Occupy ICE is a protest camp set up near an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon. Today the Oregonian reports that federal police officers, specifically the non-white officers patrolling the area, have reported being subject to racist language and abuse by protesters:
In emails obtained by the newsroom, one African American officer reported to an administrator that protesters “began yelling racial slurs” at him, including the N-word. The officer said he was also called a “blood traitor” and an Uncle Tom, a derogatory term implying a black person is acting subservient to whites for money or prestige.
“These racial slurs have been directed at me throughout the entire length of the deployment,” the officer wrote.
Another officer, who is a woman of Hispanic and Native American descent, said she was called derogatory terms for Hispanic people and told she is “a weak female” and a “traitor.”
“I was berated for so long I can’t even remember everything that was told to me,” the officer wrote.
A third officer said the federal agents were repeatedly called “murderers, rapists and Nazis.” There’s really no doubt that this happened because video of protesters using the n-word around a black officer appeared online more than a week ago. This clip is very NSFW:
Last month I wrote about police clearing out a portion of the Occupy ICE encampment and arresting 8 people in the process. At the time, police allowed the main protest camp, located across the street from the ICE facility, to remain. However, that changed early this morning when officers began clearing out the main camp:
Today, Wednesday, July 25, 2018, starting at approximately 4:15 a.m., the Portland Police Bureau cleared the Occupy ICE encampment near Southwest Macadam Avenue and Southwest Bancroft Street…
“Last week PPB determined conditions at the Occupy ICE camp posed livability and safety concerns for the community and people staying in the camp,” said Chief Danielle Outlaw. “I expressed this concern with the Mayor and he was in full support of moving forward to clear the camp. I am pleased that through collaboration and clear communication with the community, as well as the intentional and methodical processes employed by the Police Bureau, there were no arrests, citations, or injuries as a result of clearing the camp. I appreciate the community’s patience as the clean-up process continues at the Occupy ICE camp”
During a press conference, Chief Outlaw explained the police had received 76 calls about the camp. That led to the conclusion that something needed to change:
The Portland Police Bureau determined last week that it was time to do something about the camp, Outlaw said. The bureau had received 76 calls for service to the camp, 41 of which required an officer response. There were also at least 13 online complaints about the conditions at the camp or behaviors of the campers.
Outlaw said she was also concerned about the roads the campers were blocking. They’re near several medical facilities and in some cases interfered with getting patients the medical care they needed quickly.
Here are some images and video of the removal of the camp:
Portland Police clear remaining occupy ICE protesters from camp off SW Bancroft. @kgwnews pic.twitter.com/l55s5qTxMC
— Tim Gordon (@TimGordonPDX) July 25, 2018
Police moving #Occupyicepdx protesters down the street. #fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/bWbiG9qNxk
— Marilyn Deutsch (@marilyndeutsch) July 25, 2018
Naturally, the few remaining protesters resorted to calling the police Nazis:
Protesters calling police Nazis and killers as they face arrest. #OccupyICEPDX #fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/jvb1v1xFOU
— Marilyn Deutsch (@marilyndeutsch) July 25, 2018
The protesters left behind loads of garbage for the property owners to clean up:
Chief Outlaw had no word for the inside of the encampment when She saw it for the first time. pic.twitter.com/SkdXXoyrHl
— Rosemary Reynolds (@RosemaryKXL) July 25, 2018
And a view from inside:
Here's a look at all the stuff demonstrators left behind at the Occupy ICE camp. The City of Portland notified protesters on Monday that they must leave the property by the end of the day Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/QLHPAqCPZQ
— KATU News (@KATUNews) July 25, 2018
Another far-left protest camp heads to the dump:
Truck one rolling Way with Occupy ICE pdx trash pic.twitter.com/5SnAulnH68
— Rosemary Reynolds (@RosemaryKXL) July 25, 2018
Finally, here’s the full press conference with Police Chief Outlaw (love that name):
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