From the open publishing newswire: So, I am riding my bicycle home from work on the afternoon of June 30th, 2008 through Waterfront Park when I hear the tell tale signals that the pedestrian path on the lower Steel Bridge is raising. Instead of sitting in the sun waiting for the barge to pass I stop short of the bridge to stand under the shade of a tree. This is when I notice about 50 feet away two uniformed officers talking to an black couple laying down in the park. I look to see what is going on as it is very strange how the officers are treating them and this is when I identified Ofc Reisten from the Joe Anybody? video in May. [ Read More ]

From the open publishing newswire: The Portland Police Bureau has continued its criminalization of houselessness, by sweeping 50 folks from under and atop the Burnside Bridge on 6/24, and sweeping almost 50 more folks from the Hawthorne and Morrison Bridges the following night. Their possessions were confiscated and thrown away. The Portland Coalition Against Poverty is hosting a demonstration to demand an immediate end to police harassment of poor and houseless people. It is on Wednesday, July 9th, at 5pm, in the North Park Blocks.

From the open publishing newswire: I interviewed Clifton in the neighborhood near where he was assaulted on Saturday 6-12-08. He told me on camera how he was assaulted by two assholes coming out of a bar on SE 48 and Belmont street here in Portland Oregon around 7pm at night. This happened as he was waiting for a bus to go to work on an evening shift...the job he lost due to be taken to jail and missing work.

Hear Mr Brooks tell "his version" of how he lost his job due to being on city street in Portland waiting for his bus to go to work and then being jumped by two drunks ... and if thats not enough having the portland police come long and shock the shit out of him and take him off to jail? [ Read More | Video: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV | joe-anybody.com ]

From the open publishing newswire: My friend just called saying that she was stopped by a copcar for riding her bike without lights. She was pulled over around SE 7th and Morrison. As they were writing her a ticket another biker was biking North on 7th. They used him as an example how bikers cannot be seen without lights. So the cops told the other cyclist to stop and when he did not stop quickly enough/was confused why they were telling him to stop, they ran after him, pulled him off his bike, threw him against a nearby wall and tased him multiple times. When my friend called I could hear him screaming in the background and the cops yelling at him.

One commenter says: "I'm pretty sure I heard somebody talking about this experience on the bus late this evening, at least it was somebody with a similar story, he was like talking to somebody on a cell phone or something & said the paramedics had a hell of a time carving the taser barb out of his chest. Said he was charged with assaulting an officer for touching the motherfucker's boot while he was writhing around on the ground screaming. Sounded like a really fucked up event, yet another example of how tasers are just torture toys for sadists.."

From the open publishing newswire: This past Saterday on June 7th 2008 at [about] 9:40pm i was about
to board the #15 bus at SE 34th & Belmont, on my way to work. Before i
can make it on the bus, i get jumped by these two drunken a**holes, coming out of some sports bar from across the street! I'm
trying to fight these two off, defending myself, with dozens of people
everywhere [including the bus' occupants]. They push me into a storefront
window, smashing it. I suffer a laceration on my lip & left ear. When
the two take off, heading east towards 39th., i call 911. Many people,
including the bus driver call 911. I'm on my cellphone talking to the
dispatcher, telling her what just happened to me.

I stay on the scene, waiting for the police to arrive. As soon as
they do, i approach them. But within seconds they ARREST ME! They force me
to the ground, i'm completely subdued & they TASER ME!!!

From the open publishing newswire: On May 30 Eugene police repeatedly tasered a UO student organizer at a peaceful downtown rally supporting an end to toxic roadside pesticide spraying in Lane County, Oregon. EPD wrongfully arrested 2 students and one community member collectively known as "The Kesey Three" -- as the events took place at Eugene's Ken Kesey "Free Speech" Plaza.

2 Gatherings for Peace in Support of "The Kesey Three":

• Gathering for Peace in Support of "The Kesey Three": Thursday, June 5 from 12 - 3 at the EMU Amphitheater, University of Oregon, Eugene; Come wear a white armband to speak out against police brutality and the use of tasers in policing.
• Gather in Support of "The Kesey Three" on Saturday, June 7 in Kesey Square (Willamette / Broadway) at 12 noon. We will gather together silently. Many will have an "X" painted over their mouths or will be wearing tape over their mouths as a statement of how the police are trying to silence free speech with their violence.

Flyers will be silently handed to those with questions.

Youtube Video of May 30 events

From the open publishing newswire: "This is all part of a larger government effort to quell political dissent," says Jordan Kushner, an attorney who represented Ganley and other Critical Mass arrestees. "The Joint Terrorism Task Force is another example of using the buzzword 'terrorism' as a basis to clamp down on people's freedoms and push forward a more authoritarian government."

