Portland police raids against homeless
By
PORTLAND, Ore.--Over 100 people joined a spirited march through downtown July 9 to protest a string of police raids on homeless encampments--a total of six over the past two weeks.
The raids, which began with a June 24 raid under two downtown bridges that displaced over 100 homeless residents, are being carried out by a privately funded, rent-a-cop firm, Clean and Safe, under the authority and supervision of the Portland police.
On June 24 and in subsequent raids, Clean and Safe arrived at the encampments with box-cutters and dumpsters, and informed residents that they would be given two minutes to gather their things and move on; they then proceeded to destroy shelters and steal personal possessions, such as sleeping bags and clothing bundles, by throwing them into the dumpsters.
The energetic protest on July 9 lasted over an hour and a half and stopped at several key sites, including the headquarters of Clean and Safe; the Portland Business Alliance, which is funding the rent-a-cops; and the Multnomah County (In)Justice Center.
The sidewalk march was closely followed by the Portland police, who circled the procession repeatedly and gave out at least two citations for alleged "jaywalking."
The protest was organized by the Portland Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP), which, according to spokesperson Patrick Lamson, was organized in May during a three-week-long continuous demonstration by the homeless and homeless advocates on the front steps of Portland City Hall.
That May protest was a response to the city's recently implemented "Sit-Lie Ordinance," which criminalizes sitting or lying on the sidewalk downtown during the day. The ordinance has been used almost exclusively against the homeless and has resulted in hundreds of dollars in fines being imposed on homeless residents.
Following the protest, participants gathered on the park blocks to share their stories regarding police brutality and strategize for future struggles. The PCAP plans to hold ongoing meetings to address the issue of homelessness in Portland.
