We encourage participation in rallies and protests against the killing of Black people in the U.S., coordinated actions to dismantle rising fascism and targeted state-sanctioned violence around the world, and direct service to the communities that are most endangered at this time.
July 23, 2020
Portland, Oregon
Protestors have been mobilizing in the streets of Portland, Oregon for over 50 consecutive nights following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. These demonstrations are in solidarity with national uprisings calling for community control of the police and international struggles against state-sanctioned killings. In response to these protests, President Trump issued a 6-month executive order authorizing federal officers to occupy cities. On July 1st, Federal forces were deployed to Portland.
President Trump recently boasted of quelling the movement in Portland, inciting a severe escalation of violent force by the federal agents. These are acts of political theatre for Trump. That this occupation is suppressing a movement centered around Black Lives Matter is consistent with this presidency’s overt White supremacy. While Portland City Council has now demanded federal agents leave Portland, this comes after Mayor Ted Wheeler and City Council allowed for seven weeks of police brutality while ignoring the community’s demand of defunding the police. City officials are only siding with the people after Trump began speaking directly on Portland. The U.S. Marshals, the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol, and the Portland Police Bureau have been collaborating in their actions. Together they’ve used tear gas, concussion grenades, batons, pepper bullets, plastic bullets, and other military grade weapons like long range acoustic devices against civilians, journalists, and activists.
The federal government knows there is a mass movement here in Portland. We will not back down now. We will not allow this occupation to incite fear and immobilize us. We will continue to stay vigilant, build community, stand in solidarity, and continue to fight for Black liberation and an end to all oppressive structures. As an alliance of grassroots anti-imperialist migrant organizations we understand that deployment of federal forces in Portland are replications of counterinsurgency in U.S. colonies and semi-colonies that have led to more forced migration, militarization and surveillance at U.S. borders, and the criminalization of migrants. This recent violence is only a continuation of Border Patrol’s practices on the Mexico/US border and the actions of the U.S.-trained paramilitaries in our homelands. Violence meant to repress and silence the people’s demands will not cloud the people’s movement! This violence only serves as fuel to the people’s resistance!
We encourage participation in rallies and protests against the killing of Black people in the U.S., coordinated actions to dismantle rising fascism and targeted state-sanctioned violence around the world, and direct service to the communities that are most endangered at this time. Let us be vigilant! Let us organize our communities! Let us intensify the struggle!
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