To learn about an earlier uprising in Portland, the Patrick Kimmons Autonomous Zone, click here.
To learn about the uprising in Seattle, CHAZ (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone), click here
Click here to learn more about the J25 Uprising.
Table of Contents
PDX Uprising
Sergio Olmos
Rojava Solidarity Protest
Youth Liberation Front
Leafblowers
Federal Agents
Other Protests
Seattle Uprising
Snitching
Nazis
Pro-police protests
PDX Uprising
The PDX Uprising in Portland is a mass protest movement that has gone on in the city since June 1st. Groups that lead it include Portland Antifa, the Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front, and other smaller antifascist groups. This protest in particular has a militant strategy, and is very well documented, especially as in the middle of July, outrage began over the kidnapping of protesters in unmarked vans by federal agents.
This morning Trump threatened to send federal officers into cities.
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) July 15, 2020
Except it’s not just a threat. It’s already happening in Portland and it’s not making national news for some reason.
This is last night 👇🏻 and it’s been happening for over a week now.pic.twitter.com/FZTpbwKg4L
Portland has always been extremely militarized against during the George Floyd Uprising, especially in the days of July 10th-20th.
This appears to be one of the BORTAC US special operations unit ordered into Portland.
— PNW Youth Liberation Front (@PNWYLF) July 13, 2020
A force that has previously been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan here seen taking up a sniper position against Portland protestors. https://t.co/qClctlFz1E
Sergio Olmos
This uprising has again been documented in length by street journalist Sergio Olmos.
A new chant “AFAB” pic.twitter.com/Wz8kduTmpz
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) July 12, 2020
Offerings at the snack van ™️ pic.twitter.com/msHWAHhYm3
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) July 12, 2020
Federal officers guarding the courthouse: u.s. Marshall’s, border patrol, Federal protective service officers, and BORTAC pic.twitter.com/u8KyrTGkY3
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) July 12, 2020
Rojava Solidarity Protest
Portland has also been a center for solidarity protests. For example, with that of Rojava, a socialist nation built in northern Syria inhabited by Kurdish people.
Within the protests in Portland exist 2 main blocs:
- The Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front
- Brigade of Parents Against Police Brutality
Youth Liberation Front
The PNWYLF is a youth anarchist organization reponsible for organizing more militant protests, and has been around for quite a while. The following protests below can be attributed to them:
The Parents Against Police Brutality bloc has been largely peaceful but is now ready to defend itself if necessary as on the night of July 20th, the Moms Against Police Brutality was hit with a sheer amount of tear gas and pepper spray. All protests below are attributed to them:
Leafblowers
Something never seen before that has been used by both blocs is the use of leafblowers used to blow tear gas back in the direction of the police and the feds, which was first seen to be used on the night of July 21st. A video below is an example of that.
Federal Agents
Portland has increasingly become a dystopia, with scenes of federal agents in the area brutalizing protesters.
It has also been noted that such large amounts of tear gas have been used in Portland that when there is a gust of wind it starts to cause tornadoes of tear gas.
Other Protests
Any other protests shown below are either led by a coalition of activist groups or the Torch Network, an umbrella organization of local antifascist groups across the United States.
The Youth Liberation Front has also been documenting the protests on its own, and has been leading the PDX Uprising and is also responsible for organizing demonstrations in Seattle.
“no cops, no prisons – total abolition” chant in north Portland
— PNW Youth Liberation Front (@PNWYLF) July 14, 2020
This is a persons shield made out of solid wood, “non lethal” went right through it and hit them in the head. #ACAB #Pdxprotests #BLM pic.twitter.com/SOuGtjCMXc
— PNW Youth Liberation Front (@PNWYLF) July 12, 2020
Portland has long been known as a hub for radical anarchist activity, as a raid on an ICE facility occurred in July 2019, with one of the occupiers being murdered by Portland police. On July 13th, people think about how many families he was able to keep together by freeing everyone in the facility.
Seattle Uprising
The Seattle Uprising has had many more problems than that in Portland, with the dissolution of CHAZ and many snitches who have different ideologies with those of the anarchists.
Snitching
An example can be cited from a snitch of an arsonist on July 15th, who reported an arson committed by a member of the Salish Sea Black Autonomists, an insurrectionary black anarchist organization based in Seattle and Olympia.
— Salish Sea Black Autonomists (@black_autonomy) July 16, 2020
Nazis
Anarchists in Portland have also faced right-wing groups such as the Proud Boys, and the American Wolf, a newly-formed far-right organization dedicated to righting protesters. The right has also been putting up posters doxxing people who are in interracial relationships.
These flyers went up yesterday in Spokane, WA. These flyers and the website are the work of Eddie McBride. Eddie is an extremely dangerous Nazi that has called Black Lives Matter protesters “terrorists” and has promised to “meet terror with a clearer form of terror.” pic.twitter.com/m2JX87rg5Z
— WANaziWatch (@WANaziWatch) July 14, 2020
Pro-police Movement
Protests for the police have also gone on, although it has been noted that they are far smaller in size than the anti-police ones.
“Hundreds”
— Youth Liberation Front Seattle Division (@seattleYLF) July 16, 2020
Go home hun, you have at most 30 people https://t.co/2MI4GrkTwF