Related: Earlier post about Marie Mason Case: The National Lawyers Guild has established a hotline, 888-NLG-ECOL, for individuals arrested, subpoenaed or questioned for offenses related to environmental or animal activism. We encourage people to call the NLG hot line if you are contacted by law enforcement and would like to consult with an attorney on these matters.

From the open publishing newswire: After the Portland Police department swept protestors from City Hall at 5:30am, [on Thursday May 15th] the United Poor People have regrouped and continued their protest. We are calling for new ways to address the lack of adequate housing for the people of Portland in the hopes that it can serve as a model for other cities. More long-term solutions are being debated by UPP such as searching for ways to provide affordable housing for people who are poor. Innovative changes must be addressed with proper representation for the poor instead of solely allowing existing service providers to make decisions.

The protest has been ongoing for over 20 days, starting April 25th, since police performed sweeps at many of the common camp sites that people were staying at. Larger issues have become key such as the lack of adequate housing, shelters that provide space for those with mental and physical health issues, couples and people with pets, as well as for sexual minorities and increased space for women. The existing shelters, which police gave information for during the sweep, are already full as are the beds that Mayor Tom Potter has trumped up for the media.

Protesters have stated that they would stop sleeping at City Hall if a temporary Green Zone was approved to allow those without houses to camp in a safe environment. This would require repealing the Camping ordinance and protesters would like to see the Sit and Lie ordinance repealed as well. Please come out to support members of your community because this issue effects all people. Any time is good for people to come down but especially on Wednesday morning for the City Council meeting at 9:00am. For more information please contact UnitedPoorPeople@gmail.com.

[ Previous articles: More articles on homeless camp ]

Updates: May 16th - City Hall Protesters return, but then cops return also, and sweep them into park

From the open publishing newswire: Rebellion in Jamaica, Queens last night.

Breakaway march of hundreds of mostly Black youth took to the streets after the official march dispersed. At the invitation of local organizers, a good number of anarchists stayed on to support all the way. People from the community marched through the "40 Projects" and on to the 103rd Precinct. Street battles broke out along the way. Local youth fighting back with rocks, bottles, and impromptu barricades along Jamaica Avenue. Many arrests.

Full report and photos to come later.

We are all Sean Bell, NYPD go to hell.

 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20080426095015291

From the open publishing newswire: Invitation to peaceful candelight vigil for Jordan Case. Help us stand up for our rights so others may have what he was denied. Friday, April 4th, Terry Schrunk Plaza.

Before he died on Oct. 22, 2006, the unarmed aspiring physicist was Tasered 12 times, hit with nine beanbag rounds and shot four times. In a federal lawsuit to be filed April 3, Case's parents claim their son's death was totally unnecessary.

From the open publishing newswire: "Independent Media Under Attack" ... is the audio from KBOO 90.7 community radio and video from the event that caused police to take camera from me ... an Independent Videographer here in portland. This interview with KBOO 90.7fm is in my own words, the video is my own tape I share this with my community in hopes of raising awareness and in gaining support As I push for peace and justice and a free press that is not intimidated in our city.

[ Read More | Walk Out part 10 "The Roadblock" | Video Journalist Joe Anybody Has Camera Taken By Police | http://www.joe-anybody.com/id1.html ]

From the open publishing newswire: A group calling itself Collectif Ton Pere has claimed responsibility for torching six Montreal Police cruisers in Hochelaga Maisonneuve early last Friday. Hours after the cars were set on fire at Station 23 on Hochelaga St., the group sent a message to Indymedia-Québec, an alternative news outlet on the Internet, claiming they were behind the attack.

"This was an action against increasing oppression in the neighbourhood and everywhere else exploitation exists," the message wrote. It also urged people to torch not only police cars, but the "homes and hotels of capitalists." The arson attack occurred a day before a protest against police brutality where 47 people were arrested.

According to the message sent to Indymedia-Quebec, the group was also acting in "solidarity with aboriginals who are fighting for their freedom and autonomy."

original post at infoshop.org | Commentary and another infoshop report | more thoughtful commentary

From the open publishing newswire: The Portland Police Bureau wasted no time in singling out the "black bloc." (Which was really just a group of people, mostly dressed in black, as the black bloc is a tactic, not a group.) They did this by having officers stand on all sides of the gathering that did not lead into the tent/tabling area, which had a foot patrol circling it. It bears mentioning that the radicals numbered about 15 to 20, as did the number of police assigned to watch them.

When the march began, the radical contingent joined in near, but not at the front of the parade. They were quickly flanked by bicycle cops, who seemed to favor the right side of the march. A group with a banner tried to take to the sidewalk. The police, using their bikes as a weapons, forced them back to the sidewalk. Around the next corner the police created a hostile situation by aggressively removing a single individual from the sidewalk, which according to city ordinance. is a part of the parade route. However, calmer heads prevailed, and the cops did not get the fight they were looking for. The rest of the parade went without altercation, though at least one group was followed by police as they were leaving.