May Day: Live Blog

Live reporting of events for May Day actions in Portland, Oregon, and beyond.

  1. Welcome the Portland Occupier's Liveblog for May 1, 2012, the day of a general strike call, as well as many other actions. I'm Adam Rothstein, and I'll be editing the blog, with the help of our many correspondents in the field. To help us out, post your photos and reports from the field to Twitter or other social media. The hashtag for the day is #m1pdx in Portland, and #m1gs globally. Also be sure to check out our media sibling, OPDXlive, where they will be coordinating Livestream video all day long.
  2. 11:00 PM - Shutting down the liveblog for the night, even though the strong-willed and sleepless remain outside the Justice Center. Thanks for everyone who helped out today, with photographs, video, tweets, and providing info. We couldn't do this without you!
  3. 10:12 PM - Most of the protesters have left, but about 50 remain, on the sidewalk across from the Justice Center. Every time the protesters try to cross the street to the Justice Center, the riot cops come out and beat everyone back to the other side of the street to the sidewalk outside Chapman Park.
  4. @PDXOccupier staffer was attacked & injured by a @portlandpolice officer while taking pictures. This is unacceptable, @MayorSamAdams #m1pdx
  5. Riot police going back around corner. Down 3rd/Madison & 3rd/main. Let's see how long it takes for ppl to cross the street...again #m1pdx
  6. 9:38 PM - Police are being very aggressive about closing off the park, which is technically open until midnight. The sidewalks in front of the Justice Center are also being closed off, and riot cops are beating the protesters back with long sticks. 
  7. Portland Police decided to close Chapman Square, telling all who enter: "MOVE!" The park doesn't close until midnight. #M1PDX #MayDay
  8. Yep. They're back. The sidewalks outside the jail are apparently not public tonight. Pushing and shoving a small crowd. #m1pdx
  9. Cruisers staging around area. Unpermitted event announcements resuming. No one is in roadway. #OccupyGresham #OPDX #M1PDX
  10. Bike cops moving into Lownsdale Park from NW. Cops now closing in. Announcements stopped. Riot cops n & s. #OccupyGresham #OPDX #M1PDX
  11. 9:16 PM - Nice overhead shot of the May Day march from earlier this afternoon.
  12. Everyone is on the sidewalk or in the park, yet @PortlandPolice are ordering the #M1PDX dance party to disperse. Um, our park. #MayDay
  13. The cops are playing this interestingly, baiting #m1pdx marchers into a confrontation instead of a traipse thru downtown. Like moths/flame.
  14. 9:10 PM - Our correspondent Paul remarks that the situation reminds him of eviction night, with a standoff between riot police and protesters and SW 3rd and Main.
  15. Bike cops have moved around the 4th street side of chapman sq. The #m1pdx march is in the midst of standoff. A few ppl creeping onto 3rd.
  16. Ice cream truck saying permits for march expired and streets need to be vacated. No one in street. #OccupyGresham #OPDX #M1PDX
  17. 8:58 PM - Portland Police arrested journalist Tommy, from OPDXlive. Also they pushed journalist KMM over a bicycle.
  18. Just was thown over a police bicycle onto a sidewalk and slammed my head hard. Multiple brutal arrests. #Opdx #m1pdx
  19. Four vans of riot cops follow #m1pdx crowd down 3rd near chapman. Reports that livestreamers and photogs were hit.
  20. Police and protesters are shadowing each other around Our Parks. RRT squads are looking to "swoop and grab". #pdx #m1gs #m1pdx
  21. 8:45 PM - Arrests at 4th and SW Yamhill. Livestreamers were arrested. Might have been a "swoop and grab", our correspondents report that hard squad RRT got back on their trucks and drove off after arrests.

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the ease of reptitive motion, the orgasmic cries of habit, the pattern dance of charged particles, our shared interest in static

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