On Wednesday night, hundreds of protesters took to the fencing outside of Portland’s Federal Courthouse on SW 3rd Avenue, dragging it down the street in order to set up a police-free zone, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
Now in the third week of protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement in Minneapolis, Portland has joined cities from all over the world in standing up against police brutality and systemic racism in systems intended to protect citizens.
In Minnesota, the state is working on defunding the police departments to a reasonable level, and Seattle recently made headlines with CHAZ (the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone), where local protesters set up a multi-block, walled-off zone, barring police from being in the presence of demonstrations.
On Wednesday night, some protesters decided to take ownership of the fencing, installed by the police in order to keep some buildings safe, and used it to block off portions of the streets downtown.
The construction of Portland’s “autonomous zone” lasted only a few hours before the cobbled-together fence was mostly abandoned by protesters in the early morning hours, according to police.
The group which had gathered in the area of SW Main ST and SW 3rd Ave dispersed on their own at about 2:00 a.m.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 11, 2020
For several weeks, the fencing has been separating the public and law enforcement during demonstrations. It’s been seen in numerous clips of the protests and is the topic of multiple police loudspeaker announcements.
Both outside of the Federal Courthouse and the Justice Center in downtown Portland, the fence has become such a presence during demonstrations that it even has its own Twitter account. Its bio reads: “Resentfully protecting the Justice Center from the people. Happily protecting the people from the Justice Center?”
And the fence isn’t going to just lie down and take the injustice, as it has plenty to say.
The @PortlandPolice are more obsessed with me than I am. And I am REALLY obsessed with myself. https://t.co/d2Vmkq09Hb
— PortlandFence (@PortlandFence) June 11, 2020
Yo, @PortlandPolice, people don’t *live* in jail. They’re caged there. They’re neglected and dehumanized there. The people are gonna abolish prisons when they’re done abolishing me and you. https://t.co/WW42mJDf67
— PortlandFence (@PortlandFence) June 9, 2020
The fence continues to be a sticking point for law enforcement and protesters alike, constructing a literal divide between movement and cause.
There are persons coming over the fence. We need all persons to remain on the west side of the fence. The area inside the fence on SW 3rd Ave, between SW Main Street and SW Maddison Street is closed. If you enter you are subject to arrest.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 11, 2020
There is criminal activity occurring at SW 1st Ave and SW Salmon St. There is also Criminal activity occurring at the Justice Center fence line. If you are a non-violent demonstrator we are encouraging you to leave now.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 11, 2020
We tossed part of the @portlandfence over? #portlandprotest pic.twitter.com/W5oQ4UaUR0
— ababoozoz (@ababoozoz) June 11, 2020
More from “6 Hours In Portland” series #PortlandProtest pic.twitter.com/66lj4wR49J
— V I S H N U (@vishnurajan) June 9, 2020
Y’know, I think we’re worshipping the fence better than the cops tonight. #Portlandprotest #pdxprotest #sacredfence pic.twitter.com/siV8ZmyEXk
— D.Shows (@DShows3) June 6, 2020
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