Gov. Brown seeks review of Portland police protest response
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Criticism of the law enforcement response to a protest in Portland late Saturday into early Sunday prompted Gov. Kate Brown to ask authorities to review “any alleged incidents” involving their officers.
The governor said in a series of tweets Sunday evening that she was committed to building trust in the community. She asked Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton, Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese and Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell to take another look at what happened during their joint operations that night.
"Journalists and law enforcement officers have difficult jobs to do during these demonstrations, but I do still believe that we can protect free speech and keep the peace,” Brown tweeted.
Videos from the demonstration in downtown Portland showed police grabbing a news photographer and pushing him to ground, as he was trying to document them tackling and detaining a person on a sidewalk, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Freelance photographer John Rudoff was wearing a helmet with “PRESS” stickers affixed to it. He told the outlet on Sunday that he’s “physically OK but am quite annoyed.”
One video appears to show an officer push a journalist into a tree, causing the journalist to drop the camera. Oregon Public Broadcasting Editor Anna Griffin retweeted the video, writing, “I’d also love to hear elected officials explain why a reporter from my organization was subject to violence at the hands of law enforcement when judges have made it very clear this is not acceptable.”
Another online video showed an officer apparently deploying a chemical spray in the face of a man who was yelling at police and waving a sign toward them.
Several arrests were made and an unlawful assembly was declared after objects were thrown at officers, including full drink cans, firecrackers and rocks, authorities said. One man broke away from officers and ran two blocks with his hands in zip-tie cuffs before he was recaptured by police. Police also seized bear spray, a baton and a drone in separate stops or arrests. Officials reported 30 arrests in total during Saturday's protests.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Chris Liedle told The Oregonian/Oregon Live that anyone who believes officers acted unjustly or excessively can file a complaint with the agency or corresponding review board.
Nearly nightly protests have gripped Portland since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
The unrest late Saturday came just hours after a right-wing rally and counter-protesters largely dispersed without serious violence Saturday afternoon.
News release from ACLU of Oregon:
ACLU of Oregon Calls for Independent Prosecutor to Investigate Brutal Police Response to Protesters, Journalists in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore.— Following another night of excessive force by police against protesters and journalists, the ACLU of Oregon called on Governor Kate Brown to appoint a special, independent prosecutor to investigate and prosecute police abuses in Portland.
Kelly Simon, interim legal director of the ACLU of Oregon, had the following comment:
“We condemn white supremacy, and acknowledge the pain, fear, and psychological and physical harm that events like Proud Boys rallies bring to people in our communities, especially for Black, Brown, Indigenous and other people of color. Oregon officials must examine why groups like this continue to target Portland, including how police behavior supports such harm.
“On Saturday, Oregonians who came together to continue to declare that Black lives matter, to reject white supremacy, to repeat calls to defund the police, and to rally against police violence and bias were once again met with disgraceful police uses of force. Among many abuses, police violently shoved and dispersed journalists, forcefully threw people to the ground, and threatened to destroy the critical supplies of protest medics. We have yet to see most of our government officials reject this form of violence that has long been wreaking havoc in our communities and undermining protected expression.
“We call on Governor Brown to use her authority under ORS 131.805 to appoint a special, independent prosecutor to investigate and prosecute the rampant police abuses that have occurred in Portland over the last several months. We also call on all law enforcement agencies who have engaged in policing at these protests to make publicly available all inter-agency agreements, cross-deputation documents, and technologies being used in their law enforcement activities. The public has a right to know who is policing their streets and to what agency policies, if any, they are accountable.
“Police abuse of protesters, journalists, legal observers, medics, and bystanders must be stopped. This is not a new issue and our government leaders must take action.
“We will continue to seek justice in the courts. We have had to file multiple lawsuits over the last several years to hold law enforcement accountable in Portland, and currently have six active cases against local and federal police for violating the rights of Oregonians at protests. But we also need government officials in this state to take responsibility for their roles in the community’s efforts to create justice for all.”
