and economic injustice, are gathering in Portland on Thursday as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Loosely organized, Portland demonstrators say they plan to meet at Tom McCall Waterfront Park near the Burnside Bridge, then march through downtown Portland starting at noon. They are expected to gather at Pioneer Courthouse Square later in the day.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/10/occupy_portland_mayor_sam_adam.html




I just got back and sore as all get out. The police were cooperative with us. I don't know what will happen tomorrow though because the occupiers have no intention of leaving the park.

Also, the event coordinators put the unofficial numbers at 10,000 based upon capacity space of Pioneer Square which we over-flowed.



It was a beautiful beginning. Please send positive vibes and/or prayers to the occupiers for tomorrow morning.

[potone]

1. Will do.

I am proud of my fellow Portlanders for this action. Kudos to everyone who went, and most of all to everyone who is spending the night. :yourock:

[me b zola]

2. I am worried about tomorrow

They are going to need our help in what ever way we can give. I got the heebie jeebies when we marched to the final destination, the camp, which is located in between the courthouse and the jail house.

Thank you for caring :hug:

[Rabblevox]

3. I am also worried about tomorrow. Occupy has been told they MUST clear by 9am...

for the Portland Marathon. (And to be fair, the marathon has had permits for those parks tomorrow for many months)

It has the potential to turn very sour, very fast, and the PPB, has NEVER been known for restrain in protest situations.

Keep sending good vibes, peeps.

[Lizzie Poppet]

16. I'm hoping we can peacefully move to different parks.

Well, not "we," actually. I showed up and marched, but then went home...I don't have the right gear for camping in a park in this sort of weather, and I do NOT need to get sick right now! =P

But I do hope Occupy Portland can set up in a different park or parks. As you say, the Marathon folks have their permits and the right to use the parks, too. And I do NOT want to see the police given a reasonable rationale for trying to shut it all down. That would not end well for anyone. Fortunately, Mayor Sam seems to be insisting that the protests be given every opportunity to continue. Adams has been a bit of a fuck-up on several levels, but I'm happy to see him sticking to his principles on this one.

[me b zola]

4. You all would have been so thrilled to be there

So many of the cars that were impeded by our march through the streets and people along the way flew us the peace sign, fists raised in solidarity, and honked and wooted in solidarity of the occupation. It really was inspiring and beautiful.

[joshcryer]

6. Thank you for the report!

[RKP5637]

5. K&R!!! n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. Excellent! Good vibes and prayers for all the protests/protesters!

[me b zola]

8. Photo gallery from KATU

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/10/occupy_portland_mayor_sam_adam.html


The aerial photo of waterfront park was way early and much larger (doubled at least) by the time I got there at noon.

[SheilaT]

9. Thanks for the links.

I just scrolled through to see if I could spot my son who lives in Portland, but no luck.

I just left him a voice mail message saying I hope he was there.

On the other hand he does do pizza delivery, so maybe he's delivering pizza to the crowd.

[me b zola]

10. As I was leaving and waiting on the train

there was a pizza delivery guy who just handed out 3 large pizzas to people. Maybe that was your son :)

[SheilaT]

11. Was the pizza delivery

guy totally bald? And young (24), kind of tall and skinny?

[me b zola]

12. He was about 24, but brown hair (full head) and about 5'7or8 inches

Still, I was starved and a piece of pizza helped me home :)

[SheilaT]

15. Not my son. But I do have a warm spot

in my heart for all pizza delivery people.

[SheilaT]

17. And I just spoke to my son, and he tells me

his pizza place is on the other side of the river, and doesn't deliver to downtown. I did encourage him to join in the protests when he gets off work today.

We discussed for a little bit what it's about, and he's been watching John Stewart and so he has an excellent grasp on what it's all about.

[me b zola]

13. Occupy Portland: The scene on the ground

5:56 pm: "This is what happens when a revolution goes viral,"says megaphone-man-of-the-moment. People busting out guitars and using the P.A. system to freestyle rap.




5:46 pm: Lt. Robert King with the Portland Police says Sam Adams did initially approve both parks to be occupied overnight, though he wasn't sure about the word "indefinitely." They're now trying to figure out what to do about the Portland Marathon's permit for alpha camp in the morning. He says either way the police will be around throughout the night. Lt. King informs me the two parks are named Chapman and Lownsdale.




5:40 pm: Guy on a statue announces the Portland Marathon has a permit in alpha camp tomorrow morning so they will leave alpha around 9 am and come back

http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-27707-liveblog_occupy_portland.html

[me b zola]

14. It sounds very much like the occupier coordinators are doing the tango with the authorities

...so far their dance has been brilliant.